During the long and storied history of film, there have been many infamous and legendary scenes that have gone down in history and have stuck in people’s minds permanently. Some of the most infamous and legendary film moments have been movie sex scenes. Movie history has been full of stimulating, steamy, memorable sex scenes that continue to get talked about to this day.
There is no doubt that sex is a popular topic for many reasons. It is a fact that sex sells. It has certainly helped to boost the profile of some of the most legendary movies in cinematic history. There are some films that take a careful approach to how a sex scene is shot, while others leave very little to the imagination. Either way, sex has become an integral part of the film industry and has featured in countless movies over the years.
Though there have been a lot of memorable movie sex scenes over the years, there are certainly some that stand out from the pack. These scenes have truly gone down in infamy and are often the first thing that people think about when a particular movie is brought up. If you are someone who is interested in finding out about the best movie sex scenes of all time, then this article is for you. These are the top 20 best movie sex scenes of all time!
Basic Instinct
1992’s Basic Instinct is a legendary film that drew a lot of attention when it was released. The film stars Sharon Stone and was directed by Paul Verhoeven. Much of the attention that this film received was due to the infamous sex scene that featured Stone’s character.
She engages in a striptease while she is under questioning from the police and has her infamous moment where she uncrosses her legs. At the time of its release, this scene certainly drew a lot of praise as well as a lot of criticism, but it all helped to add to the legend of the film as a whole. It has also landed it a ranking as one of the top 20 best sex scenes in cinematic history.
Top Gun
Top Gun was one of the most legendary films of the 1980s and featured an all-star cast that included Tom Cruise and Kelly McGillis. Though the film is known for featuring fighter pilot heroes, it is also quite infamous for the sex scene between Cruise and McGillis.
This legendary sex scene makes us of a blue light effect that was quite the rage during the decade of the 1980s. The action takes place in silhouette and so it leaves much to the imagination but that has not stopped it from going down as one of film’s most iconic sex scenes. It is another one of those scenes that have to be included in any list covering the top 20 best movie sex scenes.
Last Tango in Paris
The next entry on our list of the greatest movie sex scenes of all time is the iconic butter lube moment from Last Tango in Paris. The 1972 film from Bernardo Bertolucci is considered to be an all-time classic piece of cinema. Much of this continues acclaim is due to the sex scene between co-stars Maria Schneider and Marlon Brando.
This primal scene is certainly not romantic love and is far from being consensual in nature. This fact, along with the use of butter as lube has caused this scene to go down in infamy within the realm of film. It has also earned it a spot as one of the top 20 most notable movie sex scenes in history.
Gone Girl
The David Fincher-directed movie Gone Girl came out in 2014. It features another legendary sex scene that is worthy of being counted among the best in movie history. Neil Patrick Harris and Rosamund Pike are the stars of this now infamous sexual encounter that concludes in the gruesome murder of Harris’s character.
This is one of those movie sex scenes that you truly want to view at your own risk if you are at all squeamish when it comes to the sight of blood. This scene was legendarily difficult to shoot and might have been a bit emotionally traumatizing for the co-stars that performed it. This is easy to see why if you have viewed this infamous movie sex scene.
American Psycho
The year 2000 was the beginning of a new century and it was also a year that added another movie sex scene to this top 20 list. This comes in the form of the Mary Harron-directed American Psycho. This sex scene involves Guinevere Turner, Cara Seymour, and Christian Bale. The infamous scene finds Bale’s character engaged in a sexual romp with two prostitutes.
All the while, the music of legendary singer Phil Collins is playing in the background. The scene includes the iconic and infamous moment where Bale’s character Patrick Bateman peels off a facial mask. What is certain is the fact that this sex scene has gone down in history as one of film’s most memorable.
Elena Undone
2010’s Elena Undone is a movie that was both written and directed by Nicole Conn. This lesbian film features one of the most iconic and memorable movie sex scenes of all time. The legendary sex scene in question involves actresses Traci Dinwiddie and Necar Zadegan.
This one gets steamy from the very start as the two passionately make out in a doorway before taking things to the bedroom where the matter only continues to heat up. It is one of the most notable and memorable lesbian sex scenes in film history and this has landed this steamy romp on our list of the top 20 best sex scenes from the world of film.
Irresistible 2006
The next movie entry on our top 20 list for the greatest movie sex scenes of all time is the Australian film from 2006 know as Irresistible. Actress Emily Blunt is the true star of this steamy sex scene. It might even be more accurate to say that the actress’s breasts are the stars of this iconic movie sex scene. They have certainly helped it to go down in history as one of film’s most legendary scenes of passion and a fitting member of this top 20 list.
The Blue Lagoon
We once again go iconic here with the legendary sex scene from the 1980 movie The Blue Lagoon. The film stars Christopher Atkins and Brooke Shields. As children, they are marooned on a desert island with no guidance from the outside world.
The climactic sex scene in question is the result of the love and lust that builds between the pair over the years and it is one of the most memorable and iconic moments in film history as well as sex scene history. It is a true coming of age moment in the history of film. This is a scene that would be impossible to leave off of any list that claims to contain the greatest movie sex scenes of all time.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_ZvXy5i_YM
Monster’s Ball
2001’s romantic drama Monster’s Ball was brought to movie audiences by director Marc Forster. It was produced by Lee Daniels. This movie contains one of the most iconic sex scene moments in film history that takes place between co-stars Halle Berry and Billy Bob Thornton.
