Shubhabrata Dutta
The forbidden fruit that you can only get if you’re above 18… We’re talking about R-rated sex comedies. Comedy films come in many forms — they could be family comedies that anyone can watch comfortably with anyone, sports comedies, and romcoms (romantic comedies) that you would probably watch with your partner. But then there’s another type of comedy that makes parents frown with disapproval — sex comedies.
So, if you’ve got a long weekend ahead and you’re in the mood for something light, funny, and a little turning on, then a good sex comedy movie would do you some good. Sex comedies are not all about sex but also about the chronicles of how most of us have learned about heartbreaks, insecurities, genuine friendships, and love. Netflix offers a lot of options, no matter if you’re in the mood to watch something funny, raunchy, or nostalgic.
28. Mujeres Arriba (2020)
This Chilean drama follows three women, Maida (Natalia Valdebenito), Consuelo (Alison Mandel), and Teresa (Loretto Bernal), as they set off on an adventure to spice up their sex life after being subjected to respective personal issues, all of which require the same solution, i.e., good sex. Teresa’s husband has cheated on her, the passion in Maida’ married life is slowly fading, and Consuelo’s boyfriend suffers from premature ejaculation. How the ladies help each other achieve sexual salvation is what we find out in this Andrés Feddersen directorial. You can watch it here.
27. Players (2024)
Directed by Trish Sie, ‘Players,’ as the title suggests, follows a group of friends who spend their time off their jobs by “playing” on people who can serve as their potential hookups. They have even come up with different kinds of approaches. Leading the pack is New York sportswriter Mack (Gina Rodriguez). Her pack includes Adam (Damon Wayans Jr.), Sam (Augustus Prew), and Sam’s younger brother Little (Joel Courtney). While things go rather smoothly for them, Mack undergoes a realization that makes her want a real adult relationship. Propelling this feeling is their latest target, Nick (Tom Ellis), a famous war journalist with whom she has a past. The tables thus turn, and a new play is introduced, one that is for keeps. Will the gang be successful? Moreover, is it even possible to apply a hook-up-inspired approach to a serious relationship? To find out, you can stream ‘Players’ here.
26. Hard Feelings (2023)
Not to be confused with the Jennifer Lawrence starrer ‘No Hard Feelings’ that also released in 2023, ‘Hard Feelings’ is a German sex comedy directed by Granz Henman that explores the lives of two high school students/best friends, Charly (Tobias Schäfer) and Paula (Cosima Henman), who are undergoing puberty. With their respective sentient genitals communicating with them and giving them urges that they have never experienced before, Charly and Paula struggle to make it through their curriculum while dealing with feelings for each other that seem to pose an inconvenient compromise for their friendship. You can watch the movie here and find out what they go through.
25. Sex Tape (2014)
An over-the-top goofy and unreal yet potentially possible ‘sex’ scenario is addressed in Jake Kasdan’s ‘Sex Tape.’ Married couple Jay (Jason Segel) and Annie (Cameron Diaz) decide to film themselves having sex to add some spice to their otherwise dormant sex life. Unfortunately, the video gets inadvertently uploaded to the cloud and subsequently shared with others to whom Jay had given away his previous iPads. Now, the couple has to find every iPad and delete the video or else remove it from the cloud itself. The struggles they undertake to bring their objective to fruition are what follow. Thanks to Diaz and Segel, the movie is a fun watch. You can watch ‘Sex Tape’ right here.
24. No Hard Feelings (2023)
Directed by Gene Stupnitsky, ‘No Hard Feelings’ stars Jennifer Lawrence, Andrew Barth Feldman and Matthew Broderick. It tells the story of 32-year-old Maddie Barker (Lawrence), who doesn’t want to lose her childhood home to unpaid property taxes. So when she comes across the apparently easy job of “dating” a 19-year-old guy, she takes it. She has to do what’s necessary to bring introverted Percy Baker (Feldman) out of his shell and boost his confidence, especially in interacting with girls, before he can head to college. However, things are never as easy as they seem, and Percy turns out to be a tough nut to crack for Maddie, who almost reaches her wit’s end. You can watch the movie here.
