Sex scenes in films are nothing new — but most of the time, the actors are pretending. Every now and then, though, a director wants the real thing: actors actually having sex on screen. And no, we’re not talking about porn.
Films to set the mood
There’s only a small list of films that feature genuinely unsimulated scenes — and that makes them perfect viewing if you want to get in the mood for a hot night in. Especially now that you know the actors in these 17 films aren’t faking it. Ready for a run of seriously steamy films?
1. 9 Songs (2004)
This 2004 film is known as a proper hipster film. It follows a couple who go to a lot of concerts — Franz Ferdinand and The Dandy Warhols among them. Beyond the music, it’s mostly just about the sex. And it’s very, very real.
2. Love (2015)
Uninhibited sex, threesomes and an orgy. This film features an absurd amount of sex scenes. The story revolves around a dysfunctional relationship, and things get rough. The director reportedly ran chemistry tests between actors — which makes sense given the huge amount of sex in the film.
3. Romance (1999)
This 1999 film is a real classic. It’s about a woman whose boyfriend won’t have sex with her. So what does she do? She goes looking elsewhere. The film picked up an R-rating straight after release — telling you all you need to know.
4. Otto; Or, Up with Dead People (2008)
“Otto” follows a zombie living in Berlin, and the film packs in a lot of erotic scenes. One character is making a documentary about porn and a zombie ends up tangled up in it. Reportedly all the intimate scenes really happened on set — so if zombies-and-sex is your particular niche, you’ve found your film.
5. Caligula (1979)
For a 1979 film, this box-office hit veered awfully close to porn territory. It hit cinemas with a controversial label instantly attached. Top-tier actors of the era (Helen Mirren, Peter O’Toole) shared a lot on screen — if you know what we mean.
6. Shortbus (2006)
We’ve arrived at the comedy stop. The 2006 film Shortbus sits in a particular sexual genre — BDSM. The film centres on a woman trying to reach her first orgasm, with very explicit results. Funny, with seriously hot sex scenes.
7. The Brown Bunny (2003)
When this film came out in 2003, no one could stop talking about a particular sex scene. Leads Vincent Gallo and Chloe Sevigny were having a very good time. The most-discussed moment in the film is the (long) oral sequence.
8. The Idiots (1998)
A group of friends. What could go wrong? An orgy, that’s what. This 1998 film is about friends who shed all their inhibitions and get very close to each other. Most of the sex was simulated, but in certain scenes stand-in porn actors took over.
9. Cruising (1980)
This film isn’t really about sex — it’s a thriller. But the sex it does include is very real. The plot follows a police officer hunting a serial killer who targets gay men. The title, “Cruising”, is still used as a term in gay culture today. The film’s release sparked significant protests from gay activists who felt stigmatised by it.
10. Intimacy (2001)
This British film is about a man falling in love with a woman he occasionally has sex with — without realising she’s been married for years. That doesn’t dampen the fun, though, because there’s plenty of real-deal sex throughout.
11. Lie With Me (2005)
The title of this film already sounds promising. This steamy drama follows an affair between a man and a woman, played by Eric Balfour and Lauren Lee Smith. If you’re thinking “I’ve never even heard of this”, that’s because it wasn’t a huge hit.
12. Antichrist (2009)
For this film you’ll want a strong stomach. The leads themselves never actually had sex on camera — body doubles reportedly stepped in for the explicit material. The film also drew controversy for scenes depicting vaginal mutilation.
13. Don’t Look Now (1973)
Don’t Look Now is a 1973 gem. It contains fairly intense sex scenes, including a fair amount of oral. It’s a perfect Sunday-afternoon drama. Rumour has it the sex is faked, but it’s never been confirmed — nor has it ever been confirmed that it was real.
14. Nymphomaniac Vol. I (2013)
The poster doesn’t give much away, but this film features some big names. Shia LaBeouf and Uma Thurman both deliver compelling performances. Did their characters actually have sex? You’ll have to watch and judge for yourself. According to set rumours, a few prosthetic vaginas were involved. Loved Vol. I? There’s also a Vol. II.
15. In the Realm of the Senses (1976)
This film picked up an X-rating — heavy enough that it was banned from cinemas in the US and elsewhere. The romantic drama follows a passionate couple drawn into a dark affair. We won’t spoil the film — you’ll have to discover what makes it so dramatic for yourself.
16. Pola X (1999)
Oui oui. Pola X is a proper French hit from 1999. It tells the story of a young writer who meets a woman and embarks on a romance with her. The film features several famous scenes between the actors that are still talked about today.
17. Scarlet Diva (1999)
This is an autobiographical film by its lead, Asia Argento. It quickly emerged after release that essentially all the sex scenes were performed by the actors themselves. A film full of sex, drugs and everything in between.
Which films from this list have you seen? Or which ones do you want to watch? Let us know.