In our humble opinion, sexy movies should be their own genre [1] — just like dramas, comedies, and thrillers. To be clear: when we say sexy movies, we're not just talking about films with tons of eye candy or sweet and tender rom-coms [2]. No, we mean down-and-dirty flicks that you wouldn't want to watch with your parents — and might even make you blush when viewing all alone.
But let's be honest, sexiness isn't always just about actual sex. Sexy stories are full of passion, because sometimes the sexiest thing a person can do is express their devotion verbally — or show you how much you mean to them. Tell us you haven't gotten all hot and bothered when a partner praised you and lifted you up like the royalty that you are. Now that is some sexy stuff! Plus, plenty of the sexiest movies of all time are among some of the best LGBTQ+ movies [3] of all time.
We love a steamy movie just as much as anyone, so we've rounded up some of the hottest films of all time — from raunchy flicks to passionate love stories. Just a warning: it should go without saying that a lot of these are strictly NSFW. See the sexiest movies of all time ahead.
— Additional reporting by Hedy Phillips and Charlotte Kho
"The Perfect Find"
This sexy film adaptation stars Gabrielle Union and Keith Powers [5] in a forbidden-fruit situation when the two coworkers mix business and pleasure (in more ways than one). If you're a fan of Tia Williams's "The Perfect Find" novel [6], good news: the love scenes are just as spicy on screen as they are in the book.
"Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love"
This 1996 Indian film starring "Lost"'s Naveen Andrews and "And Just Like That"'s Sarita Choudhury, tells the coming of age of a princess and her servant. Through personal tragedy and triumph, "Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love" follows Maya and Tara's sexual awakening.
"Beyond the Lights"
Noni Jean (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) has made her mark as a sexy, chart-topping pop star, but she's completely lost her personal identity. So much so that she attempts to jump to her death — but is stopped at the last minute by police officer Kaz (Nate Parker). Kaz helps Noni rediscover who she really is as the pair falls in love despite the odds. But will her career and the industry ruin their budding romance?
"Love and Leashes"
"50 Shades of Grey" fans will love this rom-com twist on the franchise's BDSM themes. When Jung Ji-Woo receives a package that belongs to her co-worker (and secret crush) Jung Ji-Hoo by mistake, she's surprised to discover a dog leash in the box. While she suspects the leash might not actually be for a dog, she doesn't tell anyone about the contents of Ji-Hoo's package, and her discretion leads Ji-Hoo to tell her his secret: He's into BDSM and in search of a master. As the pair enter into a three-month, purely business BDSM contract, the nature of their relationship is tested when their dom/sub plays become increasingly intense. Are they really just in a contractual relationship, or can their arrangement become something more?
"Ghost"
Sam Wheat (Patrick Swayze) and Molly Jensen (Demi Moore [9]) are head over heels in love, but their life together is cut short when Sam is murdered by his business partner. Despite his death, Sam's spirit lives on alongside Molly through psychic Oda Mae Brown (Whoopi Goldberg). Sam may not physically be there by Molly's side, but his ghost is, and Molly can feel everything when the ghost is with her. There's a reason the scene where Molly is at the pottery wheel with Sam wrapped around her is one of the most iconic and sexiest in film history. It's too good.
"Lady Chatterly's Lover"
In this 2022 Netflix adaptation of the classic (and notoriously banned [10]) book by D. H. Lawrence first published in 1928, an upper-class woman (Emma Corrin [11]) who's woefully unfulfiled in her marriage begins an affair with her working-class gamekeeper (Jack O'Connell). The relationship opens her eyes to new levels of emotional and sexual connection.
"Good Luck to You, Leo Grande"
A sexually unfulfilled retired schoolteacher (Emma Thompson [12]) rents a hotel room and hires a young sex worker (Daryl McCormack) named Leo Grande to help her make all of her sexual dreams come true and, hopefully, have her first orgasm.
"Bones and All"
Timothée Chalamet [13] and Taylor Russell's "Bones and All [14]," which debuts in theatres Nov. 23, made its world premiere at the 2022 Venice Film Festival and was quickly dubbed a compelling flick by critics, with Variety [15] calling it "the year's sexiest cannibal love story." The movie stars the two actors as cannibals who embark on a thousand-mile-long journey, both "searching for identity and chasing beauty in a perilous world that cannot abide who they are," per "Bones and All"'s producers. Though it has a dark twist, the film also teases the intense temptation that comes with a complicated romance between two people-eating lovers.