23. Thank You for Coming (2023)
This Indian Hindi sex comedy is directed by Karan Boolani. The movie follows Kanika, a 32-year-old single woman whose sex life is in ruins as she has never had an orgasm. Finally, the morning after her engagement night, she wakes up realizing that she had an orgasm but cannot remember who she slept with. Although it is probably her fiancé, Jeevan Anand, she doesn’t know for sure. So, to find out, she calls upon her best friends Pallavi and Tina, and the trio sets off on the quest. Starring Bhumi Pednekar, Shibani Bedi, Dolly Singh, Shehnaaz Gill, Pradhuman Singh, and Kusha Kapila, ‘Thank You for Coming’ is a welcome addition to Indian cinema that is yet to accept sex comedy as a genre whole-heartedly. You can watch ‘Thank You for Coming’ here.
22. Happy Ending (2023)
A threesome gone wrong is pretty much the premise of Joosje Duk’s Dutch comedy ‘Happy Ending.’ Luna’s (Gaite Jansen) deprivation of orgasm leads her and her boyfriend, Mink (Martijn Lakemeier), to try and spice up their sex life, thanks to their friend’s suggestion. They opt for a threesome with a lady named Eve (Joy Delima), and it works just fine, especially for Luna, who finally experiences an orgasm. However, the only complication is that Eve helps her achieve it, and she starts seeing her without Mink knowing. How will that work out? With a steamy premise and a spotlight on modern-day relationships, ‘Happy Ending’ is a binge-watchable sex comedy apt for couple viewing, although you can watch it on your own if you want to find out about the ups and downs of a threesome before getting a taste of it. It can be streamed here.
21. EuroTrip (2004)
‘EuroTrip’ follows a group of friends who travel across Europe to find one of the member’s new German pen pal, Mieke (Jessica Boehrs). Scott Thomas (Scott Mechlowicz) has just had his brutal breakup, and his misunderstanding with Mieke makes him want to meet her in person. In his quest to find her, Scott is joined by his friend Cooper (Jacob Pitts) and twins Jenny and Jamie (Michelle Trachtenberg and Jessica Boehrs). As they travel from one place to another, the “EuroTrip” turns R-rated, thanks to sultry women, adult jokes, culture clashes, and, last but not least, sex. Directed by Jeff Schaffer, the film has acquired cult status and is a must-watch if you are into sex comedies. It can be streamed here.
20. Back to School (2019)
Amidst the bright lights of Paris, Jonathan and Pierre-Yves, now prosperous gentlemen, are whisked back into their turbulent high school memories filled with both bullying and flirtations. Deciding to attend their school reunion, the pair embark on a humorous journey of self-discovery, where old flames and romantic misadventures reemerge. ‘Back to School’ offers a spicy French comedy cocktail, blending school-day crushes with adult escapades. While ‘Back to School (French: La Grande Classe) ‘ delves deep into themes of friendship and past traumas, it doesn’t shy away from the raunchy jest. You may watch the movie here.
19. Not Another Teen Movie (2001)
What makes this movie different from other high school teen dramas is that it stays true to its title and blends the cliché teenage tropes, including the raunchy fun, with well-aware characters. The Joel Gallen directorial takes place at John Hughes High in Southern California. It follows a group of teenagers and their exploits as the prom nears. They include Jake (a jock), his ex-girlfriend and head cheerleader Priscilla, and nerdy Janey, whom Jake intends to take to prom as the prom queen.
With witty dialogues, crude humor, a quintessential 80s score, and a star-studded cast, including Chris Evans, Jaime Pressly, and Chyler Leigh, ‘Not Another Teen Movie’ does a great job of parodying movies like ‘She’s All That,’ ‘American Pie,’ and ‘Cruel Intentions.’ True-to-form ostentatious, the film can be streamed right here.
18. Who’s a Good Boy? (2022)
Directed by Ihtzi Hurtado, ‘Who’s a Good Boy?’ is a quintessential sex comedy that carries the all-known motive of getting laid. We have a high-school student, Chema, known among his friends for his inability to connect with a girl. But when he is given the responsibility to show a new student, the gorgeous Claudia, around, he realizes that he needs to be more. In other words, he needs to lose his virginity before graduating…but to Claudia? She finds him as her best friend. Can Chema come out of the feared friend zone and get what he wants? To find out, you can watch ‘Who’s a Good Boy?’ here.
