A good sex scene — one that’s high-quality and believable, with great acting and characters you can’t help but lust over — has the power to stay with you forever. It can inspire you to try new things, serve as a sexual awakening, or even motivate you to pull out your vibrator and have a really great orgasm when you just can’t resist. A realistic sex scene (one made with you and your pleasure in mind) can show you the kind of potential your sex life can really have, and perhaps even give you the courage to make a change.
Sex scenes aren’t just fluff — they can be seriously life-changing. That’s why we put together this list of the hottest movie scenes in cinematic history, for nights when all you want to do is fast-forward to the sexiest parts and understand what all the hype is about. Think: Titanic’s carriage scene, Ali and Noah in the rain in The Notebook, the green dress in the library during Atonement… they’re all memorable for the passion and pleasure they brought to the big screen.
Keep in mind that sex scenes in movies, while incredibly hot, might not always be as graphic as what you’d see in porn. If you’re craving something more visual, don’t be afraid to opt into paid and feminist porn sites that guarantee actors, crew members, and the production team behind the films earn a liveable wage and operate under safe and fair working conditions.
The movies on this list don’t actually count as porn, but they do contain porn-adjacent scenes that can turn you on just as much. There’s nothing quite as hot as seeing the chemistry between two very sexy actors finally spill over when it’s been building up throughout the whole movie. Our picks below promise that and more. From iconic Hollywood flicks to sultry Netflix films, behold: the sexiest movie scenes of all time (in no particular order). Dim the lights and happy watching!
50 of the most iconic movie sex scenes in history
1.Challengers (2024)
While (spoiler alert! 🚨) there is no real threesome in Challengers, the closest viewers get is a steamy make-out scene that starts with Tashi (played by Zendaya) between Art (Mike Faist) and Patrick (Josh O’Connor) and ends with, well, you just have to watch it, k?
2. Do The Right Thing (1989)
The ice cube scene in Spike Lee’s Do The Right Thing has become somewhat controversial in recent years, since Rosie Perez gave an interview about feeling uncomfortable with the nudity. But it’s a moment that went down in New York cinema history as a sweetly erotic exchange between two young people looking to distract themselves from life in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, in 1989.
3. Ghost (1990)
Whether or not you’ve even seen the movie, everyone knows about the pottery scene from Ghost — and trust, it’s a classic for a damn reason. Who knew pottery throwing could be so erotic? Whoever wrote this scene, that’s who. And thanks to them, now so does every other human on the planet.
4. Don’t Worry Darling (2022)
Florence Pugh plays a housewife who starts to realise that her idyllic community — and her husband, played by Harry Styles — might not be as picture perfect as she thought. There are a few sexy scenes between Florence and Harry to choose from, but the hottest has to be the cunnilingus performed on the dining room table. Turn down the AC because it’s about to get hot in here.
5. Atonement (2007)
Young lovers Cecilia Tallis (Keira Knightley) and Robbie Turner (James McAvoy) passionately make love against a stack of books in a library — that is, until Cecilia’s little sister Briony (Saorsie Ronan) catches them in the act.
6. Black Swan (2010)
In arguably one of the most important on-screen cunnilingus displays of our time, Mila Kunis and Natalie Portman share an extremely heated exchange — and yes, it’s every bit as hot as it sounds. Sure, the film is a lil creepy, but honestly? That just adds to the hotness factor.
7. My Beautiful Laundrette (1985)
This film — about an interracial gay couple in a rough neighbourhood in London — broke so many boundaries when it was released in 1986. Similarly, watching a young Daniel Day-Lewis’ muscular back glisten in the light as he kissed Gordon Warnecke all over just about broke my brain (and my vibrator).
8. Moonlight (2016)
Moonlight might not be the kind of movie you think about when it comes to sensual sex scenes, but one particular scene is guaranteed to get your pulse running: when childhood best friends Kevin and Chiron reunite at the beach after years apart. Things definitely escalate when Kevin holds Chiron close to him and helps him rub one out, right there at the beach.
9. Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019)
Trust me, you haven’t seen a movie like Portrait of a Lady on Fire. The plot is a bit... different. A painter has been ordered to make a portrait of a woman without her knowing that she’s being painted, and that portrait will then be sent off to a man in Milan who will decide if he wants to marry her or not. But, of course, the two women fall in love. And in my opinion, the building sexual tension is way better than the actual sex.
10. Deadpool (2016)
Pansexual supherhero Deadpool, AKA Ryan Reynolds, gets it on with his super hot girlfriend. Not to objectify but... look at those back muscles.
11. Disclosure (1994)
Featuring Demi Moore and Michael Douglas, this sex scene is a classic. She’s straddling him by a window, he’s grabbing her butt. It just needs to be seen, okay?!
12. Ammonite (2020)
If you haven’t heard that Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan play lesbian lovers in a period movie, well, this is it. And trust me, the scenes are just as titillating as you’d think. My favourite one has to be when Charlotte (Saoirse) interrupts Mary (Kate) as she works, and they immediately go at it. The director even graces you with a scene where Mary goes down south on Charlotte, who is sitting atop a desk.