"The Last Letter From Your Lover"
The beauty of this romantic film is that it's two stories in one. Journalist Ellie (Felicity Jones) stumbles upon a collection of letters from decades ago, and while she's slowly falling for the handsome archivist Rory (Nabhaan Rizwan) while doing her research, she uncovers a heartbreaking story of a woman named Jennifer (Shailene Woodley) who had a whirlwind romance. Ellie reads the letters between Jennifer and her lover, Anthony (Callum Turner), and comes to find that despite their passion, the couple could never make it work. Their letters are filled with beautiful words, and there aren't many things sexier than love letters full of emotion — though there are also a few flashbacks to Jennifer and Anthony's steamy nights together.
"Don't Worry Darling"
Alice (Florence Pugh) and Jack (Harry Styles) live in the tranquil community of Victory, a town where the men who work on a mysterious project and their families are housed. Their marriage is happy and loving, with plenty of steamy sex. But when fault lines reveal themselves in Alice's seemingly perfect life, she learns that something menacing is happening behind the scenes of their blissful town, and Jack may be involved.
"Vicky Cristina Barcelona"
Rebecca Hall [16] and Scarlett Johansson [17] star in this Woody Allen [18] flick as American BFFs Vicky and Cristina, who spend a Summer in Barcelona and meet a seductive painter (Javier Bardem [19]) who invites them to his place for a weekend of X-rated fun. Then things get even more wild when his ex-lover (Penélope Cruz) stops by for a visit.
"Little Fish"
In this sci-fi love story, Emma (Olivia Cooke) and Jude (Jack O'Connell) are fighting against a virus that has the power to make people lose their memories. The couple want nothing more than to keep the memories of their love intact so they won't forget each other and the relationship they have built. The inevitable strain on their relationship intensifies as the two race against losing each other. Their deep devotion plays out in scenes of their courtship, showing just how sexy it is to be so in love and fight against everything to protect it. This story is literally Emma and Jude against the world.
"Malcolm & Marie"
"Malcolm & Marie" is an incredibly tense drama starring Zendaya [20] and John David Washington, and while this couple's volatile relationship can come across as troublesome, there's no doubt that it has its fair share of sexiness, too. In the film, Malcolm is a filmmaker who's just won an award, and after he and his girlfriend, Marie, get home, tensions rise as she criticizes him for not giving her enough credit for inspiring his work. What follows is a night of push and pull, extreme emotion, passionate arguing, and sex. The black and white style of the movie only adds to the drama.
"The Next 365 Days"
"The Next 365 Days" — the third film in Netflix's erotic thriller trilogy — picks up after the explosive events from "365 Days: This Day," where Massimo (Morrone) and Laura's (Sieklucka) relationship is tested like never before as the latter grapples with her unresolved feelings for Nacho (Simone Susinna). While the movie didn't get rave reviews, it more than made up for what the plot lacked with plenty of over-the-top sex scenes. Between a countertop quickie, fun in the champagne room, Laura's steamy dreams, and literal sex on the beach, "The Next 365 Days" definitely ranks high up on the sexy-movie meter.
"The Voyeurs"
Pippa (Sydney Sweeney) and Thomas (Justice Smith) didn't realise when they were moving into a new apartment that their window would perfectly overlook the neighbours. While some people might not think anything of it, Pippa and Thomas can't resist looking over to see what they can see. Innocent curiosity quickly becomes straight-up voyeurism as they constantly tap into the lives of the hot couple across the way. Pippa and Thomas spy on the couple's lovemaking and all the passion — both good and bad — that erupts in their relationship. Pippa and Thomas can't keep to themselves, but stepping into the neighbours' lives may not be a good idea.
"Adore"
When two adult women and BFFs begin affairs with each other's teenage sons, disaster is imminent from the very beginning — but that's what makes this movie so fun. Of course, things get even more complicated when their romantic trysts transform into actual love.