This hot and steamy sex scene is one of the most graphic on this list and culminates in Berry’s character riding furiously on Billy Bob in what is a truly hot and sweaty sex scene that is remembered for good reason. This scene is a true banger and a fitting list member for the top 20 greatest movie sex scenes ever.
In the Realm of the Senses
In the Realm of the Senses is a French-Japanese film that was released in 1976. It is truly one of the most interesting members of this top 20 list. The legendary sex scene in question here occurred between co-stars Eiko Matsuda and Tatsuya Fuji. A major reason why this is such a legendary and controversial sex scene is due to the fact that it is unsimulated. This fact earns In the Realm of the Senses a truly unique spot on this top 20 list of legendary movie sex scenes.
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
We now come to the memorable sex scene in the 2008 romantic comedy Forgetting Sarah Marshall. This Nicholas Stoller-directed film finds Kristen Bell playing the role of Sarah Marshall. She hooks up with co-star Russell Brand in a film that is as full of funny moments as it is full of sexy moments. This 2008 movie might be one of the newer entries on this list as compared to some of the others, but it has earned its spot as a notable sex scene.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvNuTuiKyIo
Fifty Shades
It really should come as no surprise that Fifty Shades has landed a slot on this list of the top 20 best movie sex scenes. This legendary film involves a BDSM-oriented relationship between co-stars Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan. There is plenty of getting tied of and rough involved in this film that has become a true erotic classic. It has also inspired sequels as well as some full-on pornographic adaptations as well. No top 20 list of movie sex scenes would be complete without mentioning Fifty Shades.
Jason’s Lyric
Jason’s Lyric is an erotic romantic movie that was released in 1994. It is another film that is a must-mention on any top 20 list regarding hot and steamy sex scenes. Jada Pinkett truly helps to put the sex scene in this film over the top. Her legendary sexual romp outdoors and in the flowers is one that people are still talking about to this day and it is one that we had to include on our top 20 list for greatest movie sex scenes.
Under the Skin
2013 was the release year for another film that contains an all-time legendary sex scene. Under the Skin finds actress Scarlett Johansson finds herself in bed with a man that she is attracted to. This scene is a bit on the awkward side but it does present fans a great chance to see Johansson’s ass in all of its nude glory. This by itself is enough to earn this scene a legendary position as one of the best movie sex scenes.
Don Jon
Don Jon is a film from 2013. The romantic comedy comes to film audiences from director Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The notable sex scene in Don Jon is one of the factors that has helped to make this movie a memorable one. This is another one where famed actress Scarlet Johansson is at the center of the action. She actually has several highly notable sex scenes in this film and her performance helped to make this movie an instant classic.
The Room
2003’s The Room is an independent movie that was both directed and produced by Tommy Wiseau. The film features a love triangle between Juliette Danielle, Greg Sestero, and Wiseau himself who also stars in the film. There are several notable sex scenes to choose from in The Room and they help to make the movie all that it is.
There are five total sex scenes in this movie including a hot and steamy oral scene that has gone down in film history. Factors such as these have helped this film to land its spot on our list of the top 20 greatest movie sex scenes in cinematic history.
Disobedience
Disobedience is a movie from 2017 that is written and directed by Sebastián Lelio. This romantic drama features one of the most memorable and legendary movie sex scenes of all time and this has landed it a spot on our top 20 list.
This is another iconic lesbian sex scene. Perhaps the most infamous and iconic moment in this sex scene is where Rachel McAdams has her mouth spit in by co-star Rachel Weisz. This scene is raunchy and hot and it is certainly one that needed to be included on this top 20 list for greatest movie sex scenes of all time.
The Counselor
We now arrive at one of the most unique sex scenes on our list and one of the hottest. The 2013 crime thriller The Counselor achieved some serious infamy for a sex scene that involves Cameron Diaz’s character getting herself off while on top of a car’s glass sunroof. She performs this act of self-pleasure for the viewing enjoyment of her boyfriend who is played by actor Javier Bardem. Interestingly enough,
Bardem’s character Reiner describes the scene as reminding him of watching a fish sucking on the side of an aquarium. At any rate, this is one of those movie sex scenes that immediately comes to mind when the name of this film is brought up.
Out of Sight
George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez are performers of note in the famous sex scene from Out of Sight. This crime drama from 1998 was directed by the legendary Steven Soderbergh. It is a film with a true all-star cast but it is Clooney and Lopez that are at the focus of what we are covering here. This legendary movie sex scene gave fans of Jennifer Lopez the chance to see her stripped down to her underwear and they were certainly thrilled about the opportunity. The scene still ranks as one of the most legendary movie sex scenes in film history and it deserves its spot on our top 20 list.
Brokeback Mountain
The legendary sex scene in Brokeback Mountain is considered to be a true piece of film history and one of the most legendary gay sex scenes of all time. It involves two cowboy lovers played by Jake Gyllenhaal and Heath Ledger. The scene portrays two lonely men who have only each other to keep company with while working on a high mountain slope.
This infamous scene leads to what becomes a long-time love affair though they both struggle to come to terms with their situation. The legendary status of this moment in film history makes it the perfect place to wrap up our list of the top 20 best movie sex scenes of all time.
Conclusion
These movie sex scenes have become some of the most infamous and legendary moments in cinematic history. The scenes that we have covered here are all considered to be among the most iconic, memorable, and in some cases, controversial moments in the history of film.
These are the scenes that many people immediately envision when the names of these movies come up in conversation. They have helped these films to build their places within the realm of cinematic history. It is for this reason that these are the top 20 best movie sex scenes of all time. You simply must check them out if you have not done so yet!
