Akhilesh C.
Nudity in movies has a long history. Right from 1915, when director Lois Weber chose to portray an actress naked for his film, to the most recent fandom fantasy premiere of ‘Game of Thrones,’ nudity has served its purpose in every aspect of filmmaking. With the advent of porn films, whatever little inhibitions filmmakers had in portraying nudity were let go. The thought process behind that was that people get to see nudity on-screen, so there should not be a big deal if they are shown in conventional movies. Other factors, such as prosthetics, technology, and better cameras, made filming and executing nude scenes easier.
The list below primarily comprises Hollywood movies with the most nude scenes and lots of nudity. It does NOT cover documentaries or pornographic films. To the puerile souls that are smitten by the naked body of Kate Winslet in Titanic or nudity in general, here is a list of movies with lots of nudity. Please keep in mind that these movies have been ranked based on their nude scenes.
31. Tiger, Blood in the Mouth (2016)
It is not a cinematic masterpiece, but the nudity factor pays your money off. Also, there are no tigers involved per se, not at least in their literal sense. An aging boxer, Ramon, who once had been a big shot, has lost all hope in his life and career. With his career on a sunset and his wife and kids demanding more attention from him, Deborah, a young, fervid female boxer at the onset of her career, enters. They both fall for each other (or rather lust for each other), and what follows is relentless fornication, nude scenes (which are a delight, yes?), and a lot of sexual encounters. Those who are looking for some boxing material should be prepared to be disappointed. If you’ve been longing to watch sex in a sports-related movie, this is the one for you. Stream it on Netflix right away.
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30. Killing Me Softly (2002)
A high-profile drama that relies more on sexual measures than the storyline, the film revolves around a woman who abandons her relationship with her boyfriend and ties her hands to a mysterious mountain climber. Although it fails as a film progresses, ‘Killing Me Softly’ guarantees high thermal ambiance with Heather Graham’s lumped-up exposure alongside her co-star Joseph Fiennes. For the most part, ‘Killing Me Softly’ acts as a substitute thriller for ‘Unfaithful,’ which was released in the same year. You can watch the film here.
29. Wetlands (2013)
Well, more than sexuality and eroticism, disgust is the first emotion that comes to mind when ‘Wetlands’ is concerned. To start with, Helen is a young lass who doesn’t believe in hygiene, prefers to sit naked with her genitals on all kinds of trash, and has no ambitions in life whatsoever. Recalling her sensual experiences from her childhood and with the apparent trauma of her separating parents, Helen prefers living an out-of-the-box, adventurous life for herself, including exploring all the options for her sexuality. She cuts herself while she’s been shaving her anus one fine day (yeah, you read that right!) and has to go to the ER, where she falls for Robin, a male nurse. With scenes depicting severed body parts, ample nudity, and disgusting sex scenes, but yet very minimal mainstream sex, ‘Wetlands’ is one of the weirdest movies on this list. You can watch it here.
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28. The Concubine (2012)
This South Korean drama went viral at the time of its release because of all the boldness and nudity, which, although it was purported, wasn’t expected much. In a literal context, a concubine would mean a woman who lives as a mistress with a man of a higher social status (possibly a king of older times) along with his wives and extended family. ‘The Concubine’ encompasses a similar concept wherein, in the Joseon Dynasty, an incumbent prince, Sung-won, falls for the daughter of a nobleman, Hwa-Yeon, who, in turn, is in love with a low-born man, Kwon-Yoo. With sex scenes comprising full and frontal nudity most of the time, ‘The Concubine’ is often counted as one of the most erotic and sensational South Korean movies of all time. Not porn at the outset, but extremely sensual and sexy at that. You can watch it here.
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27. Basic Instinct (1992)
Catherine Tramell is one of the deadliest characters in history. Period! She is also one of the female characters who heated up the nerves with her sultriness and naked adventures. ‘Basic Instinct’ is one of those movies that could give you the fever, and there is no better movie in this list that flamboyantly fondles nudity as it does. The 6-minute-long and raunchy scene between Nick and Catherine is also a major depository of this explicit tale. And who could forget the most paused moment in the history of movies with Sharon Stone baring it all? Or at least deliberately trying to? You can watch the film here.