17. Fun Mom Dinner (2017)
Amidst the daily chaos of motherhood, four moms, each with their unique struggles, find an escape in ‘fun mom dinners.’ With their kids attending the same preschool, their lives intersect, from the carefree Kate to the meticulous Melanie, the open-book Jamie, and the transitioning Emily. When wine flows and inhibitions drop, a series of raucous adventures ensue. Parallelly, their husbands, left in charge of their offspring, form an unlikely camaraderie. Though certain moments verge on the clichéd, and some jokes may feel over-explained, the essence of ‘Fun Mom Dinner’ lies in its portrayal of friendship, love, and the universal chaos of motherhood. You can watch the movie here.
16. The Package (2018)
A hilarious sex comedy spearheaded by director Jake Szymanski, ‘The Package’ follows friends Sean, Jeremy, Donnie, Jeremy’s sister, Becky, and Donnie’s ex-girlfriend, Sarah, as they go camping in the woods during spring break. What begins as a harmless teen movie complete with adventures, mischief, and flirting soon takes a whole new turn when Jeremy accidentally cuts off his penis while playing with a knife. Stuck in the middle of nowhere with a cut penis and their friend requiring immediate hospitalization, the group calls 911 but accidentally hands the medic a beer cooler instead of the body part. The rest of the film follows the group as they overcome various obstacles, both external and emotional while trying their best to reach the hospital. A sex comedy complete with over-the-top jokes, brilliant performances, and a gripping plot, ‘The Package’ is a must-watch. You may watch it here.
15. I Am Not Big Bird (2024)
This Philippine drama follows the escapades of Luis Carpio and his friends, Macky and July, who arrive in Thailand so that Luis can get over his breakup and be a “bigger” man because it seems that his “small” size is what brought an end to his relationship. However, things take a different turn in Bangkok when Luis is mistaken for a famous pornstar known among his peers and enemies as Big Bird. Directed by Victor Villanueva, this raunchy and commendable true-to-form sex comedy stars Enrique Gil, Nikko Natividad, Red Ollero, and Pepe Herrera. You can watch it here.
14. Duck Butter (2018)
Duck Butter revolves around two women, Naima and Sergio, who are disillusioned by unfulfilling and broken relationships. After realizing their mutual attraction, the pair decide to test their compatibility within 24 hours, agreeing to have sex every hour to get to know each other faster. Although they get pretty close during their tryst, Naima realizes how different Sergio is and gets equally frustrated and excited by her characteristics. Drawing a tangent from exploring romantic love, the movie even gets deep into Naima and Sergio’s familial relationships and shows how deeper cracks appear between the two with each new experiment. The highly intriguing and avant-garde filmmaking, as well as the unorthodox portrayal of love, is what makes ‘Duck Butter’ an interesting watch. You can watch the movie here.
13. More the Merrier (2021)
Directed by Pablo Caballero, ‘More the Merrier’ or ‘Donde caben dos’ is a fun and sexy Spanish film that combines five different stories into one cohesive narrative through the connections between various characters. One of these stories follows a gay man pursuing love in some of the most unusual places. Another story follows a couple that visits a swingers’ club to spice up their relationship, only to realize that the husband has previously dated the woman from the pair they were interested in. Another story revolves around a woman who lost her engagement ring the night before and now tries to find the jewelry. One story is about two friends planning a wife swap, not realizing that the women in question are in love with each other. ‘More the Merrier’ is a delightful film with the right mix of sex and wholesomeness. You may watch it here.
12. The Breaker Upperers (2018)
This delightfully offbeat comedy from New Zealand depicts its two main characters, Jennifer (Jackie van Beek) and Mel (Madeleine Sami), running a business that helps people end their relationships. The women seem to deftly tread the thin line between legal and criminal to get the result that will give their customers the most satisfaction. ‘The Breaker Upperers’ is raunchy, funny, and surprisingly poignant. The two stars of the film also wrote and directed it. MCU filmmaker Taika Waititi served as an executive producer on the project. It not only was a critical success following its release but also became the most profitable movie of 2018 in New Zealand. Feel free to check out the movie here.
