Between the 1980s and before a decline in the early 2000s, the Erotic Thriller was one of cinema’s most popular and risque 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 conventional thriller movie archetype, and that innovation was and is well-received by viewers. Erotic thrillers have received rave reviews on multiple platforms, including IMDb. Although there are many fantastic erotic thrillers, there are some that have scored above the rest.
Updated by Amanda Suarez on October 28, 2021: The season to cozy up under a blanket with a significant other is well underway. When trying to put a fresh spin on date night, it can be fun to mix things up and watch an erotic thriller instead of the traditional romantic comedy.
The tension (both plot-driven and sexual) gives the perfect excuse to get extra close under a blanket. Because there are so many well-liked erotic thrillers on IMDb, Screen Rant wanted to expand this list to give viewers even more movie options.
15 Original Sin (2001) – 6.1
•Available on Hulu, Amazon, Apple TV, Vudu, & YouTube
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 actor 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 or her sadistic former flame.
Banderas has made a career being the sultry Latin 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 in the erotic thriller world.
14 Crash (1996) – 6.4
•Available on YouTube, Google Play, & Vimeo
Perhaps one of the most controversial erotic thrillers of all time is Crash. 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.
13 A Perfect Murder (1998) – 6.5
•Available on Hulu, Amazon, YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV, & Vudu
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. 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.
12 Wild Things (1998) – 6.5
•Available on Hulu, Sling, & Starz
During their popularity, erotic thrillers 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.
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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 quality of performances. Notably, the end credits connect the dots for the viewer on the film’s puzzling plot.
11 Swimming Pool (2003) – 6.7
•Available on Amazon, YouTube, Vudu, & Google Play
Across the pond, England was making erotic thrillers just as well. Sarah Morton, a mystery novelist, 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. Because of 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.
10 Unfaithful (2002) – 6.7
•Available on Hulu, Amazon, Google Play, Apple TV, & Paramount +
This erotic thriller starring Richard Gere and Diane Lane is another well-rated IMDb movie about cheating and infidelity. The two 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 the erotic thriller franchise, 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.
9 Sea Of Love (1989) – 6.8
•Available on YouTube, Apple TV, Amazon Prime, & Google Play
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.
8 Body Double (1984) – 6.8
•Available on Vudu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Apple TV, & Google Play
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 Peeping Tom antics get him implicated in a murder.
This thriller may be sexy, but the murder mystery of the story is enough to pull audiences in even without the sex appeal. Although, the movie was supposedly risque 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.
7 Fatal Attraction (1987) – 6.9
•Available on Vudu, Amazon Prime, YouTube, Apple TV, & Google Play
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.
6 Basic Instinct (1992) – 7.0
•Available on HBO Max, Hulu, YouTube, Google Play, Vudu, Amazon Prime, & Apple TV
Basic Instinct kicked the genre into high gear. Erotic thriller veteran Michael Douglas stars alongside Sharon Stone. Douglas is a detective, 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 IMDb’s best killer-next-door movies.
5 Dressed To Kill (1980) – 7.1
•Available on Hulu, Amazon, Google Play, Apple TV, YouTube, & Vudu
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 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 venture 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.
4 The Last Seduction (1994) – 7.1
•Available on Tubi, Sling, YouTube, Google Play, Vudu, Amazon, & Apple
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.
3 Bound (1996) – 7.3
•Available on Hulu, Sling, Amazon, Paramount +, YouTube, Google Play, Vudu, & Apple TV
Before the Wachowskis directed The Matrix, they needed to make a “practice film” to prove they could do it. The result was Bound – an erotic thriller about two lesbian lovers who attempt to steal millions in mafia money. 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.
2 Body Heat (1981) – 7.4
•Available on HBO Max, YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV, Vudu, & Amazon
Inspired by the classic film Double Indemnity, 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, Kathleen Turner gives a powerhouse and obviously sexy performance in her screen acting debut.
1 Eyes Wide Shut (1999) – 7.4
•Available on Hulu, Sling, Amazon, Showtime, YouTube, Google Play, Apple TV, & Vudu
Eyes Wide Shut tops the chart as the highest-rated erotic thriller on IMDb. Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman star as Dr. William and Alice Hartford, 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 fans. It was a fitting final film for Kubrick, with 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.
NEXT: 10 Best Thrillers Involving Husbands & Wives
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