26. Spun (2002)
A fair warning – do not judge the movie’s content from the picture shown above. How crazy could one become after a drug binge? ‘Spun’ has the answer. Its storyline goes like this – a meth addict gets high and visits a strip club, takes a dancer home with whom he already has a relationship with. His hallucinations turn perverse with sexual fantasies as he tries different sex positions with the girl he picked while he ties her naked on the bed and pulls off a complete ’50 Shades of Grey’ on her. As erotic and intriguing the storyline might seem to you, the more disturbing it actually becomes. You can watch ‘Spun’ here.
25. Lust, Caution (2007)
‘Lust, Caution’ has often been called Ang Lee’s masterpiece. A spy thriller at the outset, the movie is set around the assassination attempts of a few top Japanese officials by Chinese adversaries back when Shanghai and Hong Kong were ruled by namesake Governments run by the Imperial Japanese Army. The attempts of these so-called honey traps would comprise sultry women and steamy sex, hence perhaps the presence of the word “Lust” in the movie’s title. More than plain, simple sex, the eroticism is sweepingly good, and it would be difficult not to be aroused and amused at the same time while watching the movie. You can watch the film here.
24. Caligula (1979)
Fun fact – ‘Caligula’ is based on the life of a Roman Emperor of the same name. Produced by a leading Men’s magazine, it is no wonder they haven’t left a lot to all of our imagination. Not only the sex scenes are quite extensive and unsimulated, which is merely a start, but the orgies and the exhibitionism also prove to be a little extravagant. Caligula is a young prince and the next in line to the royal throne after his venereal-disease-ridden great-uncle Tiberius. While Tiberius enjoyed merely watching naked girls frolicking in a pool or orgies, Caligula has his own “taste.” Replete with the other kind of action, ‘Caligula’ is perhaps one of the pioneers of on-screen nudity without adding or altering the obscenity factor.
23. Puppylove (2013)
Another misnomer on the list, ‘Puppy Love,’ involves neither a puppy nor any love – only lust and borderline incest to begin with. A teenage girl, Diane, is on an apparent “quest” to explore her sexuality, befriends Julia – her neighbor, and has sex with Antoine, one of her other friends. As she continues her encounter with threesomes, Julia flirts with Christian – Diane’s father, and that eventually strains the relationship between Diane and Christian when the latter has sex with Diane’s friend Julia. While you can throw the logic out of the window during the movie’s runtime, it would be advisable to keep your senses under your control as a lot of hormonal influx is coming your way. ‘Puppy Love’ has to be one of the most sensual movies on this list. You can watch it here.
22. Q (2011)
A French movie at the outset, one can only expect higher than normal nudity as far as ‘Q,’ aka ‘Desire,’ is concerned. Deborah Revy is Cecile, a promiscuous woman who is “on the prowl” looking for relationships and consensual sex. While Cecile finds many partners to satiate herself, another girl, Alice, is on a similar path after her recent stints in relationships. While their paths cross, we also witness some extremely steamy sex scenes before ‘Blue is the Warmest Colour,’ if you know what I mean. Display of genitals is a very common happenstance in the movie, along with unsimulated sex scenes. You may or may not get the gist of the movie, but you will see a lot of naked bodies walking around. You can watch ‘Desire’ here.
21. Room in Rome (2010)
Perhaps this picture speaks a lot more about the film. The 2010 Spanish erotic drama ‘Room in Rome’ centers around two women who get into a serious lesbian relationship that runs for one long night in a hotel room as soon as they get acquainted on their last night of vacation in Rome. Alba and Natasha, who’ve been portrayed as amateurs when it comes to lesbian relationships and sex, have experimented a lot with positions and “methods,” if you will, and have tried to explore their sexuality well. The way the movie transpires from being sensuous to explicit almost slips from one’s attention.
20. Intimacy (2001)
‘Intimacy’ depicts the erratic relationship between the couple, Jay and Claire, who meet once a week. Their Wednesdays are willingly enthralling with a tryst that follows their relationship, but their vibes become volatile when Jay tries to uncover the truths behind her identity. Mark Rylance’s bare projection of his physical attributes took everyone by storm. A scene where he lets his co-star Kerry Fox to fellate him is probably the biggest revelation I could come up with.
