Considered something of a rarity overall, erotic thriller movies make up a small subsection of the thriller genre, and the best erotic thrillers contain intrigue, excitement, and a twisted plot. Between the 1980s and before a decline in the early 2000s, the erotic thriller was one of cinema’s most popular and risqué genres. Usually, an erotic thriller features a storyline that focuses heavily on romance along with crime or high-stakes situations and contains graphic nudity and sexual scenarios. Combing the two genres that notoriously raise a viewer’s heart rate was an innovative way to add a twist to the conventional romance or thriller movie archetype.
The best erotic thrillers have received rave reviews from critics and audiences alike, sometimes being popular enough to spawn spinoffs or win highly-regarded accolades. Although there are many fantastic erotic thrillers, there are some that have scored above the rest. While some films like Basic Instinct and Fatal Attraction are widely known, not all erotic thriller movies have quite the same name recognition. Nevertheless, there are many unseen gems from the erotic thriller category that is sure to awaken audiences’ senses and get the blood pumping from suspense.
Original Sin (2001)
- Available to stream on Fubo, Paramount+, Kanopy, and Showtime.
One of the best erotic thrillers is 2001’s Original Sin. In the film, a woman, Julia, played by Angelina Jolie, poses as a mail-order bride to a wealthy gentleman, Luis, played by Antonio Banderas, in a long con to take his money and run away with her actual lover, Walter. However, as her time progresses with her faux husband, she begins to develop feelings for him and must decide between her new life and her sadistic former flame.
Antionio Banderas’ best movies often feature him as a sultry leading man and Jolie has been a sex symbol since she first hit the silver screen. They have electrically palpable chemistry in their scenes and the twists and turns of events keep viewers on the edge of their seats. With double-crosses, passionate longing, fake deaths, and poison, Original Sin is the best of both worlds when it comes to erotic thriller movies.
A Perfect Murder (1998)
- Available to rent on Prime, Google Play, YouTube, Vudu, Redbox, and Apple TV.
Michael Douglas appears in several erotic thriller movies, with A Perfect Murder being one of them. In A Perfect Murder, a wealthy millionaire, played by Michael Douglas, views his wife, played by Gwenyth Paltrow, as a trophy instead of a brilliant UN worker. Feeling like she’s lacking emotional connection, she starts an affair with an artist, played by Viggo Mortenson. However, her actions don’t come without consequences.
Her husband finds out and begins to manipulate her lover into murdering her so that he can collect her inheritance. A rare case of a murder story being told from the killer’s perspective, Douglas shows just how far a desperate man will go to claim ownership of his wife. The seamless mix of erotica and murder in this film articulates the planning that goes into a crime of passion and results in one of the best erotic thrillers.
Crash (1996)
Perhaps one of the most controversial erotic thriller movies of all time is Crash. Not to be confused with 2004 film of the same name, Crash was directed by acclaimed filmmaker David Cronenberg, and is one of James Spader’s best-scored Rotten Tomatoes movies. In the film, a TV producer, played by Spader, gets involved with a group of people who become aroused after watching automobile collisions. Crash was controversial for its time.
Its premiere screening at the Cannes Film Festival incited “boos,” but it was awarded a Special Jury Prize, which jury president and Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola refused to present to Cronenberg, due to his distaste for the film. The movie was banned in many countries around the world because of its subject matter and sex scenes, and its American release was even delayed for several months.
Swimming Pool (2003)
- Available to rent on Prime, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Vudu, and Redbox.
Across the pond, England was making erotic thriller movies just as well. Swimming Pool follows Sarah Morton, a mystery novelist, who decides to shake off her writer’s block by accepting an invitation to stay with her publisher at his home in the South of France. Things a peaceful until his daughter, Julie, arrives and comes crashing into Sarah’s world, bringing chaos, sexual tension, and even murder with her.
The film is rife with symbolism and metaphors that all analytical viewers will love. It’s a much more open-ended thriller than the others, as well. Due to all the minute cinematic details, this thriller has a high re-watch value, and audiences can notice small hints as to the larger mystery with multiple watches. While it didn’t receive any accolades, Swimming Pool received positive reviews from critics praising its story, characters, and engrossing performances.
Sea Of Love (1989)
- Available to rent on Prime, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Vudu, and Redbox.
One of the best erotic thrillers sees Al Pacino in quite an interesting role. Sea Of Love follows a detective, played by Al Pacino, as he’s on the trail of a serial killer who uses the Lonely Hearts newspaper column to find her victims. He decides to lure her in by placing a personal ad for himself in the column, but he ultimately begins falling for the prime suspect, played by Ellen Barkin.
Instead of focusing on strictly sexual chemistry between the leads, Sea Of Love puts the emphasis on the romantic chemistry, making the viewer root for the couple and hopeful that she isn’t hiding the secret of her guilt. Over the years, Sea Of Love has become a favorite among Pacino fans. Outside of receiving rave reviews from critics and audiences of life, Sea of Love took the number one spot at the box office during its opening week.
