The Golden Age of the erotic thriller was undoubtedly the 1980s and 1990s, ushered in by movies like Cruising, Dressed to Kill, and Body Heat, and popularized by Fatal Attraction and Basic Instinct. However, several unforgettable movies have also been produced in the 21st century. Most of these films feature characters enjoying illicit sex, with danger always on the horizon.
The internet has been partly blamed for the genre’s decline in the 21st century. It has been argued that because of the increased availability of online adult content, people no longer actively look for films that offer spectacle and excessive nudity. However, the following big-screen offerings are worth anyone’s time. They also offer some creative plotlines.
‘Unfaithful’ (2002)
Aaaah! That familiar moment when two people accidentally ram into each other on the street, then their eyes lock. Game over! Happily ever after! However, things are a little different in Unfaithful because Connie is married and lives a very comfortable life in upscale Westchester County, New York. The man she just met is a book collector living in a dingy apartment. But he’s handsome and enigmatic. Within a few days, their connection deepens, and they begin sleeping together. How long before her spouse finds out?
This deep, gorgeous, and moving thriller touches all senses. Wisely, director Adrian Lyne chose to shoot it mostly in close-ups, so the environment never overwhelms the emotions of the characters. The actors are all outstanding. Richard Gere is particularly memorable as Connie’s husband. The film is inspired by the French thriller La Femme Infidèle, but if you prefer films shot with a modern lens, pick this version.
‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’ (2022)
While D. H. Lawrence’s iconic erotic novel has been adapted numerous times over the decades, Netflix’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover is undoubtedly the most thrilling screen version of the story. Things become complicated when baronet Sir Clifford Chatterley comes back from World War I, paralyzed from the waist down. His unhappy wife, Lady Chatterley, is soon drawn to the cottage of the gamekeeper.
Genre lovers will be thrilled by the perpetual yet forbidden intimate moments will thrill genre lovers. Throughout the film’s run time, Lady Chatterley is incapable of leaving her lover and throws caution to the wind. The two become like young lovers, occasionally running around naked in the rain, and the camera highlights the stunning beauty of the vast land. The movie makes you think and, most of all, it offers key lessons about risk and fidelity. Who you root for depends on what your past relationships have been like.
‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ (2015)
It didn’t take long for E. L. James’ 2011 eponymous and globally popular novel to be turned into a movie (following a bidding war by various studios). Fifty Shades of Grey features the billionaire-with-abs trope that is all too common in erotic literature. Here, we meet college graduate Anastasia “Ana” Steele, whose life changes in unexpected ways when she falls for business magnate Christian Grey. The sadomasochistic sexual relationship between them is key to the plot.
Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan are great in the lead roles. With an excellent supporting cast that includes Jennifer Ehle and Marcia Gay Harden, Fifty Shades of Grey is an enjoyable tale that raises questions about how we define love. Is it better than the book? Well, they’re mostly the same, so lovers of the source material are likely to enjoy it. And there’s no need to read the book if you haven’t. The film covers pretty much everything.
‘Babygirl’ (2024)
Everyone was excited when Nicole Kidman was cast in the 2024 erotic thriller Babygirl, given her great track record in the genre. From To Die For to Eyes Wide Shut, she made the ‘90s sexy. This time, she plays Romy Mathis, an influential CEO of a New York robotics firm, who is seduced by an intern. The affair takes a dominant-submissive dynamic. What will Romy’s husband, Jacob (Antonio Banderas), do when the truth comes out?
Filmed in various shades of soothing colors, this occasionally dour, heartbreaking thriller about the blending of work and play perfectly captures the little-known dynamics of modern office politics. But it also tells a deeply compassionate tale, with Banderas delivering a pained performance as a betrayed husband. Kidman is great too, with her trademark dancing eyes (she was awarded a Volpi Cup for Best Actress). The rest of the cast doesn’t disappoint either.
‘365 Days’ (2020)
365 Days has a special place in the category of so-bad-they’re-good movies. The plot – about a Sicilian crime family member forcing a young Polish woman to fall in love with him – is juvenile, but the Netflix movie has many iconic moments. Who can ever forget the scene where the two make love on the boat after a near-drowning incident?