13. By The Sea (2015)
Alongside Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt’s obvious chemistry, it’s the little things that make this scene so highly charged: the 60s aesthetic, Angelina’s coppery hair, Brad’s chain, and, of course, the bathtub.
14. Elisa and Marcela (2019)
This is more than just an overall sexy movie — it’s a beautiful piece of art. These women become the first lesbian couple to get married by the church back in the early 1900s but only because one of them pretends to be a man. Aside from being overly emotional, this movie contains plenty of sex scenes between the two women. One particular scene goes on for more than three minutes and I can’t tell what’s hotter: them taking off each other’s corsets or the finger-licking scene before they go downtown.
15. The Shape of Water (2017)
You wouldn’t expect to get turned on by an ancient fish man alien creature — but, hey, a number of people do. This movie led to so many fish man penis jokes, which ultimately led to the creation of a fish man dildo.
16. Blue is the Warmest Colour (2013)
Blue Is the Warmest Colour is one of the most controversial films of its time. The lesbian love story includes a graphic, seven-minute sex scene. Watching it will definitely *warm* you up.
17. Pretty Woman (1990)
Uh, hi, can I get a guy to just plop me on a piano and show me how much he wants to love me?? The infamous Richard Gere and Julia Roberts play love interests in this must-watch-before-you-die rom-com. Might I add, this is one of multiple sensual lurve scenes in the film.
18. Love (2015)
This controversial French movie is incredibly hot as it features IRL sex (like, not simulated). There are countless sex scenes, so much foreplay, threesomes, and real life orgasms.
19. Blue Valentine (2010)
Although the film is about a couple whose relationship is hitting a downward spiral, Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams make sure to make the sexy scenes they do have very hot. Oral sex (being performed on women, anyway) has historically been such a rare sight in mainstream movies, that this one deserves one thousand awards.
20. Mulholland Drive (2001)
This award-winning film received a lot of praise back when it first came out. And one of the scenes that probably lent to its ~artsy~ appeal was a tender love scene between its two female leads, Rita (Laura Harring) and Betty (Naomi Watts).
21. The Notebook (2004)
This scene from The Notebook was the culmination of all Allie (Rachel McAdams) and Noah’s (Ryan Gosling) frustrations with each other and all the tension that built up between them over the years. So, naturally, this resulted in a really wet (well, because of the rain), really intense, and really hot sex scene.
22. The Watermelon Woman (1996)
This landmark piece of Black LGBTQ+ cinema also features a great sex scene. In it stars Cheryl, who’s also the director and writer of the movie.
23. Carol (2015)
A lesbian period drama replete with drawn-out desire and knowing looks? Why, yes! Carol is a love story that takes place in 1950s New York. The film, starring Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett, is an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith’s seminal novel The Price of Salt and follows an aspiring photographer (Rooney Mara) who falls for an older woman (Cate Blanchett). It’s a soft-spoken romance with a tender (but oh-so sexy) scene where the two women finally get physical with one another after plenty of hedging.
24. Weekend (2011)
Tom Cullen and Chris New embark on a sexual relationship in this romantic drama, and it is just very, very nice to watch.
25. Saltburn (2023)
Even if you haven’t seen Saltburn yet, you’re likely aware of the infamous bathtub scene. But there’s much more to this film than just the steamy tension between Barry Keoghan and Jacob Elordi. When I say it’s edgy, I mean it — you will walk away shocked by the endless raunchiness. Avoid spoilers and brace yourself for what might be the strangest and most sexually charged thriller of the modern age.
26. 9 Songs (2004)
Years after meeting a total babe at a gig, a man (Kieran O’Brien) thinks back to a hot as hell affair he had with her (Margo Stilley).
27. Poison Ivy (1992)
Drew Barrymore having sex in the rain? Sign me up! Yeah, she is kind of having sex with her mate’s dad. But it’s a work of fiction! Let’s forget about that for a moment and just watch it.
28. Seven Pounds (2008)
In what’s been called the sweetest sex scene of all time, this is the first time Will Smith and Rosario Dawson’s characters sleep together. It’s slow, sensual, and loving.
29. Crash (1996)
Yes! The movie about car crashes! Stop judging me! There’s a whole lotta sex in this movie, so take your pick.
29. Secretary (2002)
BC (before Christian), there was a different dominant Grey in cinema. Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader turn this dark comedy, Secretary, into something wildly sexy. The film digs into the complexities of their dynamic while exploring the boundaries of desire and consent. Also, um, it’s far less problematic than Fifty Shades, so do with that what you will!!!
30. Appropriate Behaviour (2014)
A bisexual woman (played by Desiree Akhavan) gets it on with her new girlfriend (Rebecca Henderson).
31. The Handmaiden (2016)
What happens when a scammer hires you to pose as a handmaiden to a Japanese heiress who you actually end up falling in love with? Find out in The Handmaiden. Set aside the fact that this psychological thriller involves some rather grim scenes, the first sex scene between Kim Tae-ri and Kim Min-hee is hot, pure, and just brilliant.