Body Heat (1981)
- Available to rent on Prime, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Vudu, and Redbox.
Inspired by the classic film Double Indemnity, one of the best erotic thrillers, Body Heat, features lawyer Ned, played by William Hurt, who kills the wealthy husband of his lover, Matty, played by Kathleen Turner, so that she can inherit his money, and they can run away together. However, Ned soon discovers Matty isn’t who she seems to be.
At the time, the film was noted for its many graphic sex scenes, with even more left on the cutting room floor. Fortunately, what director Lawrence Kasdan really cared about was the hard-boiled thriller elements, which are stylish and skillfully crafted. In addition, it’s one of Kathleen Turner’s best movies as she gives a powerhouse and obviously sexy performance in her screen acting debut. Body Heat has been recognized on several of AFI’s “100 Years…” lists, and received widespread critical acclaim.
Wild Things (1998)
- Available to stream on Hulu and Pluto TV.
During their popularity, erotic thriller movies were mostly made for mature adults, however, Wild Things was aimed at the younger 20-something generation. The film concerns a guidance counselor, played by Matt Dillion, who is accused of rape by two female students, but the detective investigating the charges, Kevin Bacon, suspects there may be more going on. Remembered for its near-pornographic sex scenes, Wild Things actually has some clever plot twists, plus a surprise appearance by Bill Murray.
Salacious on the surface, audiences enjoyed the depth of the thriller-centric scenes and the quality of performances. Notably, the end credits connect the dots for the viewer on the film’s puzzling plot. Wild Things was nominated for Best Kiss at the MTV Movie Awards and Best Music at the Saturn Awards. However, it was Daphne Rubin-Vega who ended up winning an accolade for the movie — Favorite Supporting Actress at the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards.
Unfaithful (2002)
- Available to rent on Prime, Google Play, YouTube, and Vudu.
One of the best erotic thrillers starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane is another well-rated movie about cheating and infidelity. The pair star as a husband and wife whose marriage is strained. Lane’s character, Connie, bumps into Paul, a French bookseller, and begins a fervent and almost obsessed affair with him. Gere’s character, Ed, is immediately suspicious and the rage he feels at her betrayal leads to some heavy consequences.
Jealousy and loyalty are huge themes in erotic thriller movies, and many seem to be cautionary tales about letting things get out of hand or acting out of instinct. The thought of someone close betraying trust is a real fear for many people, which makes it an excellent thrill-inducing device. Diane Lane’s performance is a particular highlight of Unfaithful, earning her both a Golden Globe and Best Actress Academy Award nomination.
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
- Available to stream on Paramount+.
Eyes Wide Shut tops the chart as one of the best erotic thriller movies. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman star as Dr. William and Alice Hartford, a couple whose marriage is thrown for a loop when Alice reveals her sexual fantasies to William and confides that she almost left him and their daughter. In response, William storms out and agrees to go to a strange sex-filled party with an old friend. The film was famously Stanley Kubrick’s last finished piece before his death and was very well-received by critics and audiences.
It was a fitting final movie for Kubrick, and a perfect example of his signature edgy concepts and cinematography. Eyes Wide Shut isn’t afraid to make viewers uncomfortable and intrigued at the same time with bizarre imagery and plot development. Though the film only won Best Foreign Film at the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics awards, it was nominated for a slew of others, including a Golden Globe and a Sattelite Award.
Body Double (1984)
- Available to rent on Prime, Apple TV, Google Play, YouTube, Vudu, and Redbox.
Erotic thriller movies like Body Double aren’t as well known, but arguably some of the best erotic thrillers that the subgenre has to offer. In Body Double, an actor, Jake, has to move after his girlfriend cheats on him. Sam, a fellow actor, needs someone to house-sit for him, solving Jake’s problem. However, after moving in, Jake becomes obsessed with his neighbor, a brunette who strips in front of the window nightly. He watches her constantly and tries to “protect” her, but his voyueristic antics get him implicated in a murder.
This thriller may be titillating, but the murder mystery of the story is enough to pull audiences in even without the sex appeal. Although, the movie was supposedly risqué enough for the UK version to be edited by a few seconds to omit the mention of some photographic acts by Melanie Griffith’s character. Regardless, Melanie Griffith received a National Society of Film Critics award for Best Supporting Actress thanks to her performance and won 2nd place at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards in their Best Supporting Actress category.
Dressed To Kill (1980)
- Available to stream on Tubi, Kanopy, Pluto TV, and Freevee.
