Let’s discuss the topic of sex, or rather, the lack of it. While movies have traditionally provided an avenue to momentarily get away from real life, the days of fantasizing about a romantic evening with a Hollywood A-lister seem to be fading, unless they are providing content on platforms like OnlyFans.
In recent years, many major films that have raked in millions at the box office have notably omitted steamy sex scenes. For instance, in the 2022 movie Top Gun: Maverick, Miles Teller experiences a thrill from flying an F-18, while there is no love scene between Tom Cruise and his on-screen love interest Jennifer Connelly. Similarly, the film Twisters sparked controversy upon its release in July due to the absence of any romantic interactions between the lead actors Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones, not even a simple kiss — except for a deleted scene leaked online.
While there is appreciation for the buildup of romantic tension in movies, sometimes the audience craves the allure of watching two attractive individuals engage in passionate scenes on screen. So, when did this shift occur? More importantly, why does it seem like the portrayal of sex has diminished in movies? One plausible explanation could be attributed to the dominance of the Marvel Cinematic Universe in Hollywood.
Of course, we’re kidding because who doesn’t love a good superhero movie? (Chris Evans, we miss you!) But there’s a point to be made about the 34 and counting films in the MCU. Mind you, the film franchise has been going on since 2008, and only one of the flicks features a sex scene (2021’s box office bomb The Eternals). Most of them don’t even have a kiss!
Are we really living in a “puritanical age” of Hollywood, as some have called it? Well, a study published last year by The Economist says yes, stating that sexual content in movies has dropped 40 percent since 2000. Previously, 20 percent of movies had no sex at all, and the same study revealed that number has now gone up to 50 percent. It has been argued, however, that the rare intimate scenes of today are more graphic than they once were — but that’s still up for debate.
An added layer to this discussion is the actors who have taken a stand. A number of stars have been vocal about their distaste for filming (or choreographing, as some will say) intimate scenes. Henry Cavill, for one, bluntly stated that he’s “not a fan of doing them” in scenes “overused” in film. The younger generation, who favor TikTok over AMC Theaters, seems to agree — OnlyFans anyone?
Overall, it seems more fitting to say that technology is the cause for the recent decline in onscreen lovemaking. The internet age has made sex more accessible for Gen Z, thanks to OnlyFans and streaming services galore. The thrill of going to the movie theater and trying to fake-avert your eyes from an intimate moment between two actors doesn’t seem necessary anymore.
While sex scenes might be what the younger generation prefers to stream on their phones, studios are leaning into what audiences can only truly enjoy in a theater. Watching Pedro Pascal and Paul Mescal fight it out in the Colosseum during Gladiator II on an IMAX screen is never an experience we’ll get at home. Maybe movie theaters should make a permanent shift from intimacy to action movies? Because based on the box office receipts, it seems likely that those are the only kind of hot and sweaty scenes we’ll see on the big screen. We’ll take what we can get.