"365 Days"
While on a trip to Sicily to save her marriage, Laura (Anna-Maria Sieklucka) is kidnapped by Massimo (Michele Morrone), the boss of a Sicilian crime family. He gives Laura 365 days to fall in love with him. And while plenty of this movie is highly questionable — the kidnapping, the consent, etc. — some parts are sexy. A dominant personality in the bedroom can be incredibly appealing for the right person, and that's exactly what Massimo is for Laura. While this tryst would be a bit more acceptable if it didn't involve kidnapping, the fantasy of being held captive might tickle someone's fancy.
"Moonlight"
This coming-of-age drama about a young Black man growing up in Miami may not seem super steamy, but it's actually chock-full of sex without being gratuitous. If you want a sex scene so tender it will make you cry, then this one is for you.
"Newness"
Martin (Nicholas Hoult) and Gabi (Laia Costa) are just looking for hookups when they swipe right on each other on a dating app. What starts as a sexy romp turns into an actual relationship with feelings. And like in any new relationship, Martin and Gabi find themselves in the throes of the sexy honeymoon phase. They get sucked into the newness of their passion when suddenly everything turns, and their life together — including their sex life — gets boring. Their solution? An open relationship to try to bring a little bit of spice back into their relationship.
"Madame Claude"
Netflix's "Madame Claude" is inspired by a real-life brothel owner of the same name. The film takes place in Paris in the 1960s, and Madame Claude (Karole Rocher) and her collection of women are all powerful in the city. These women have some of the most high-profile clients as part of the City of Light's best-kept secret. But while Madame Claude's lavish and sexy lifestyle might make her feel like she's on top of the world, it can't last forever — unfortunately for her. This Parisian film has all the intrigue, mystery, and passion that any good sexy movie needs.
"Blue Valentine"
Any movie that depicts a crumbling marriage is going to be a tear-jerker, but when that married pair are played by Ryan Gosling [21] and Michelle Williams [22], seeing a couple that hot split is all the more devastating.
"Magic Mike"
Megahotties Channing Tatum [23], Joe Manganiello, Matthew McConaughey [24], Matt Bomer, and Adam Rodriguez star as nearly naked hunks gyrating to dance music — do we even need to explain the appeal? Sure, this one is a lot darker than you'd probably expect, but that doesn't make it any less sexy.
"Y Tu Mamá También"
When two teens go on a road trip across Mexico with a woman in her late 20s and both begin a sexual relationship with her (as well as with each other), things are bound to get complicated. As well as being nominated for best original screenplay at the Academy Awards and best foreign language film at the Golden Globe Awards, this movie is undoubtedly one of the sexiest flicks of all time.
"Brokeback Mountain"
This romance drama — which is about a cowboy and a ranch hand (Jake Gyllenhaal [25] and Heath Ledger [26]) falling in love and continuing that affair in secret for 20 years — is undoubtedly heartbreaking, but is also undeniably sexy. Honestly, who didn't want to try sex in a tent after watching this one?
"Chloe"
Julianne Moore stars in this erotic thriller as a woman who — when she suspects her husband (played by Liam Neeson) isn't being faithful — hires a call girl (played by Amanda Seyfried [27]) to see if she can tempt him into cheating. Spoiler alert: the call girl ends up tempting them both.
"Closer"
In this strange, sensual movie, an American stripper and a London writer (played by Natalie Portman [28] and Jude Law [29], respectively) fall in love after Portman is hit by a taxi in front of him, and despite the odd start, it turns into a relationship and a novel. Everything seems wonderful until the writer gets bored and transfers his attention to a gorgeous photographer (played by Julia Roberts [30]).
"Carol"
"Carol" is a beautiful forbidden romance from years gone by. Therese Belivet (Rooney Mara) is instantly intrigued by Carol Aird (Cate Blanchett [31]) when they meet in a department store. Therese is drawn to the regal older woman, and the two soon become friends. But their friendship eventually grows into more as each woman is struggles with their sexuality and their own failed relationships. But unfortunately for Carol, her relationship with her daughter is at stake amid her divorce from her husband, and he's using her sexuality to punish her. Nothing will stop these two women from giving in to their feelings for each other, though.
"Secretary"
Based on the short story "Secretary" by Mary Gaitskill, this hilariously perverse flick stars Maggie Gyllenhaal [32] as a shy, sensitive woman named Lee who becomes the secretary for an eccentric attorney (played by James Spader) and soon finds herself swept into a wild BDSM relationship that eventually blossoms into something like love. Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey have nothing on these two.
