Sex and films have always gone hand in hand, even during times when Hollywood censors prevented any mention of sex on screen. In the '30s, it was unthinkable to have an unmarried man and woman sleep in the same bed in a movie, but now it's rare that a movie is made without a sex scene of some kind. Movies like Fifty Shades of Grey earn major theatrical releases and any number of forms of erotica are available at a click of a button — so, what changed? Well, movies did. Every once and a while, a film comes along that scandalizes the public with a new portrayal of sex or a new definition of what is sexy, and pushes us forward. These 13 scandalous movies to watch on Netflix have each played a part in expanding movie-goers ideas on sex, scandalously.
These scandalous movies get that label because of their treatment of sex, but that doesn't necessarily mean that all of them are sexy. That said, some of these are so sexy that they have become synonymous with the act itself. Take a look, and you'll know what I mean.
1. Basic Instinct
When Basic Instinct was released in 1992, it contained the shot heard 'round the world. The shot in question: Sharon Stone's open legs during a tense interrogation scene with Michael Douglas. The world has never been the same.
2. Tangerine
Tangerine, an independent film about two transgender women in Los Angeles, isn't particularly sexy, but it earned a lot of buzz for its portrayal of transgender women.
3. Eyes Wide Shut
Stanley Kubrick's sexual thriller is known for showcasing a massive, cult-like orgy. So, there's that.
4. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo
The original adaptation of Stieg Larsson's gritty novel pulls no punches when it comes to depicting the sexual violence and masochistic kinks described in the book.
5. Love
Gaspar Noé's sexual odyssey brought scandal to the 2015 Cannes Film Festival — not an easy feat. What made Love stand out was the fact that it featured full-frontal nudity in 3D. Obviously, the 3D aspect is lost on Netflix streaming, but the scandal is still there.
6. Boogie Nights
Boogie Nights took on the porn industry and offered fans a whole new way to look at its star, Mark Wahlberg.
7. Nymphomaniac
Lars von Trier got a lot of pushback for his two-part sexual movie event, starring Charlotte Gainsbourg as a sex-addicted woman. Years later, the movie has not lost its edge, and it probably won't any time soon.
8. Y Tu Mamá Tambien
Alfonso Cuarón's 2001 film featured a lot of sexual exploration for its characters, and I'm willing to bet it inspired some sexual exploration, too.
9. Weekend
A rare movie about two men who fall in love after a one-night stand, Weekend became an instant classic in 2011.
10. American Beauty
American Beauty provided moviegoers with what later became an iconic image of sexuality: Mena Suvari naked in a bed of rose petals.
11. Fatal Attraction
Fatal Attraction has been praised as revolutionizing women on screen and been attacked for demonizing the "other woman" and a strong female character. It's the kind of controversial film that hasn't aged particularly well in the eyes of feminist viewers, but the fact that we're still talking about it makes this one must-see scandalous movie.
12. The Killer Inside Me
The Killer Inside Me ruffled a few feathers when it came out in 2010, mostly because of the explicit sex scenes involving stars Casey Affleck, Jessica Alba, and Kate Hudson. It's scandalous nature has faded a bit, but scandal is scandal.
13. The Seven Year Itch
In a world where Nymphomaniac is in theaters, it's almost hard to believe the impact Marilyn Monroe had by simply standing above a grate. But, the fact remains that the image of Monroe in that white dress is still one of the most sexy images in American cinema, and that makes The Seven Year Itch a perfectly scandalous movie to watch on a Saturday night.
There's no shortage of sexy movies on Netflix, so if you're looking for scandal, you won't be disappointed.
Images: TriStar Pictures; Giphy (11); marxiststevenhyde/tumblr; sherlynn58/tumblr
