Steamier than Fifty Shades: 10 must-watch erotic films for a sultry Valentine's
Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson in the 2024 movie 'Babygirl'.
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If you’re looking to turn up the temperature this February, this curated selection of steamy movies is designed to add some serious heat to your Valentine’s Day viewing.
Forget the standard rom-coms; we’re diving into a world of tension, desire, and the kind of chemistry that lingers long after the credits roll.
Turn down the lights as we explore these cinematic journeys into the heart of passion.
Babygirl (2024)
In this high-stakes erotic thriller, Nicole Kidman stars as a high-powered CEO who risks her career and reputation when she begins a torrid affair with a charismatic, much younger intern played by Harris Dickinson.
The film is intensely steamy because it dives headfirst into the complex power dynamics of submission and dominance, capturing the raw, unfiltered nature of female desire in a modern corporate setting that feels both dangerous and liberating.
'Babygirl' stars Nicole Kidman and Harris Dickinson.
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The Voyeurs (2021)
When a young couple, played by Sydney Sweeney and Justice Smith, move into a beautiful Montreal loft, they find themselves obsessed with the amorous lives of the neighbours across the street.
The movie heats up as their innocent curiosity spirals into a dangerous game of obsession, leaning heavily into the provocative thrill of voyeurism and the blurred lines between watching and participating.
Sydney Sweeney and Justice Smith in 'The Voyeurs'.
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Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman (who were in fact married at the time) play a couple whose relationship is pushed to the brink when the wife confesses to her secret sexual fantasies, leading the husband on a night-long odyssey through an underground world of masked rituals.
This film was famously controversial for its explicit group sequences and its haunting, hypnotic atmosphere, making it a masterclass in psychological tension and the darker side of intimacy.
'Eyes Wide Shut' stars Nicole Kidman and was directed by Stanley Kubrick.
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Secretary (2002)
A young woman recently released from a mental institution, played by Maggie Gyllenhaal, finds a unique kind of liberation through a BDSM-tinged relationship with her demanding boss, portrayed by James Spader.
Often cited as the sophisticated, indie predecessor to Fifty Shades of Grey, this film offered a far more nuanced and steamy look at power play, using the tension of the workplace to explore a deep, eccentric physical connection that is as tender as it is provocative.
Maggie Gyllenhaal, gets a job as a secretary to a lawyer James Spader.
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The Handmaiden (2016)
Set in 1930s Korea, a con man hires a pickpocket (Kim Tae-ri) to serve as a maid to a Japanese heiress (Kim Min-hee) to swindle her out of her inheritance. Only for the two women to fall into an unexpected, passionate romance.
The film is breathtakingly erotic, featuring lush, visually stunning sequences that capture the intense, forbidden chemistry between the two leads as they navigate a web of betrayal.
'The Handmaiden' is set in 1930s Korea.
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9 ½ Weeks (1986)
Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger star in this definitive '80s classic about an art gallery assistant who enters a brief but incredibly intense sexual relationship with a mysterious Wall Street broker.
Known for its iconic scenes involving food and ice, the film was highly controversial at the time of its release for its explicit nature, remaining a benchmark for the erotic drama genre through its focus on sensory pleasure.
Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger.
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Lady Chatterley’s Lover (2022)
Emma Corrin stars as the unhappily married aristocrat Lady Chatterley, who embarks on a soul-awakening affair with her estate’s rugged gamekeeper, played by Jack O'Connell.
Based on the famously banned novel by D.H. Lawrence, this adaptation is profoundly steamy, focusing on the raw, physical connection between the two leads as a form of rebellion against the stifling social classes of the time.
Emma Corrin and Jack O'Connell in 'Lady Chatterley's Lover'.
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Vicky Cristina Barcelona (2008)
Two American friends (Rebecca Hall and Scarlett Johansson) spend a summer in Spain and become smitten with the same painter (Javier Bardem), only to have his fiery ex-wife (Penélope Cruz) join the mix.
The film sizzles with a sophisticated, sun-drenched energy, particularly when exploring the volatile and electric ménage à trois that develops between the three leads.
Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz and Scarlett Johansson in 'Vicky Cristina Barcelona'.
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The Pillow Book (1996)
Vivian Wu stars as Nagiko, a woman obsessed with calligraphy and the tactile pleasure of writing on skin, who seeks out lovers who can provide her with both literary and physical satisfaction, eventually meeting an English translator played by Ewan McGregor.
This film is an exquisite and steamy exploration of the intersection between art and anatomy, using body painting as a highly sensual medium for storytelling and connection.
Vivian Wu stars as Nagiko, a woman obsessed with calligraphy and the tactile pleasure of writing on skin.
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Cruel Intentions (1999)
In this sleek retelling of Les Liaisons Dangereuses, step-siblings played by Ryan Phillippe and Sarah Michelle Gellar make a wicked bet regarding the seduction of the headmaster’s daughter, portrayed by Reese Witherspoon.
The film is an enduringly sexy watch because of its lethal mix of teenage rebellion, manipulative mind games, and the palpable tension that simmers between the young, glamorous cast.
Ryan Phillippe, Reese Witherspoon, and Sarah Michelle Gellar in 'Cruel Intentions'.
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