12 Most Sexually Graphic Movies of All Time

Themes of sadomasochism and sexual angst have been depicted in movies with more nuance and maturity by many great auteurs. So, if you are really looking movies with lots of sex scenes, there are many better options. The below list consists of movies where the actors let them completely uninhibited and shot several great steamy sex scenes. Be mindful that these are not movies with real sex scenes. These are movies with lots of sex scenes. So, if you are not in a mood for something lighter than porn, these are your best options.

12. Original Sin (2001)

When you’ve got Jo around, the film is bound to be sexy. Angelina Jolie is quite simply one of the sexiest women in the world and in this Michael Cristofer directed erotic thriller, she completely bares it all on screen and features in a number of sex scenes. Jolie, with he gorgeously seductive eyes and inspiring sensual charm, elevates the film to new heights. The sex scenes in the film feel genuinely passionate and intimate and so surprisingly realistic unlike the mechanical cringeworthy scenes in ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’.

11. 9 1/2 Weeks (1986)

Adrian Lyne has made some truly great erotic dramas. ‘Unfaithful’, whilst hampered by melodrama and some flawed writing, still works brilliantly on many levels, partly due to Diane Lane’s incredibly sensual lead performance. However, ‘9 1/2 Weeks’ is probably his best work and easily one of the finest erotic dramas ever made. Starring the ever elegant Kim Basinger, the film tells the story of two strangers who become involved in an intensely torrid relationship. The sex scenes in the film are quite intense, bold and provocative but possess a kind of fluidity that make them feel so real and genuine without ever giving the impression of being provocative for the sake of being provocative.

Read More: Sexiest TV Shows

10. The Dreamers (2003)

Bernardo Bertolucci’s movies were noted for featuring a number of sex raw, passionate sex scenes. ‘Last Tango in Paris’, despite the innumerable controversies surrounding it, continues to be rated as one of the greatest films ever made. ‘The Dreamers’, however, doesn’t hold up to his best works but is still an incredibly well made piece and the sex scenes in the film are among the best ever filmed. Eva Green is staggeringly hot and delivers one of the most sensual performances ever put onscreen, complimenting the film’s gorgeously intimate, intoxicatingly sensual atmosphere.

Read More: Sexiest Moms in Movies

9. Boogie Nights (1997)

Surprisingly enough, a film about porn industry features less number of sex scenes than most other erotic dramas. Paul Thomas Anderson’s wildly charming, adventurous melodrama features a smoking hot Julianne Moore whose invigorating sensual charisma defines the tone of the film. There’s a sex scene at the start where Heather Graham goes completely nude for the “audition” scene and has sex with Mark Wahlberg. But the scene that stands out is the one where Wahlberg and Moore shoot a sex scene for Jack’s new film. It’s so full of exuberance and passion and you could feel the simmering sexual tension between the two which makes it so exhilarating and addictive.

Read More: Sexiest Vampires in Movies

8. Basic Instinct (1992)

In Paul Verhoeven’s classic erotic thriller, Sharon Stone plays a psychopath who charms, manipulates and seduces men and then brutally kills them. Stone’s vibrant, sensual charisma dictate the tone of the entire film and she truly dominates the sex scenes, turning them into wildly erotic, hauntingly surreal sensual experiences. Her insane chemistry with Michael Douglas in the lovemaking scene elevates the film and pushes it beyond its genre constraints and nearly succeeds at it.

Read More: Sexiest Monsters in Movies

7. In the Realm of Senses (1976)

Nagisa Oshima’s deeply disturbing, intensely provocative psycho-sexual drama was cited by the great Michael Haneke as one of the very few films that depict sexuality in a “suitable” way. ‘In the Realm of Senses’ generated significant controversy over its raw, brutal depiction of sexuality and unhinged portrayal of violence on screen. The film features many sex scenes that are intensely disturbing and profound in their raw emotional impact which is further heightened by Oshima’s distinctively stylized aesthetics that make for a more involving experience.

Read More: Sexiest Movie Killers

6. Antichrist (2009)

Just the opening 3 minutes of Lars Von Trier’s ‘Antichrist’ could make the whole of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ look like child’s play. It’s pure cinema. Von Trier displays his true provocative genius in the scene which brutally mocks the inherent vulnerabilities, desires of human nature in the most sadistic yet painfully truthful manner. A couple are having sex. Their toddler gets up to the window and jumps out while his mother watches but does not react and, for the moment, prefers an orgasm over her own child! The sheer meaning and raw emotional power of this scene alone could put the whole of ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ to shame. Let’s not even talk about the entire movie!

Read More: Sexiest Horror Movies

5. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Stanley Kubrick’s iconic erotic masterpiece tells the story of a man who goes on a bizarre, nightlong adventure that takes him to the orgy of an unnamed, underground masked society after he discovers that his wife nearly had an affair with someone she once met. The film is noted for its highly stylized, explicit depiction of sex and nudity and the scene where Tom Cruise’s character witnesses a bunch of random people having sex at an orgy is probably one of the most disturbing yet bizarrely sensual scenes ever filmed. Nicole Kidman also strips off for many scenes and her raw beauty adorns the film’s vibrant erotic atmosphere.

Read More: Sexiest Movie Villains

4. Y Tu Mama Tambien (2001)

Quite honestly, it’s embarrassing to even mention this Alfonso Cuaron masterpiece alongside ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’. ‘Y Tu Mama Tambien’ is a film like no other. The way it goes about exploring themes of human desires, intimacy, mortality and the flailing nature of human relationships, all under the guise of a coming-of-age road drama is simply astounding. The film was noted for its raw depiction of sexuality and features numerous intimate scenes that are hauntingly sensual and melancholic in tone and atmosphere. The sex scenes in the film are so full of passion, intimacy and liveliness and you can’t help but feel touched by their honesty.

Read More: Best Gay Sex in Movies

3. Shame (2011)

Directed by Steve McQueen (’12 Years a Slave), the film is about a successful executive, who is a sex-addict and lives a lonely life until his sister walks into his life and messes his routine. It is a film that is uniquely bold and brash, but ultimately it is about facing your inner weaknesses and demons.  Though the film is talked about as one of the most beautifully shot films of McQueen and for Fassbender’s excellent performance, ‘Shame’ did not receive the success it should have, and actually, in my opinion, is McQueen’s best film till date. And that’s why, unsurprisingly, it is also placed at No.2 on the list of best movies of this decade. What it is also famous for is its honest depiction of sex and sexual hunger.

Read More: Bisexuality in Movies

2. Unfaithful (2002)

Not a particularly great film but ‘Unfaithful’ features some of the greatest sex scenes ever filmed. Director Adrian Lane’s style is distinctive but the writing is hugely flawed and it hampers the film to a massive extent. The sex scenes are crafted with such atmospheric intensity and emotional vibe that they manage to have a resounding sensual impact on you long after the film is over. Part of the credit here goes to actors, Antonio Banderas and Diane Lane. Lane, in particular, is astonishing and it’s her raw sensual charisma that defines the hauntingly seductive atmosphere of the film.

Read More: How Are Sex Scenes Filmed, Explained

1. Belle Du Jour (1967)

Arguably the greatest BDSM movie ever made, Luis Bunuel’s disturbingly passionate, surreal exploration of human sexuality is possibly the finest erotic movie of all time. The film tells the story of a gorgeous house wife, bored with her mundane life and lack of sexual excitement, who visits a visits a high class brothel and begins to work as a prostitute. Catherine Deneuve’s iconic, tone defining performance is the highlight of the film and the narrative unfolds in classic Bunuel fashion with a bizarrely eloquent mix of surrealism, humor and eroticism.