"Blue Is the Warmest Colour"
This movie is a coming-of-age romance about a 15-year-old French teen who begins to explore her sexuality with an older art student whom she meets at a lesbian bar. Is it melodramatic? Yes. Is it incredibly intoxicating and very sexy? Absolutely.
"Boogie Nights"
Well, a movie about porn has to be at least somewhat sexy, right? When Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg [33]) gets discovered by a porn director, his alter ego, Dirk Diggler, is born. He dives into the world of sex and meets beautiful people along the way. Surrounded by confident, passionate people, Eddie's life is totally thriving. It's easy to get in over your head, though, when you're sexy and popular and have people bowing to your every whim. Eddie has to figure out if this world of steamy sex for money is what he really wants to do with his life.
"Weekend"
In this British drama, two men meet at a club on a Friday and, though they know one of them is set to begin a two-year art course in Oregon on the Monday following the weekend — they begin an intense, erotic two-day love affair. For anyone who has ever fallen fast and hard, this 48-hour romance will totally speak to you.
"Unfaithful"
This thriller stars Richard Gere [34] and Diane Lane [35] as a husband and wife whose relationship grows strained as the husband becomes increasingly suspicious of his wife's faithfulness. This movie seriously puts the "passion" in crime of passion.
"Mulholland Drive"
With an all-star cast composed of Naomi Watts [36], Laura Harring, and Justin Theroux, this cinematic classic is about a car crash victim who tries to piece together her fragmented memories with the help of an aspiring Hollywood actress. The best part of this thriller: the sexual chemistry between Watts and Harring is scary good.
"Cruel Intentions"
Ryan Phillippe [37] and Sarah Michelle Gellar [38] may play step-siblings in this '90s classic, but that doesn't stop them from having major chemistry. Reese Witherspoon [39] and Selma Blair [40] round out the cast as two of Phillippe's virginal conquests, and we guarantee that kissing scene between Gellar and Blair isn't one you'll soon forget.
"Swimming Pool"
This erotic thriller follows a crime writer who's sent by her publisher to his French country home to relax — though he never expects that the writer will develop a strange, voyeuristic relationship with his free-spirited daughter. The sex scenes in this one are almost as shocking as the incredible twist ending.
"Wild Things"
This notoriously raunchy '90s flick follows two unlikely friends (played by Neve Campbell and Denise Richards) brought together by the desire to take down the same guy — and eventually, by their desire for each other. It's deliciously salacious and features a threesome that people are still talking about over 20 years later.
"The Handmaiden"
In this South Korean erotic thriller, a Korean con man and an orphaned pickpocket work together to seduce and swindle a young Japanese heiress out of her inheritance. This movie may be a work of art, but it also offers more sexually explicit scenes than you could ever imagine.
"Sleeping Beauty"
Emily Browning stars in this erotic drama as a college student who has a . . . unique side hustle: she's a niche sex worker who allows clients to fondle her as she sleeps. It's safe to say that this version of Sleeping Beauty doesn't share many similarities with the animated Disney classic.
"The Dreamers"
Set in 1968 Paris during the student riots, this dream-like romantic drama tells the story of an American exchange student who bonds with two Parisian twins and, when the twins' parents go away for a month, they invite Matthew to stay at their place. The result: a twisted love triangle that gets more complicated and erotic by the minute.
"Eyes Wide Shut"
Tom Cruise [41] and Nicole Kidman [42] star in this erotic drama as a couple who become dangerously involved in a world of sexual rituals and secret societies. Yes, this movie revolves around AIDS, child prostitution, adultery, secret sex societies, and drugs, but that doesn't stop this '90s flick from being totally scintillating.
"The Pillow Book"
This erotic drama revolves around an aspiring writer and professional calligrapher with an odd fetish: writing on the human body. When her unhappy marriage reaches a boiling point, she escapes to Hong Kong, where she becomes a fashion model and engages in affairs with men willing to write on her body — until she finds her perfect match in an Englishman who allows her to write her stories on him.