11. MILF (2018)
‘MILF’ is a relaxing French comedy film that revolves around three friends in their mid-forties as they explore romantic yet raunchy relationships with younger men while on vacation. ‘MILF’ follows friends Sonia, Cécile, and Elise as they travel to Côte d’Azur in France to help Cécile sell her vacation home. However, the friends soon come across three male youths in their 20s who immediately deem the women as ‘Milfs’ and seem interested in pursuing a sexual relationship. The rest of the film explores their time together, bringing to light the differences as well as similarities between generations as the women carry on with their summer fling. You can check out the film here.
10. Budapest (2018)
Director Xavier Gens’ French sex comedy is a thrilling ride from start to finish, with its collection of oddball characters and a fairly unpredictable plot. Stuck in their dreary jobs and morbidly boring lives in Paris, Vincent (Manu Payet) and Arnaud (Jonathan Cohen) agree that they must find something more exhilarating and fun to do in their careers. When they learn about the vibrant nightlife of Budapest from a helpful and aging exotic dancer, they decide to set up a bachelor-party-hosting business in the Hungarian capital. Clearly drawing some inspiration from films like ‘The Hangover,’ ‘Budapest’ doesn’t hold back as it explores every nook and cranny of debauchery with pride and gusto. You can watch the film here.
9. The After Party (2018)
Owen (Kyle Harvey) is a talented but struggling young rapper who performs under the stage name ‘O’. His childhood friend and manager, Jeff (Harrison Holzer), truly believes that he is meant for great things. The pair meets Wiz Khalifa, who is genuinely impressed by O’s lyrics. But because Owen consumed Khalifa’s strong weed earlier, he starts getting sick on stage during a performance and vomits all over the Grammy-nominated rapper before having a seizure. Overnight, Owen becomes the subject of ridicule on social media and beyond and is given the nickname ‘Seizure Boi.’ Owen feels hopeless and decides to enlist in the Marines. But Jeff hasn’t given up on their shared dream and has started putting even more effort into it. Alongside Khalifa, rappers like Ski Mask the Slump God, DJ Khaled, and DMX make cameo appearances in this glitzy comedy. You may watch it here.
8. Friends with Benefits (2011)
‘Friends with Benefits’ is a bold rom-com directed by Will Gluck and is a cult favorite. It follows Dylan Harper (Justin Timberlake) and Jamie Rellis (Mila Kunis), both New York professionals who share similar thoughts about relationships and love. Therefore, they make a pact of casual sex and become “friends with benefits.” No emotions, only pleasure. Unfortunately, this pact doesn’t hold for long, as their decision to get back into the dating game complicates their feelings toward each other. Full of adult material but yet a true-to-form romance, ‘Friends with Benefits’ is the way to go if you are entering the unchartered waters of mature romantic comedies. It can be streamed here.
7. Brahman Naman (2016)
Directed by Qaushiq Mukherjee, also known simply as Q, Netflix’s ‘Brahman Naman’ is an Indian sex comedy that subverts the typical tropes of the genre by mocking its protagonists rather than glorifying them. While the film has no issue openly and earnestly discussing human sexuality, it does question the validity of male-centric portrayal of it in pop culture. ‘Brahman Naman’ is essentially a satire of films like ‘American Pie’ and ‘Revenge of the Nerds,’ but it’s not completely unkind to its characters, giving them enough leeway for growth. Set in Bangalore in the 1980s, the film tells the story of a group of horny young men, led by Naman (Shashank Arora), whose crippling inability to interact with women leads them to one misadventure after another. There is also a commentary about caste in the film and how pervasively and casually discriminatory it can be. You may watch ‘Brahman Naman’ here.
6. The Lovebirds (2020)
Starring Kumail Nanjiani and Issa Rae, Netflix’s ‘The Lovebirds’ revolves around a couple whose relationship seems to be on its last legs. After being together for four years, Jibran and Leilani have grown weary and antagonistic toward each other. Their simple conversations often dissolve into huge fights. When it seems that this is the end for the couple, they get tangled together in a complex mystery that involves corrupt cops, blackmailing operations, and a secret society that regularly gets together for orgies. The two protagonists must put aside their differences and work together if they want to survive the ordeal. The film gives a definite ‘For Richer or Poorer’ vibe, the 1997 film starring Tim Allen and Kirstie Alley. You can watch ‘The Lovebirds’ here.