In the absorbing work, the directing duo of Barbara Białowąs and Tomasz Mandes portrays the grueling reality of dating a narcissistic criminal with startling immediacy. There is so impressive camera work, too. Employing a naturalistic filming style and a measured pace, the directors brought the popular books of Blanka Lipińska to vivid life. Switch your brain off for this one and enjoy the moment.
‘The Duke of Burgundy’ (2014)
Does this sound like a period piece? The Duke of Burgundy is actually an LGBTQ movie set in modern times. Set in a gorgeous, dreamlike European estate, the film follows Evelyn and Cynthia, two lepidopterists who spend their days studying moths and butterflies. We soon learn their interactions are actually highly choreographed moments of sadomasochistic rituals, where Cynthia is the demanding mistress, and Evelyn is the submissive maid. You can bet that one person isn’t happy with the arrangement.
Today, The Duke of Burgundy still stands tall as a riveting thriller about lust, love, and shifting loyalties. The radiant Sidse Babett Knudsen is perfect, and leads a talented cast as the valiant woman who isn’t afraid to open up about her desires. Wondering about the title? It refers to the Duke of Burgundy (Hamearis lucina) butterfly, although it has never been established why it was given that specific name. Watch the movie for entertainment and to learn how to spot cycles of abuse in a relationship.
‘Deep Water’ (2022)
From Fatal Attraction to Indecent Proposal, Adrian Lyne has proven himself to be the master of erotic thrillers. But his best work came before the millennium, and in the 2020s, he wanted to prove that he still has it. We got Deep Water, a story about a couple who agree to an open relationship to save their marriage, only for the husband to get jealous and start killing his wife’s lovers.
Ana de Armas and Ben Affleck’s superb performances carry what at times looks like a wobbly vehicle. While the script isn’t the tightest it can be, its themes of perseverance and malice remain universal. Visually, Deep Water looks great, which is impressive, considering that Lyne hadn’t made a movie in 20 years. Also, the music by Marco Beltrami feels appropriate and perfectly captures the derangement that often follows lust.
‘Chloe’ (2009)
Inspired by the need to mend or break her flailing marriage, Catherine concocts a plan to test her husband David’s faithfulness. Afraid that he might be having affairs with his students, she sends an escort to tempt him, a move that will give her the pretext to exact revenge or initiate divorce proceedings if proven right. Will this seemingly nefarious proceed to its conclusion in Chloe?
With its rollicking lovemaking scenes and bizarre character choices, Chloe is an old-fashioned erotic thriller on par with ’80s and ’90s classics. It also asks a key question: “Why so insecure? ” Liam Neeson is excellent in the film, and, unfortunately, he had to leave production early when his wife, Natasha Richardson, tragically passed away after a skiing accident.
‘Blue is the Warmest Color’ (2013)
Léa Seydoux might have been shier than the typical Bond girl in Daniel Craig’s movies, but she truly let loose in Blue is the Warmest Color. In the French film, she plays a skilled painter who woos an innocent girl into a wild lesbian relationship. There are no illicit trysts here. Just good old-fashioned passion and genuine love.
Easily narrated and exquisitely photographed, this delicate, explicit romance story rises above the conventions of its plot to achieve an unusual poetic lyricism. After watching it, you will wish you could see it again for the first time. It’s that good, and Seydoux’s angelic features aid greatly in expressing both adolescent longing and a more mature and reasonable desire for connection. It would also be a crime not to tell you that Blue Is the Warmest Color won the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.
‘The Handmaiden’ (2016)
Inspired by the novel Fingersmith by Welsh writer Sarah Waters, with the setting changed from Victorian-era Britain to Japanese-occupied Korea, The Handmaiden is a triumph in con artistry, suspense, and sexual liberation. The plot centers on a woman tasked with becoming a maid to an heiress to steal her inheritance, only to fall in love with her.
Park Chan-wook’s career-defining film unfolds like a leisurely and eventful summer as the maid learns new things about life, love, and morality. The setting allowed the cinematographer to flex his skills while the take itself subverts power dynamics in a way that we rarely see. In a fair world, The Handmaiden would have won Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars. But recognition always comes in many forms, and this list is one of them.
Have you seen any of these movies? Which one would you add to the list? Let us know in the comments!