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We all know and love Netflix, but did you know that Netflix has a dark side? If you know where to look, your favorite streaming service can actually give you access to some of the steamiest cinematic gems around. This isn’t your mom’s Netflix.
We’ve told you before about the more mature side of streaming, but there’s a lot of adult content out there, and a lot of it is worth watching. Historically, cinema and literature have utilized sex to better explain and explore the complexities of being human. Plus, it’s a subject that’s entertaining to watch for … obvious reasons. To make sure you make the most of your subscription, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite lesser known, sex-filled watches. From steamy affairs to tales about physical obsession, these steamy watches are sure to make your queue a bit more interesting. It’s time to talk about sex, baby.
‘Perfect Sense’ (2011)
There are probably other Netflix gems that feature more sex, but where else will you see Ewan McGregor and Eva Green get nude? This sci-fi drama takes place in a world plagued by a disease that causes people to lose their sensory perceptions one by one. It’s a sadly moving movie that examines our need for companionship and to be loved.
‘Adore’ (2013)
This Robin Wright and Naomi Watts led movie focuses on the most scandalous pairing on this list. Roz (Wright) and Lil (Watts) are next door neighbors and mothers with teenage sons. One thing leads to another, and the mother duo starts to have affairs with the other mother’s son. Incest it is not, but it’s a little too incest-adjacent to be completely comfortable.
'Nymphomaniac: Volume I and II'
Lars von Trier’s celebrity-studded experimental film is all about sex — literally. Starring everyone from Uma Thurman and Willem Dafoe to Shia LaBeouf and Christian Slater, this two part film is packed with every position possible as it explores its main character’s sex addiction. If you share a Netflix account with your parents, be sure to delete this one from your history after viewing.
[Where to watch Nymphomaniac: Volume I]
[Where to watch Nymphomaniac: Volume II]
‘Young & Beautiful’ (2013)
This French film is a complicated coming of age story that simultaneously shows the horrors and beauty of sex. The film follows Isabelle (Marine Vacth), a 17-year-old student who loses her virginity during a holiday romance. However, after she returns home, she has to hide her life as a teenage prostitute for a year. It’s a sober and fragile look at sexuality and femininity that received a Cannes nomination in 2013.
‘Sex and Lucia’ (2001)
This Spanish drama is first and foremost a love story. However, as is often the case with steamy tales of passion, that love story is filled with countless sexy hook ups and eroticism. The movie’s non-linear format follows each character’s specific story before connecting them all. However, be warned. This is a very sad watch. Sexy, but sad.
‘Love’ (2015)
As we’ve told you before, this Gaspar Noe romantic drama is the most sexually explicit film to ever appear on Netflix. For that reason only, it’s worth the watch. The movie revolves around a cinema school student’s confusing and sex-filled relationship with his former girlfriend. Also, this film was originally released as a 3D erotic drama. Remember the 3D part as you watch.
‘I Am Love (Io Sono L'Amore)’ (2009)
If you’re a fan of Tilda Swinton, then you’re going to love this deeply human gem. The Italian movie follows a haute bourgeoisie family through changing times and fortunes, but what makes this movie remarkable are its many stylish costume changes and sexytime scenes. This one also comes with Tarantino’s stamp of approval. The director named it one of his favorite 20 films of 2010.
‘Wetlands’ (2013)
Heads up: As far as sexually graphic movies on Netflix go, this German drama may top the list. The movie follows 18-year-old Helen (Carla Juri), a very outspoken young woman who is all about sexual exploration. After a (graphic) shaving accident sends her to the hospital, she starts an affair with her nurse. Because the movie is as gleefully graphic as Helen herself, the movie earns its shock value.
‘Zipper’ (2015)
There are few things that seem to go together better than politics and affairs, and those two subjects are everything this Patrick Wilson thriller is about. Wilson stars as a federal prosecutor who wants to run for office but can’t stop sleeping with high-end escorts. It’s a hard life. It’s steamy for sure, but more than that, the movie examines why the appeal of sex cause some people to sacrifice everything.
‘Naked Ambition: An R-Rated Look at an X Rated Industry’ (2009)
Have you ever wondered what really goes into the porn industry? There are a lot of documentaries on Netflix that explore parts of adult entertainment, but this doc focuses on the larger industry. Based on the book of the same name, this doc attempts to capture the energy of the AVN Awards. Even if you don’t agree with the doc’s claims about porn, seeing the pageantry involved is interesting.
[Where to watch Naked Ambition: An R-Rated Look at an X Rated Industry]