19. Henry and June (1990)
Long before ‘Kill Bill’ happened, Uma Thurman featured in this steamy lesbian romance drama, the first film to earn an NC-17 rating, and that says it all. The Phil Kaufman-directed period biography ‘Henry and June’ is a triangular love story that simmers your thoughts with its rawness and magnitude, especially when it starts to highlight the play between Anais Nin and June Miller. A biopic at the outset, the story revolves around Anais Nin, who, although married, is in love with Henry Miller – a novelist, and her wife – June Miller. While Nin is on good terms with her husband, too, her attraction towards both Henry and June knows no bounds as she relentlessly pursues them and eventually succeeds in separating them. As dark and intriguing as it sounds, the boldness and the intensity of the sex scenes are essentially a few of the film’s highlights.
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18. In the Realm of the Senses (1976)
This film revolves around Sada Abe, a sex worker in the past who has been employed as a maid in a hotel in Tokyo and develops a weird physical relationship with the hotel manager, Kichizo Ishida. As their physical intimacy turns into mania, so does their way of making love, which becomes exceedingly brutal at a point, easily surpassing what is known as BDSM in today’s lingo. The brutality eventually leads to Ishida’s death while they’re having sex, thus leaving his severed genitalia inside Sada – yes, you read that right. As far as the nudity is concerned, given the premise, you can easily deduce how it is going to be.
17. Shame (2011)
Often touted as one of the best works of Michael Fassbender, ‘Shames’ revolves around a sex addict, Brandon Sullivan. While Brandon hasn’t found love so far and has never been in a relationship, he has also to pull off a balancing act with Sissy, his sister who has a relationship with David, Brandon’s boss who has already been married. While Brandon shies away from the fact that he’s been addicted to pornography and masturbation, he has a lot of reservations against his sister developing a relationship with a married man, while the former doesn’t seem to have any qualms about it. ‘Shame’ delicately manages to highlight both sides of a coin – being a sex addict to being involved in an extra-marital affair and as you look at it from both of their shoes, they both may seem right. As far as nudity is concerned in the movie, it looks like no expense has been spared. It wouldn’t be a folly to call ‘Shame’ as Michael Fassbender’s ‘Nymphomaniac.’ You can watch the film here.
16. Sex and Lucia (2001)
Lucia reads a novel that is written by her ex-boyfriend, and she herself plays a part in it. As she rustles pages, her days with her partner, their sexual encounters, relationship endeavors, and broken blossoms are all unveiled in this Julio Medem’s erotic drama. The film stays rigid and flamboyant throughout its storytelling, along with some fragments of nudity that handcuff the viewers like every other movie by Julio (one of the other is on the list). You can watch ‘Sex and Lucia’ here.
15. Y Tu Mamá También (2001)
The movie’s name literally translates to “And Your Mother Too.” A film by Alfonso Cuaron, the genius who gave us ‘Gravity,’ the movie is set in and around Mexico, dealing with the lives of teenagers trying to deal with sex, relationships, and drugs. The worth-mentioning highlight of the movie is its sex scenes, which are explicit in nature and don’t leave you until the movie does. Set in the backdrop of a politico-economic crisis of the late ’90s, which triggered a revolution in the country, ‘Y Tu Mamá También’ received universal acclaim for being “carefree” and “serious” simultaneously. This movie is essentially one of the finest works of Cuaron.
14. Fifty Shades of Grey Series (2015-2018)
Any list of movies with maximum nudity would be incomplete without the mention of this franchise, which redefined the sub-genre altogether and set a benchmark on what can be depicted in a movie bordering pornography without it being labeled as a pornographic movie. Needless to say, the movie’s premise is not as important as the execution part of it – meaning the movie doesn’t have a core premise. Christian Grey is a billionaire and the CEO of Grey Enterprises. Anastasia Steele is a student at Washington State University, but that’s unimportant. The sex starts as soon as they first meet in the first installment of this erotic movie series. Christian makes her sign a non-disclosure agreement before initiating any physical relationship, and then we get to see his “playful” playroom with all sorts of sex toys and spanking equipment. While initially Anastasia is flabbergasted at the sorts of “experiments” Grey resorts to, she both likes and dislikes his ” punishment ” methods, which form the entirety of the movie. You can watch the movies here.
13. Anatomy of Hell (2004)
Although most of the nudity and the depicted genitalia have been performed using body doubles and prosthetics, for a 2004 movie, things do seem pretty real. Amira Casar is a lonely woman who employs a gay man who mostly has to watch her sleep naked in front of him while he sits and gazes at her naked body. Although the man is hesitant even to touch her, they come closer within the stipulated four-day span and consummate their relationship (or whatever it has to be called) by having sex. The man’s role has been played by pornstar Rocco Siffredi who has to identify his own self while sitting in front of a woman’s naked body. Deep, dark, and borderline disgusting (with all the closeup of genitals and occasional blood), ‘Anatomy of Hell’ is perhaps one of the most pathbreaking films having maximum nudity.