5. Ibiza: Love Drunk (2018)
The story of this Netflix original film centers around a woman called Harper who works at a PR agency in New York. When her company sends her on a trip to Barcelona to secure a deal with a new client, Nikki and Leah, two of Harper’s closest friends, decide to accompany her on her journey. In Barcelona, Harper meets a DJ called Leo and is immediately smitten by him. The two of them have a great time together, but Leo informs Harper that he must go to Ibiza to work. Even at the risk of losing her job, Harper decides to follow Leo to Ibiza and even takes her friends along. Though the story of ‘Ibiza: Love Drunk’ is not that great, superior performances and good comedic moments are the factors that make this film a great watch. You may stream it here.
4. The Wrong Missy (2020)
‘The Wrong Missy’ is a hilarious and raunchy yet moving comedy that will keep the audience glued to their seats until the credits. The film starts with a prologue and shows the protagonist, Tim, having a disastrous date with a woman named Melissa. Several months later, Tim meets a second Melissa, who appears to be quite the opposite and seems to be a perfect match. Excited at having found a potential love interest, Tim invites Melissa to a weekend in Hawaii only to find out he had been texting his disaster date. The movie then follows Tim and Melissa’s time in Hawaii as the two engage in crazy and raunchy activities until the latter realizes Tim’s original mistake. Although the real Melissa then arrives to spend a magical time with Tim, he remains in a dilemma of having to choose between the two. Feel free to check out the movie here.
3. Lust Stories (2018)
Since the Indian film certification board is rather strict when it comes to matters regarding sex, the liberty that Netflix offers is welcomed by the open arms of four eminent Indian filmmakers in this anthology film. ‘Lust Stories‘ is the brainchild of Karan Johar, Zoya Akhtar, Anurag Kashyap, and Dibakar Banerjee. Each of them has made a film involving sex in modern India, and two of them are pretty humorous. Kashyap’s film deals with the sexual relationship between a teacher and a student, which the latter confuses with love, while Johar’s film deals with the pressures a modern, liberated woman has in trying to adjust to the needs of her in-laws. The climax of Johar’s film is one of the most daring and comedic scenes when it comes to dealing with sex-related films in India. While the other two films are brilliant in their ways, you won’t find much humor in them. You can stream it here.
2. Someone Great (2019)
A Netflix original film ‘Someone Great‘ starts with the story of a girl named Jenny, who has managed to land her dream job as a music journalist for Rolling Stone magazine. However, Jenny’s happiness does not last long and comes crashing down when her boyfriend breaks up with her. Just like Jenny, her other two friends, Erin and Blair, are also going through problems in their own romantic relationships. The three of them decide that they need to take a trip together before Jenny moves to San Francisco to start her new job. The series of adventures and realizations that they have in New York becomes a revealing experience for the three girls. With enough steamy scenes and strong humor, ‘Someone Great’ is a film that must be on your watchlist. If you plan to watch it, you can do so here.
1. The Incredible Jessica James (2017)
A Netflix romantic comedy by writer-director James C. Strouse, ‘The Incredible Jessica James’ tells the story of the eponymous woman who is an aspiring playwright living in New York City. When the film begins, we see Jessica telling a man she has met through Tinder about her recent breakup. We get to understand through Jessica’s conversations that she is a fiercely independent person who does not hesitate to confirm her likes or dislikes about any issue whatsoever. During another one of these Tinder dates with a man called Boone, the two of them realize that they have both been out of serious relationships quite recently.
Despite the date not starting off on a good note, they bond and even end up having sex at some point. As the two of them talk, other similarities in their characters become apparent. This makes Jessica and Boone partners in trying to figure out how to deal with life post-breakup. With brilliantly written characters and a strong performance by Jessica Williams in the leading role, this is a film that offers you a fresh look at a tried and tested genre. You can watch ‘The Incredible Jessica James’ here.
