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- There could be a rejection of outdated stereotypes as seen through a predominantly male gaze.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