12. Showgirls (1995)
With ‘so good that it is so bad’ zingers from critic journals, ‘Showgirls’ is a loop woven with provocative sex, stripping, dance, and romance routines. But actress Elizabeth Berkley strikes an exception to me as she is the only one whose performance didn’t crinkle me, I will give her that much. On a high note, ‘Showgirls’ is a topless exhibition that can seal all pages of a Playboy magazine.
11. Ken Park (2002)
Rather than calling it a regular teen sex drama, it could be called a surprise letter that had its notions to the fullest. Unlike ‘Shortbus’ (which is also on this list), ‘Ken Park’ sticks to its motives that are more sickening than just widespread graphic sex just to enthrall the viewers. It talks about the lives of Californian skateboarders and their time with and without their parents, whose families are dysfunctional. Nudity? – It was banned in Australia. Take that for an answer.
10. Love (2015)
Movies take art form. Gasper Noe’s movies take nude form. His 3D adventure ‘Love’ is an erotic drama that starts on the bed and ends in the bathtub. It gives no space for you to think of it as a porno but leaves every mark of it. The film’s male lead, Murphy, is a student in a film school and, at one point, says, “I want to make movies out of blood, sperm, and tears.” ‘Love’ was screened at the Cannes Film Festival. You can watch it here.
9. Shortbus (2006)
Dodge this – ensemble cast, sex, a sex salon, orgasms, orgy, and ample nudity to begin with, ‘Shortbus’ is the name of a sex salon that is in Brooklyn and is attended by people deprived of sexual experiences. Nothing lesser than a hard-core porn showered with nudity, the movie revolves around Sofia, who is a sex therapist by profession. As she comes in contact with a gay couple – James and Jamie, she is recommended by the formers to attend Shortbus in Brooklyn. As Sofia attends the so-called “Sex Spa,” she meets new people and develops new intimate sexual relationships. All this is while the movie follows a coherent storyline, consistent with Sofia’s character. Although the movie came out as popular only due to its explicit scenes, there’s a bittersweet tale in the backdrop, which also deserves its due credit. You can watch the film here.
8. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Things get fuzzy whenever you sit through a Stanley Kubrick film. ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ is easily a wonder that will last longer in our memories despite its complexity, and this time, he smacked us with some nudity. Kubrick’s final directorial venture before his demise, ‘Eyes Wide Shut,’ is yet another masterpiece (like all his other movies), and it revolves around Dr William Harford and Alice Harford – a married couple living in NYC. The film goes on to explore the extra-marital affairs of both William and Alice when Alice admits that she cheated on William once. William commences his night-long adventure of partying all blindfolded and filled with perversion. As the night progresses, William feeds on wild orgies, fantasies, and all sorts of sexual encounters, something that’s destined to alter his life irreparably. You can watch ‘Eyes Wide Shut’ here.
7. 9 Songs (2004)
What’s the best way to open a film which has surplus nudity? There, you guessed it!! With an intercourse. And will it take its plunge without controversies? Definitely not. ‘9 Songs,’ directed by Michael Winterbottom, centers on the love story of a couple with the aid of 9 songs played by different rock bands. The film was highly controversial upon its release due to its unsimulated footage of sex in all forms. Within a quarter of its length, it offers enough nudity to feel yourself inside a strip club (which was also shown in the film). There’s no concealment per se wherever genitalia has been shown, and the fact that sex is an inseparable part of the movie, ‘9 Songs’ is easily one of the movies depicting graphic sex in such a massive scale.
6. Salò, or the 120 Days of Sodom (1975)
Italy’s most notorious filmmaker, Paolo Pasolini’s terminal push on his filmography came as a picture that can only be read on paper, a picture that is gutsy in its depiction of the untold truths of Fascist-ruled Italy. ‘Salo or the 120 Days of Sodom’ could easily find its spot in any list where terms like ‘Torture’ and ‘Nudity’ are mentioned. Apart from the extremities of Fascism, monstrosity, slavery, and sexual liberation, what is also very apparent is the immense nudity, along with things depicting torture porn. Although the film’s purpose was to arouse the audiences, it certainly has a knack for becoming “controversial and objectionable,” and it has succeeded to a very large extent.