"9 1/2 Weeks"
Before "50 Shades of Grey", there was "9 1/2 Weeks", which follows the increasingly erotic affair between Wall Street trader John (played by Mickey Rourke) and art gallery assistant Elizabeth (played by Kim Basinger). Make sure to keep yourself hydrated while you watch this one.
"Lust, Caution"
Set during During World War II, this sexy espionage drama follows a secret agent who's tasked with seducing — and then killing — an official who works for the Japanese puppet government in Shanghai. However, her mission becomes trickier when she engages in a wild love affair with him instead.
"Stranger by the Lake"
In this French thriller, a man cruising for sex in the woods surrounding a nude beach meets a handsome guy to whom he is instantly attracted — even when Franck accidentally sees his new love interest, Michel, drowning another man in the lake. The result is a modern-day Hitchcockian film that is both darkly humourous and irresistibly erotic.
"Sliver"
Based on the Ira Levin novel of the same name, this erotic thriller revolves around a successful young editor (played by Sharon Stone [43]) who moves into a new building and meets a sexy neighbour (played by Billy Baldwin), only to learn that he isn't quite as nice and innocent as he seems. At least he seriously delivers in the bedroom.
"Crash"
Not to be confused with the 2004 movie of the same name, this bizarre '90s flick revolves around a group of people who become sexually aroused by auto collisions, as car crashes remind them of their own fragility. If you've never made a connection between sex and car accidents before, then this weirdly sexy movie is here to help you.
"Basic Instinct"
When a sexy, mysterious crime novelist (played by Sharon Stone [44]) becomes a murder suspect, she decides to seduce the homicide detective (Michael Douglas) to throw him off her trail. Though Ryan Reynolds [45] parodied the famous leg-crossing scene in "Deadpool 2", it doesn't do justice to the sexiness of Stone's original move.
"She's Gotta Have It"
Nola Darling is indecisive of what kind of man she wants. So, she settles on three . . . at the same time. Between the rich narcissist Greer Childs, stable family man Jamie Overstreet, and comical super nerd Mars Blackmon, Nola just can't pick one. They all seem to have something to give.
"Henry & June"
Loosely based on Anaïs Nin's French book of the same name, this 1990 flick was the first movie ever to earn an NC-17 rating, so you know it's hot. Henry & June revolves around a love triangle involving author Henry Miller, his openly bisexual wife, June, and Anaïs Nin, who carries on an affair with both Henry and June. As you might expect, a little bit of tension develops, and not just the sexual kind.
"Body of Evidence"
Madonna [46] stars in this supersexy erotic thriller about an elderly millionaire, the gorgeous woman who was sleeping with him (and who is left a load of money after he dies), and the defence attorney for her case (played by Willem Dafoe), who ends up getting drawn into a risky affair with her. We bet you've never seen the pop legend quite like this.
"Sex and Lucía"
When a beautiful woman learns that her boyfriend may have taken his own life, she escapes to a remote Spanish island, where she meets a hot scuba diver, as well as her boyfriend's ex-lover, and the three of them develop a deeply complicated bond. If you love beautiful cinematography and gratuitous nudity, then you're sure to love this one.
"Body Heat"
When a corrupt lawyer and a married woman begin a passionate affair, the lawyer makes a plan to kill off his lover's husband with the help of one of his criminal clients. Unsurprisingly, things don't go exactly to plan, but that just makes this neo-noir thriller ever hotter.
"9 Songs"
This British melodrama follows the recollections of an English man and the American woman he met at a rock concert. It involves lots of unsimulated sex between the two leads, and though it oftentimes looks like a porn movie, the magic of this film is that it still feels like a love story.
"Bound"
What happens when a woman fresh out of prison and a mobster's girlfriend begin a passionate love affair? They concoct a plan to rob that mobster of $2 million, of course, and that's exactly what happens in this neo-noir crime thriller.
"Out of Sight"
Starring Jennifer Lopez [47] and George Clooney [48], this adaptation of Elmore Leonard's 1996 crime novel follows the unexpected romance that unfolds between a notorious bank robber and a federal marshal. Their affair forces them to risk everything, but once you see these two together, you'll understand why they take the risk.
