35 Movies Where the Sex Scenes Are Essential[html]
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Modern movie audiences seem to be as prudish as ever when it comes to sex on the big screen, as online discourse frequently runs to the tiresome topic of whether or not sex scenes are strictly "necessary" to the plot of any particular film. I'm not convinced movies ought to be so laser-focused on plot anyway—reducing a Shakespeare play to just the dialogue that advances "plot" would have us in and out in 20 minutes—but suggesting sex is somehow uniquely unnecessary strikes me as an overcorrection.
Yet it seems explicit sex scenes in Beau is Afraid, All of Us Strangers, Infinity Pool, Passages, Saltburn, Baby Girl, and Queer have been traumatizing unwary theatergoers as of late, even as the Oscars haven't shied away—this year's Best Picture winner, Anora, includes a fair bit of steaminess, while last year's Poor Things, was racy enough to draw controversy and criticism, particularly in the U.K., where only a censored version was initially released.
Leaving aside whether I personally find this discussion worthwhile, there certainly are films for which we can draw a straight line between sex scene and plot, or which use sex to reveal their characters (no pun intended). Consider these 31 movies, and see if you come away feeling any better about the existence of characters who fuck.
Boogie Nights (1997)
Though the sex isn't wildly explicit, it would be altogether silly for a film set in and around the world of 1970s cinematic porn to skip the sex scenes entirely. One moment in particular comes at the outset of Dirk Diggler/Eddie Adams' career, as he's filming his first explicit scene with Julianne Moore's Amber Waves/Maggie. The moment captures Eddie's nervousness as well as his sexual charisma, while also making clear that this is a job for everyone involved. The crew looks on while Maggie gently guides her co-star through his first on-screen orgasm. It's not an overwhelmingly passionate scene, but it is a surprisingly tender one. You can rent Boogie Nights from Prime Video.
Poor Things (2023)
Rather hard to choose just one sex scene here, given that the entire movie has to do with the sexual exploration of Emma Stone's childlike Bella Baxter. Running the gamut from deeply icky to aspirational, the movie doesn't lack for sexual energy, but the key moment, perhaps, is a relatively brief moment between Bella and sex worker Toinette (Suzy Bemba). It's a scene that opens Bella up to the possibility of sex as comfortable and companionable, and not merely an animal urge. Socialist Toinette teaches Bella about a world outside of fancy houses and privilege, and the beginning of their relationship marks the moment at which Bella begin her real journey. You can stream Poor Things on Prime Video.
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
OK, granted, the impromptu sex scene at the center of Brokeback Mountain was clearly choreographed and performed by people with only the vaguest notions of what sex between two men can look like—as if there exists not a single queer in Hollywood who might have been consulted. The moment pays off sexual tension that has been building between Ennis (Heath Ledger) and Jack (Jake Gyllenhaal) from the first frame. It's significant that the filmmakers choose to make clear that sex is a component of the attraction here, beyond the cutesy stuff. You can stream Brokeback Mountain on Peacock or rent it from Prime Video.
Oldboy (2003)
Park Chan-wook's action classic is not for the faint of heart on any level, and that includes the sex scene between Dae-su (Choi Min-sik) and Mi-do (Kang Hye-jung). It's not that the moment is itself wildly explicit, but the movie's last-act reveal of Mi-do's true identity is genuinely shocking in context, and brings the 15-year timeline of revenge and counter-revenge full circle. You can rent Oldboy from Prime Video.
Beau is Afraid (2023)
A nearly three-hour journey into the headspace of the deeply anxious title character (Joaquin Phoenix), Beau is Afraid was one of the last year's most polarizing films—and was probably my favorite of 2023. Many of Beau's troubles stem from the vaguely psychosexual manipulations of his mother, Mona (Patti Lupone), who made sure to describe to the young Beau the mid-coitus death of his father in excruciating detail. Sexual phobias aren't the entirety of Beau's problems, but they're a key component of his inability to connect with other people. When he does finally have sex, at the movie's climax (ahem), it only makes things so, so much worse for a guy who cannot catch a break. You can stream Beau is Afraid on Max and Paramount+ or rent it from Prime Video.
Saltburn (2023)
Another of the year's most hotly debated films, Saltburn transports The Talented Mr. Ripley to Northamptonshire, England, with mixed results. Scholarship student Oliver (Barry Keoghan) has pursued Felix (Jacob Elordi) from Oxford all the way to the guy's ancestral home, only for Oliver to find (*major spoilers coming*) that his plans of getting in with the posh crowd are going to need to involve murder. His dreams of sex with Felix having gone down the drain (somewhat literally), Oliver instead fucks Felix's fresh grave. The scene is there for shock value, sure, but also makes clear that Oliver's machinations to that point were never purely strategic, and that his lust/obsession with Felix was very real. You can stream Saltburn on Prime Video.
The Terminator (1984)
The love scene between Sarah Connor (Linda Hamilton) and Kyle Reese (Michael Biehn) is neither particularly hot nor explicit, but it is essential to the film, and the franchise as a whole. Without the sex-on-the-run between the two, John Connor will never be born to save humanity, and won't be around to send Kyle Reese back in time to train Sarah. Very timey-wimey. The moment makes the great Terminator 2 possible, but also a series of largely forgettable sequels—so it's not all good news for humanity. You can stream The Terminator on MGM+ and The Roku Channel or rent it from Prime Video.
Atonement (2007)
Set over the course of, nearly, a lifetime, Atonement kicks off with Briony (Saoirse Ronan) witnessing mildly rough sex between her sister Cecilia (Keira Knightley) and the housekeeper's son Robbie (James McAvoy). Jealous and confused, the young heiress mistakes what she sees for rape, which clouds her judgement when she accuses Robbie after an actual sexual assault occurs shortly thereafter. Briony's allegation sets in motion a cascade of events that darkens the lives of those around her, allowing the real assailant to go free. As the movie's title suggests, Briony spends much of her life trying to make amends for her mistake. You can rent Atonement from Prime Video.
The Shape of Water (2017)