32. Bound (1996)
Hailed as instrumental in many a lesbian awakening, Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon have undeniable chemistry in this 1996 cult classic. Not only is the simulated sex totally delicious, but the film had a massive influence on lesbian fashion for decades to come. Painter pants and lacy black slips? Yes, pls.
33. Don Jon (2013)
Joseph Gordon-Levitt plays Jon Martello, who is obsessed with porn and loves to have sex with lots of people. Including Julianne Moore in a super hot scene. Oh and also with Scarlett Johansson.
34. Atomic Blonde (2017)
Charlize Theron plays a spy who basically walks around followed by bisexual lighting. And then there’s the kinda rough scene with Sofia Boutella. We’re still thinking about that one.
35. Monster’s Ball (2001)
This scene is all about Leticia Musgrove’s (Halle Berry) pleasure, as Hank Grotowski (Billy Bob Thornton) goes down on her. And the sexiest part? He asks, “Can I touch you?” Nothing is sexier than consent, people!
36. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
I know Stanley Kubrick might seem a little... much... for a sex list, but honestly, his final masterpiece, Eyes Wide Shut, delves deep into the complexities of sexual desire and fidelity. Starring the (then real-life couple) Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, this film takes you on a trippy journey through a series of sexually charged encounters. Set against a hauntingly beautiful backdrop, the film is infamous for its secretive masquerade ball — an event that is as erotically unsettling as it is visually stunning.
37. Watchmen (2009)
Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” will forever go down in history as the musical backdrop to this sex scene. Superheroes Night Owl II (Patrick Wilson) and Silk Spectre (Malin Åkerman) get it on in their spaceship after a hard day’s work of saving the world.
38. The Mountain Between Us (2017)
A) Idris Elba. B) Kate Winslet. After weeks of build-up, the sex they have is intense.
39. Alien: Covenant (2017)
For those thinking, ‘Yeah but doesn’t an alien burst through the shower and kill them two seconds after?’, please forget about that for a moment. There’s nothing better than a shower sex scene. Oh wait, yes there is — a shower sex scene in space.
40. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (2011)
Rooney Mara’s character, Lisbeth Salander, hops right on top of Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) and it’ll for sure get you feeling some type of way. Make sure your boo is in close proximity because you’ll be wanting to pounce on them after watching this steamy sex scene.
41. Monster (2003)
Forget about the serial killings for just one second. Charlize Theron and Christina Ricci star in this incredibly steamy scene, and that’s all that matters.
42. But I’m A Cheerleader (1999)
But I’m A Cheerleader is a comedy (and a cult one at that), but that doesn’t mean the sex scene wasn’t iconic. Mainly because it’s so rare to have a high school teen drama based around anyone other than straight kids. Good work Natasha Lyonne.
43. Wild Things (1998)
The pool scene. Need I say more? FWIW, I asked a bunch of my male friends to tell me their favourite movie sex scenes, and this one came up almost every single time. And, hi, I can see why.
44. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Margot Robbie knows how to star in a sex scene, that much is clear from The Wolf of Wall Street. Oh, and Leo Di C’s in it too, if that’s your bag.
45. Titanic (1997)
The car. The steam. The hand. Lest we forget.
46. The Photograph (2020)
We all knew The Photograph was going to be your typical romance movie of a couple who gets to know each other before realising they’re meant to be. But just because their feelings are sweet doesn’t mean they don’t get down and dirty in the sheets. One particular scene features Michael (LaKeith Stanfield) and Mae (Issa Rae) actually making love. Like the shit we all dream will happen for when we find ~ the one ~.
47. The Mist (2007)
You might not think a movie based on a Stephen King novel could be in any way sexy, but it turns out when a mysterious supernatural mist is putting your life in danger, it’s the perfect environment for a sex session.
48. Love & Other Drugs (2010)
Many things fall, break, and get ripped as womanising drug rep Jamie Randall (Jake Gyllenhaal) couldn’t wait to get into Maddie Murdock’s (Anne Hathaway) pants. Needless to say, things escalate really quickly.
49. Cruel Intentions (1999)
IMO, this movie is a classic. Ryan Philippe, Reese Witherspoon, and Sarah Michelle Gellar star in it. What more do I need to say? And if you ever miss Ryan and Reese together as a real-life couple, watch their love scene in this movie. It’ll bring back all the feels.
50. Dirty Dancing (1987)
One of those legendary films whose reputation precedes it, it’s no secret nor surprise that Dirty Dancing is filled with all kinds of risqué behaviour. Baby’s confession of her feelings for Johnny leads to some (you guessed it) ~dirty dancing~, which culminates in some pretty sensual lovemaking.
Emma Glassman-Hughes (she/her) is a freelance writer for Cosmopolitan and a part-time editor at the Boston Globe. She was formerly a staff writer at Elite Daily, where she covered sex, intimacy, and queer topics. She is a graduate student at Boston University, where she’s pursuing a master’s in journalism with an emphasis on narrative and investigative reporting. She has a Twitter but her website is way more fun.
Paisley is the former Sex and Relationships editor at Cosmopolitan UK. She covers everything from sex toys, how to masturbate and sex positions, to all things LGBTQ. She definitely reveals too much about her personal life on the Internet.