Considered to be the erotic thriller that started the trend, Dressed To Kill is directed by suspense master Brian DePalma, who constructs the film with elaborate Hitchcock-style sequences. Starring Michael Caine, the plot of one of the best erotic thrillers centers around a woman who witnesses the murder of a psychiatrist’s patient by a mysterious blonde woman, only to find herself the murderer’s next target. Praised by critics and audiences at the time for being suspenseful, lurid, and shocking, Dressed To Kill has since been considered problematic due to its misogynistic leaning and ventures into transphobic territory.
In having that content, however, Dressed To Kill serves as a statement piece on the way men view women and what that means in society. Dressed to Kill was one of the more successful erotic thriller movies, winning Brian DePalma a Best Director and Best Film award at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards. In addition, Angie Dickinson won a Best Actress accolade from the Saturn Awards for her breakout performance.
Bound (1996)
- Available to stream on Prime, Fubo TV, and Paramount+.
Before the Wachowski sisters directed The Matrix, they needed to make a “practice film” to prove they could do it. The result was Bound – one of the best erotic thriller movies that see two lesbian lovers attempting to steal millions in mafia money. Starring Gina Gershon as the ex-con Corky and Jennifer Tilly as Violet, the pair hatch a plan to take money from Violet’s boyfriend Caesar (Joe Pantoliano), who is a money launderer for the mob. At the time, it was rare for a lesbian relationship, let alone lesbian sex, to be depicted in a mainstream film.
When released, critics praised the film’s stylish direction, neo-noir plot, and for having LGBTQ+ leads without the plot revolving around it. From there, the Wachowskis went on to make The Matrix and make cinematic history. Bound was groundbreaking cinema for its time and won the Grand Jury Award at the L.A. Outfest. It also won Honorable Mention at the Stockholm International Film Festival, a GLAAD Media Award, the International Fantasy Film Award at the Fantasporto Festival, and a Best Actress accolade for Jennifer Tilly at the Fantasporto Festival.
Basic Instinct (1992)
- Available to stream on Paramount+, Showtime, and Fubo TV.
Basic Instinct kicked the genre into high gear and is widely regarded as one of the best erotic thrillers of all time. Erotic thriller veteran Michael Douglas stars alongside Sharon Stone. Douglas is a detective named Nick, investigating a murder that resembles the novels of Catherine Trammel, played by Stone. As Nick investigates further, he begins an affair with the seductive Trammel and begins to suspect she may be bringing her own work to life.
Known at the time for its graphic sex scenes, Basic Instinct is also a well-crafted and thrilling storytelling feat. The screenwriter, Joe Ezsterhas, would eventually write more erotic thrillers like Sliver, one of the best killer-next-door movies. Outside of its obvious legacy as one of the best erotic thriller movies, Basic Instinct was nominated for two Academy Awards but ended up winning a BMI Film & TV Award, a Golden Screen Award, two MTV Movie Awards, and a Nikkan Sports Film Award for Best Foreign Film.
The Last Seduction (1994)
- Available to stream on Peacock, Roku, Vudu, Tubi, Pluto TV, and Freevee.
The Last Seduction is one of the best erotic thriller movies, even if it’s not as well known as Basic Instinct or Fatal Attraction. After stealing drug money from her husband, the alluring Bridget, played by Linda Fiorentino, flees to Chicago and seduces a local man into killing her pursuing husband. The production company responsible for the movie felt The Last Seduction would be something for late-night television audiences that want a sexy watch, however, the filmmakers set out to make the movie something much more.
Despite being an erotic thriller when the genre was not very welcome by audiences, the film received great reviews upon release for its wit, dry humor, and Fiorentino’s captivating performance. In the years since, viewers have praised Fiorentino’s character as especially determined and independent, if not a bit too upholding of the femme fatale character type. The Last Seduction received widespread acclaim, garnering accolades like a Critics Award from the Cognac Festival du Film Policier, an Independent Spirit Award, a London Film Critics Circle Award, a National Board of Review Award, and several other awards for Linda Fiorentino.
Fatal Attraction (1987)
- Available to stream on Paramount+, Showtime, and Fubo TV.
There’s no question that Fatal Attraction is one of the best erotic thrillers of all time. Fatal Attraction succeeds not because of its more lurid and graphic moments, but because those moments elevate everything else in the story. Dan, played by Michael Douglas, has an affair with Alex, one of Glenn Close’s best performances on Rotten Tomatoes. Unfortunately, Alex grows attached to him, and when he tries to break off the relationship, he realizes she won’t give him up easily, leading to violent and disturbing consequences.
Director Adrian Lyne asks viewers important questions about fidelity and marriage. Lyne would have similar success in the genre with Indecent Proposal and the aforementioned Unfaithful. Ultimately, Fatal Attraction was a huge box-office hit, earning a Best Picture Oscar nomination and a Best Actress Oscar nomination for Close’s brilliant work. Out of all the erotic thriller movies, Fatal Attraction has arguably achieved the most success, even spawning a spinoff series starring Lizzy Caplan and Joshua Jackson and seven other awards.