"The Last Seduction"
In this movie, a manipulative telemarketing manager named Bridget decides to escape both her money troubles and her marriage by convincing her doctor husband to sell stolen pharmaceutical cocaine, then fleeing to Chicago with the profits. There she begins a sexual affair with a new man, whom she tricks into murdering her husband back in New York. We're not sure there's ever been a sexier, eviler villain than Bridget Gregory.
"In the Mood For Love"
In this Hong Kong-set romantic drama, a man and a woman who discover their spouses are sleeping together meet and and find themselves increasingly attracted to each other. Their story isn't just gorgeously told — it's also gloriously racy.
"In the Cut"
When a middle-class teacher (played by Meg Ryan [49]) witnesses a sexual assault that she believes to be connected to a murder that occurs a few days later, she meets with a sexually aggressive homicide detective (Mark Ruffalo [50]), whom she finds both thrilling and frightening. She then begins a steamy affair with him, despite her growing distrust of men.
"The Photograph"
The death of famous photographer Christina Eames leaves her daughter Mae with both grief and confusion. Looking for answers from a photograph she had of her and her mother, she begins her own investigation, leading to an unexpected romance with a journalist.
"Disobedience"
A New York photographer flies to London after receiving news of her father's death. She returns to her Orthodox Jewish hometown where she was scolded for being attracted to a girl, Esti. Once the two reunite, their relationship takes a passionate step forward.
"Mr & Mrs. Smith"
John and Jane Smith have a stagnating marriage. However, neither of them know they are both secretly hired assassins. They don't find the truth about one another until they are assigned to kill the same person, which makes their relationship a bit more exciting.
"Lust Stories"
"Lust Stories" tells the story of four Indian women as they navigate modern love, courage, and relationships. The movie comes from four different directors and shares stories from all different stages of life, from years-long marriages to experiencing new sexual partners.
"After"
Tessa Young, perfect student and dedicated girlfriend, enters her first year of college. Her sheltered life gets opened up to a whole new world that makes her a little rebellious and more adventurous.
"Love & Basketball"
Childhood friends Monica and Quincy both strive to play basketball professionally. They have two different personalities on the court, but off court, they begin to fall in love. However, their aspirations for basketball careers grow tensions between them.
"The Other Boleyn Girl"
In this period drama, King Henry VIII falls in love and is expecting a child with his mistress Mary, but Mary's sister, Anne, falls for Henry. What ensues is an incredibly dramatic and tangled-up love story.
"Titanic"
This classic movie follows the love story of two young passengers aboard the infamous Titanic ship. Jack and Rose fall into a passionate affair, but nothing can prepare them for the doomed fate of the Titanic.
"Atonement"
Taking place during World War II, "Atonement" tells the doomed love story of Cecilia Tallis, the daughter of a wealthy family, and Robbie Turner, the Tallis housekeeper's son. There are plenty of steamy scenes in this drama, but the library scene is definitely a standout.
"Burlesque"
A small town girl with a beautiful voice packs her bags and moves to Los Angeles to live out her dreams. To make some money, she becomes a waitress at a local burlesque club. Then, she takes a leap to audition for the main stage and eventually restores the club's reputation with her talents.
"Deep Water"
Ana de Armas and Ben Affleck [51] star as a married couple in an open relationship that takes a turn for the worse when her past lovers start to disappear and her husband becomes the prime suspect.
"Fifty Shades of Grey"
Anastasia Steele subs for her roommate to interview businessman Christian Grey. Grey finds himself infatuated with Anastasia and draws her into his world of intense sexual pleasures, which at times overstep Ana's boundaries.
"Portrait of a Lady on Fire"
This French film tells the story of a steamy lesbian romance between an aristocrat and a painter. Complete with gorgeous beach imagery and slow-burning attraction, it's a prime example of just how truly sexy period dramas can be.
"Sanctuary"
Margaret Qualley and Christopher Abbott star as a dominatrix and her client [52] in this film, which explores the complicated dynamics between what seems to be a classic BDSM relationship. While there's tons of sexual content here, it's also about a lot more than the sex.
"Passages"
"Passages" features Franz Rogowski, Ben Whishaw, and Adèle Exarchopoulos in a twisted and strange love triangle. While the three try to figure out where their relationships stand, they end up having a lot of steamy sex. It's a thoughtful and interesting exploration of relationship dynamics where the sexual chemistry on display is key to the drama.