Stephen Follows claims in Why is sex in movies declining? that “Comparing each year to the baseline of 2000, we can see a steady decline in the amount of sex in feature films. By 2023, it had fallen by almost 40% from the start of the century.”

He says the reasons for this could be:

1. There are fewer sexual scenes overall.
2. There are more movies without any scenes of a sexual nature, particularly in action and thriller genres.
3. Producers and filmmakers might be more sensitive to how sexual content could be perceived or potentially lead to controversy.
4. Explicit sex scenes could result in more restrictive age ratings or censorship, thereby reducing a film’s international box office potential.
5. There might be less demand for sexual content in wide-release films on family-friendly streaming platforms.
6. There could be a rejection of outdated stereotypes as seen through a predominantly male gaze.
7. The availability of more adult content elsewhere.

However, Jillian Angelini claims on Pop Sugar: Sex Scenes Are So Back — and Better.

She says, “Now, explicit films such as “Poor Things,” “Love Lies Bleeding,” and “The Idea of You” are sending a clear message: Hollywood is hornier than ever.”

She concludes:

“Sex scenes are back, but not like they were before. Instead, they’re transforming to reflect desires for more respectful and authentic intimacy. This era suggests a promising shift towards more inclusive cinema where on-screen intimacy can feel empowering and enlightening for all.”

My take: People who know me know I love romance in movies. Conversely, I abhor violence. Make love, not war!