Looking for some sexy, sexy film recommendations? You don’t have to look too far. We’ve compiled a list of six movies that will fix your taste for kink (or at least get your taste buds ready for the main, in-person meal).

Secretary:

This 2002 movie by Steven Shainberg, described as a “black comedy”, portrays the spicy relationship that develops between troubled Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal), and, arguably equally troubled, lawyer Edward Grey (James Spader). Lee, who is just released from a mental hospital after a dangerous self-harm incident, is hired as a secretary at Grey’s lawfirm. What starts off with frustrations and typos, quickly turns into a sadomasochistic relationship filled with spanking, pet play, and other very NSFW activities.

Where the movie omits proper discussion of kink for shock value and drama, it makes up for erotic tension between Gyllenhaal and Spader and its almost deadpan approach to kink. Ultimately, it is a fantasy and shouldn’t be taken as a roadmap for a functioning and healthy D/s relationship.

‘Secretary’ is sure to leave you with enough inspiration for future roleplay scenes and sexy punishments. (Though I’d recommend against starving yourself for your partner.)

Where to watch: PLEX, Tubi, iTunes, Google Play, VUDU

The Notorious Bettie Page:

This 2005 biopic by Mary Harron tells the story of Bettie Page, “Pin-Up Queen of the Universe”, a 1950s bondage and pinup icon.

Similar to ‘Secretary’, ‘The Notorious Bettie Page’ makes a link between (sexual) trauma and kinky tendencies. However, the latter shies away from making a direct connection and instead focuses on pinup culture and American puritan laws surrounding nudity and erotic content. The film doesn’t argue for or against pornography and stops itself from turning Page (played by Gretchen Mol) into a kinky sex kitten. Instead, Page is nuanced and sex curious with enough grace and wit to pull you in.

Where to watch: Amazon, iTunes, Google Play, VUDU

Belle De Jour:

This 1967 French film is filled with erotic tension and surrealism. By director Luis Buñuel, ‘Belle De Jour follows’ Séverine, a housewife with fantasies of kink and domination. While her husband, handsome but vanilla, is at work, Séverine meets with clients at a brothel where she’s allowed to explore her sadomasochistic desires. Through this part-time work, she’s able to regain autonomy, fight heer ennui, and test the extremes of her sexuality.

Séverine’s fantasies blend into reality and make you wonder where real-life ends and imagination begins; the film will leave you with few answers, many questions, and a good amount of pent-up sexual energy.

Where to watch: HBO Max, The Criterion Channel, Amazon, iTunes, YouTube

The Duke of Burgundy:

This 2014 erotic film by Peter Strickland shows the BDSM relationship between student Evelyn and lepidopterologist Cynthia. While Cynthia acts as the dominant, it quickly becomes clear that it is actually Evelyn who has the reigns as she writes out scenes and instructions for Cynthia. The latter only goes along to fulfill her lover’s needs and wishes but grows progressively more uncomfortable as Evelyn’s desires continue to grow.

The film raises questions about sexual compatibility and leaves you wondering how to differentiate between pleasure you derive from a kink versus pleasure you derive from seeing your partner derive pleasure from a kink. Are you actually into it or are you just very into your partner?

Where to watch: iTunes, Amazon, Google Play

Tokyo Decadence (1992):

This kinky, soft-core film by Ryu Murakami is characterized by dark hotel rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows, seedy businessmen, vibrators as microphones, and longing for the opulence of the 80s; the film is the opposite side of the city-pop coin. It’s sleek, nostalgic, and unafraid of exploring the underbelly of metropolitan Japan.

While the film is full of sexual violence, it also sheds a light on the role of call girls and sex workers in society. Its main character Ai, a call girl, offers her clients, stuck in rigid social roles, the possibility to release, drop their masks, and live outside of public expectations.

Where to watch: VUDU, Film Movement Plus

Fifty Shades of Grey (2015):

Okay, okay, I know what you’re thinking: “Yaroslava, are you serious? ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’ made it onto your list of kinky film recommendations?” To that, I say yes, it did. It was orginally Twilight fanfic, what were you expecting?

On a more serious note, while ‘50 Shades’ is filled with cringy lines (“First, I don’t make love. I fuck. Hard.”) and skewed power dynamics, it should be credited with pushing kink into the mainstream.

The film tells the story of the sadomasochistic romance between college graduate Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) and billionaire entrepreneur Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan). Christian is controlling and Anastasia has absorbed all the awkwardness of Bella Swan but the film’s kink is spicy in an accessible way. Now, instead of bringing up leather, floggers, and gimp suits, you can joke about ‘50 Shades’ and explore from there.

Plus, while overly dramatic and formal, it is the only film on this list in which we see the characters discuss hard and soft limits and do research into the kinky things they’re agreeing to.  

Where to watch: Google Play, Amazon, and iTunes