Any avid moviegoers including me would not take even an hour to realize the fact that sex and nudity in movies saw a rapid decline in the recent time. Why? Not one factor can be responsible for that but the antithesis of sexually explicit content, I believe, in many ways, concerning as the continuation of the omission of sex-driven movie scenes on the big screen could lead to solidifying the inherent taboo associated with— okay, without censoring, SEX.
A Heavy Decline In Sex Scenes In Theatrical Releases
Keanu Reeves’ John Wick and Bridget Moynahan’s Helen in a flashback romance in John Wick. Image Credit: Summit Entertainment
The rise of the race to claim a PG certificate ahead of its release has been a trend that can be visible after the observation of movies released in theaters in the last decade. Primarily, action movies tend to eliminate sexually explicit scenes or rather limit them to a few kisses and some epic cliche to just refer to something sexual that has just happened. Film data analyst Stephen Follows conducted a study observing the same, found that sex content in cinema has fallen by almost 40 percent. Also, the study witnessed the rise of movies with no sexual content at all climbing from 20 percent per year to roughly 50 percent.
But the taboo seems to surround only sexual content as the study also found, “no, levels of drinking, drugs, violence and swearing have not seen the same decline as sexual content.” The reason has to be perfectly clear. Cleaner movies mean escapism from embarrassment, you can watch it with family or anyone without having to worry about the sizzling hot scenes on the big scenes.
Primarily, Follows found that action and thrillers are more prone to obliviate the essence of explicit copulation after observing the top-grossing theatrical releases in the genres from 2000 to 2023. Let’s face it, the John Wick franchise is inherently about love but we can’t go to the theaters expecting steamy romance, can we?
Can Romantic Movies Save The Slow Death Of Sex On Big Screen?
Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell in Anyone But You. Image Credit: Netflix
Honestly, it’s not easy to predict but with time; sex has become a hard sell in movies. While action and thriller filmmakers tend to avoid sex, even for me it’s immediately hard to recall any great action movies of recent times that touched upon the basic human instinct— forget DC and MCU movies. They are totally limited to kisses— your focus must be on the intensity of the narrative or wherever the plot drives you, just other than sex. Action heroes/heroines don’t have the time for sex, not recent ones anyway. Again it’s the age-old taboo, you can’t imagine Spider-Man or Batman in an intense romantic scene sweating and with bare skin-to-skin contact with someone else.
Okay, let’s forget that dominating genre for a minute albeit the domination of it can’t easily be overthrown with another genre. But romantic movies, in some ways keep the essence of sexual drive in the characters. My question exactly the same as what swirling in your brain as you go through the piece— if cinema mirrors life and beyond, how do we eliminate the utmost human desire? Thankfully, romantic movies exist but mostly they are hit-and-miss. I was overjoyed with Anyone But You’s performance at the box office. The Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell-starrer movie featured several intense scenes and nudity. I say, a rare theatrical treat.
Now, back to the question, can romantic movies save the slow death of sex on the big screen? Yes, but it will never going to be easy. Romantic movies must save the essence of sex otherwise with time it will dissolve in the loop of big action movies on the big screen.
What’s The Reason Behind Declining Sex Scenes In Movies?
Lady Chatterley’s Lover. Image Credit: Netflix
Obviously, the profit-making factor has always played a huge role as new movies are driven towards PG movies, or if not, movies like Deadpool & Wolverine get an R rating but not for sexual content, just profanity and violence. Aiming the global market intense nudity can never be an option as different regions see sex differently, and mostly get censored. Sex is awkward, even to film a scene. Also, it has been difficult following the huge political impact of #MeToo movement. Following the movement, Hollywood has seen Intimacy Coordinators, who are responsible for eliminating sexual harassment while filming intense scenes. Now, most producers would not want to go there, if the intimate scene is not necessary, they will tend to avoid it rather than hiring another professional (strictly my opinion).
Also, the value of intimate scenes somewhat lost newness, the same cliche, the same stereotypes— okay, we’ve seen it, what’s new? But in this regard, streaming platforms have more freedom to incorporate sexual content with sole thematic purpose. Let’s give you the 365 Days franchise or Lady Chatterley’s Lover on Netflix. I understand, you would rather sit in the comfort of your home and enjoy the gravity of romance. Further, streaming has also given rise to explicit series, I mean, have you seen The Naked Director on Netflix? Or Lady Voyeur, Fatal Seduction, Obsession, or Sex/Life? Maybe HBO’s The Sex Lives of College Girls; streaming giants are in the race for sexually explicit content. Then again, the accessibility of adult content is also responsible for the declining sex in theatrical releases.
Shifting away from sexually explicit content in the big movies is not inherently an indigestible thing, in fact, many moviegoers would not realize it instantly. However, the shift and Hollywood’s growing fear of sex may end up making the movies dull, at least eventually.
But the same trend among filmmakers continues, the very humane nature would be limited to the streaming content and indie projects. And I for one, do not wish the exclusivity of sex.
P.S.— Cine TitBit’s policy censors certain words used in the piece but this article contains such word seeing the context and gravity of it.
