The following 10 Netflix films are all about lust and passion – from bondage games to forbidden affairs to ménage à trois.
Since “Fifty Shades of Grey,” at least, our society’s attitude toward erotic films has fundamentally changed. The success of the book series and its film adaptation has clearly demonstrated that there is a large audience for stories centred on desire and sensuality. Streaming services like Netflix and Prime Video, in particular, have since sought to satisfy their subscribers’ cravings with productions that combine an interesting plot with thrilling love scenes.
When these films are well-made, they are able to explore relevant emotional and psychological themes; if not, they resemble soft porn — but even those can be entertaining.
Erotic films on Netflix: The top 10
You can decide for yourself which of the two categories the following 10 Netflix films fall into.
Fucking Berlin (2016)
To finance her math studies in Berlin, young Sonia (Svenja Jung) leads a double life: By day, she diligently studies for her exams, and by night, she works as an escort—a brave story about the search for love and identity, loosely based on the autobiography of Sonia Rossi.
Happy Ending (2023)
In this romantic comedy, unfulfilled desire also becomes a problem: Luna (Gaite Jansen) and Mink (Martijn Lakemeier) have been a couple for a year and are quite devoted to each other. But there’s something Luna is hiding from her sweetheart: She has never had an orgasm with him. On the advice of her best friends, who suggest she should try something new in the bedroom, Luna proposes a threesome to Mink. However, the subsequent evening with climate activist Eve (Joy Delima) turns her life completely upside down.
Fair Play (2023)
In her feature film debut, Chloe Domont addresses the destructive gender dynamics that pit partners against each other in a constantly changing world: The ambitious financial analyst Emily (Phoebe Dynevor from “Bridgerton”) and her fiancé Luke (Alden Ehrenreich) work for the same hedge fund firm. When she gets a promotion he secretly hoped for, the power dynamics between the two change drastically — the relationship takes a dark turn.
Erotic films with bondage games
Fifty Shades of Grey series (2015-2018)
The film trilogy, based on the bestseller by E.L. James, is about a shy college graduate (played by Dakota Johnson) who enters into a BDSM relationship with the mysterious entrepreneur Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan). However, his traumatised psyche is far darker than his sexual preferences. Even if the sex scenes do not conform to the actual principles of BDSM and Christian Grey is a walking red flag, the cultural influence of the story cannot be denied. The first film grossed over $250 million at the box office in 2015; the books sold 150 million copies worldwide.
365 Days trilogy (2020-2023).
Opinions are divided on these erotic Netflix films from Poland. Although numerous viewers on social media were outraged by the glorification of violence and toxic relationship dynamics, all three parts of the novel adaptation made it into the Netflix Top 10. What is “365 Days” about? The mobster Massimo kidnaps a young woman he saw on the beach and cannot forget, and holds her captive for 365 days so that she will fall in love with him. In the film, this is supposed to seem romantic; in real life, it is a crime.
Gerald’s Game (2017)
To spice up their sex life, the married couple Jessie (Carla Gugino) and Gerald (Bruce Greenwood) drive to their remote weekend house. There, Jessie lets herself be handcuffed to the bed for a sex game. But the mood turns when Gerald suffers a fatal heart attack. Jessie is trapped and begins to hallucinate from shock and dehydration. This gripping horror film is based on a story by Stephen King and was directed by Mike Flanagan, the creator of Netflix horror hits like “The Haunting of Hill House” and “The Fall of the House of Usher.” In “Gerald’s Game,” a weekend for two turns into a nightmare.
Erotic films about risky affairs
The Perks of Being Cheated On (2023)
You shouldn’t expect a masterpiece from this erotic film from Brazil, but it certainly provides light entertainment: on the eve of her wedding, actress Babi (Giovanna Lancellotti) finds out that her partner Caio (Micael Borges) has cheated on her. She ends the relationship and decides to start a completely new chapter in her life: she wants to have a great time sexually. How convenient that the attractive judge Marco (Leandro Lima) crosses her path shortly after…
Fatal Attraction (1987)
A classic among erotic films: family man Dan (Michael Douglas) takes advantage of a weekend trip by his wife and daughter to spend a few pleasant hours with a stranger (Glenn Close); but his plan to then scorn the lady backfires, because she develops a pathological obsession and wants Dan for herself at any price.
Under the Deep Sea (2022)
This French erotic film was inspired by a true story. It tells the story of Roxana (Camille Rowe), who drops out of her studies in Paris and flees to the south of France. There she meets the world champion in freediving, Pascal Gauthier (Sofiane Zermani), and falls madly in love with him. But Pascal’s passion for the sea and the extreme sport he teaches her soon push Roxana to her limits.
Lady Chatterley’s Lover (2022)
This film adaptation of D.H. Lawrence’s taboo novel is not only highly erotic but above all a fiery plea for female emancipation: when young Connie Reid (Emma Corrin) marries the wealthy Clifford Chatterley, a life full of wealth and privileges seems assured. But when her husband returns injured from World War I and can no longer walk, she gradually feels trapped in the marriage based on idealism.
This article was originally published by Anna Rinderspacher on the Marie Claire Germany website.
Translated and syndicated for Marie Claire Nigeria by Tobi Afolabi.