5. Antichrist (2009)
Lars Von Trier has long been associated with strange yet sexy movies. A horror movie at the outset, ‘Antichrist’ has all the elements of frightfulness, sexuality, disgust, and intensity one can expect. The movie begins with a couple who have lost their young child and seek solace in a cabin in the woods where they start experiencing strange phenomena like talking foxes, ticks and mites, and everything yucky and, of course – sex at different outdoor places in the dark (I often wonder where’s the fun in that). More than the intensity, the sex is brutal, outrageous, and violent, bordering on torture and disturbing to a large extent. Blood and gore also form an essential part of the film. Charlotte Gainsbourg is the poster child of director Lars Von Trier and should continue to be for a long time if she continues with performances similar to that in ‘Antichrist.’ William Dafoe has acted equally well in the movie.
4. Nymphomaniac: Vol. I & II (2013)
This erotic sex drama is considered one of the boldest mainstream movies by critics and audiences alike. Joe is a self-proclaimed nymphomaniac who narrates her tale full of libido, lust, and extensive “torture” sex to Seligman, a bachelor who is in some sort of a mid-life crisis. The movie has been divided into chapters (as in the book) and has been executed extremely well in terms of its characterization and depth, with Joe experiencing and experimenting with various “forms” and “nature” of sex with various people rather than sodomizing herself. The second installment again focuses on Joe, who has been trying to regain her lost sexuality while turning to other professions. If torture porn meets mainstream cinema, the resultant most certainly would be ‘Nymphomaniac.’ You can watch it here.
3. The Dreamers (2003)
This list is invalid without a Bernardo Bertolucci film. The Italian Conformist is often pronounced as the most controversial filmmaker in history due to his magnified obsession with sex, and his NC-17 rated feature ‘The Dreamers’ finely complements that fact to a treetop extent. This film circles the entangled friendship between an American student and a brother and sister duo who are film enthusiasts. Eva Green, who plays Isabelle, is fervently found naked throughout the film, with overdosage served by the other two male actors. Frontal nudity and consensual sex bordering on incest are ubiquitous in the movie. Also, the storyline piles up as the movie progresses and gives an overall dosage of sexiness and intrigue simultaneously.
2. Blue is the Warmest Colour (2013)
Coming to a movie that has one of the most erotic, arousing, and intense sex scenes in the history of mainstream cinema. ‘Blue is the Warmest Colour’ boasts of one of the longest and most explicit sex scenes that you might have ever witnessed. The film revolves around a French woman, Adele, who is a student and is in a relationship with a boy studying at her school. As they end their relationship, Adele meets a blue-haired woman named Emma, who is more or less attracted to her. Adele’s gay friend Valentin helps the former understand her true orientation, and Adele and Emma start seeing each other more often, ending up with an elaborate sexual congress. As Emma moves on to build a career for herself, Adele sticks to the guns and is completely smitten by Emma. Eventually, they separate their ways. With ample scenes depicting lesbian sex (and also straight), ‘Blue is the Warmest Colour’ is as good as its nudity factor. A true, raw, intense, and sensual movie that would both invigorate and excite you. You can watch it here.
1. Blonde (2022)
Directed by Andrew Dominik, ‘Blonde’ became one of the most controversial movies of 2022 due to its graphic depiction of the life of Hollywood actress Norma Jeane Baker, aka Marilyn Monroe. While Ana de Armas received an Oscar nomination for her terrific performance as Marilyn Monroe, the film itself became a test for many viewers. Dominik did not hold back from showing the abuse, physical, mental, and sexual, that Monroe went through, along with the childhood trauma and loneliness she carried within her while making her way up the Hollywood glitterati.
‘Blonde’ is based on Joyce Carol Oates’s book ‘Blonde: A Novel,’ which is a more-or-less fictional take on the actress’ life. However, many aspects of her life, as shown in the film, including the infamous affair with President John F. Kennedy, are based on real-life rumors. Moreover, Oates stated that the last few days of Monroe’s life were brutal, much like in the film. Unrelenting and brutal, ‘Blonde’ received an NC-17 rating for its nude scenes and sexual content, which means it is strictly meant for people over the age of 17. The film co-stars Adrien Brody, Bobby Cannavale, Xavier Samuel, and Julianne Nicholson. You can watch ‘Blonde’ here.
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