There are thrillers. Then, there are erotic thrillers, movies that deliver the same pulse-pounding suspense and dark twists, just with an added layer of sexuality. Whether it's a one-night stand gone wrong, seductive femme fatales with hidden agendas, or love stories complicated by darkness, erotic thrillers equally excite and disturb us.
Believe me, there is no shortage of movies in this genre. More recent favorites like Deep Water (2022) and Babygirl (2024) prove erotic thrillers remain in demand and continue to push boundaries with their explicit content. If you're looking to watch the cream of the crop, here are 10 of the best erotic thrillers you can watch right now on Apple TV, Paramount+ and more.
Cat People (1942)
If you're into horror, then you might already know Cat People harbors one of cinema's first jump scares. Don't let that put you off, though. Cat People's old Hollywood vibes and noir-drenched cinematography create something truly beautiful. Yes, it's a horror movie, but it's on par with the classy thrills and suspense of an Alfred Hitchcock film, although I'd argue Psycho (1960) is scarier.
Cat People is also an erotic thriller that couples atmospheric, supernatural horror with a story about female sexual desire and repression. Arousal transforms Simone Simon's Irena into a panther, which sounds silly on paper, but is rather effective and stunning in film. While the moments of sexual tension aren't quite as explicit as some of the other entries on this list, given the time period, Cat People is for anyone craving a lesser-known thinker chock full of symbolism.
Play Misty For Me (1971)
Play Misty For Me easily ranks among my top 20 favorite movies of all time. If you only know Jessica Walter for her later role in Arrested Development (2003), please see what she is truly capable of in a dramatic performance. While female obsession is commonplace in erotic thrillers these days, Play Misty For Me laid the foundation for this type of story. Frequently, stalker thrillers feature a man's relentless and dangerous pursuit of a woman. However, Play Misty For Me took that trope and said, "Hold my beer."
Here, Jessica Walter gives an increasingly frightening and intense performance after a one-night stand with a radio DJ (played by Clint Eastwood) sends her spiraling into obsession. The gender flip is unique, and keeping Eastwood's character the main POV filters the horror through the male gaze. You owe Play Misty For Me a big thank you for spawning some of the genre's greatest movies, including Single White Female (1992) and the one mentioned next on this list.
The Postman Always Rings Twice (1981)
The 1981 remake of The Postman Always Rings Twice took the sexy neo-noir premise of the original 1946 movie and upped the eroticism. Jessica Lange plays a dissatisfied wife who begins a tumultuous affair with Jack Nicholson's drifter when he rolls through town, culminating with the secret lovers plotting the murder of her husband.
Lange and Nicholson each deliver the type of raw, captivating, and slightly terrifying performances expected of them. The sex scenes are graphic, but it all works to highlight the characters' overwhelming, dangerous lust for each other. The plot might be simple. However, if your experience is anything like mine, the ending will leave your jaw on the ground. Whether that's because you love it or hate it, that comes down to personal taste.
Fatal Attraction (1987)
After spotlighting Play Misty For Me, it only makes sense to talk about Fatal Attraction, another movie that sees a woman's relationship with a man go from one-night stand to deadly, dangerous obsession. Glenn Close delivers a chilling performance opposite Michael Douglas, a familiar face of erotic thrillers in this era—and it was an era indeed. Erotic thrillers popped up all over the place in the '80s and '90s (just look at most of the dates on this list), primarily due to Fatal Attraction's critically acclaimed success.
Dark, gripping, and an undeniable masterpiece of psychological storytelling, Fatal Attraction is a mandatory inclusion on any erotic thriller list worth its salt. Like Play Misty For Me, it is for purveyors of tense stalker thrillers, with Fatal Attraction's cheating element only upping the stakes.
Sea of Love (1989)
If you like crime dramas with those classic burnt-out homicide detectives in the lead, then Sea of Love will hit the spot. Al Pacino's New York detective spends the movie trying to track down the identity of a serial killer using single columns to bait victims. It's a unique, dare I say even fun, concept that culminates in a pretty juicy twist.
Really, my only complaint is that I wanted even more Ellen Barkin. After seeing how powerful an actress she is in Animal Kingdom (2016), I'll watch her in anything, past and present. Her chemistry with Pacino is on point, and together, the two crank up the heat to deliver a satisfying erotic thriller, especially perfect for neo-noir fans.
Basic Instinct (1992)
While Play Misty For Me and Fatal Attraction are groundbreaking hits of the genre, in some ways, Basic Instinct is THE erotic thriller. Does the movie owe a large part of its iconography to Sharon Stone's famous leg uncrossing and crossing scene? Absolutely. However, that moment really only scratches the surface of Basic Instinct's boundary-pushing nature. Earning every bit of its R-rating, the movie took its neo-noir premise to new, provocative heights. (Make sure the kids aren't around when you boot this one up.)
Yes, it's sexy, but Basic Instinct isn't just a pretty face. It also tells a dark, psychologically tense story about control and manipulation. Sharon Stone remains an iconic femme fatale and delivers the movie's best performance, despite her troubling treatment behind the scenes. Like the earlier entries on this list, it pioneered a new wave of hotter, more explicit erotic thrillers in the '90s and beyond.
Bound (1996)
Bound isn't just a good erotic thriller for fans of crime dramas; it also offers strong queer representation. Jennifer Tilly and Gina Gershon have captivating chemistry as blossoming lovers forced to navigate the violent retaliations of a scorned mobster ex-boyfriend. If you're already suspecting a tragic ending, think again. Bound has an emotionally satisfying payoff, with the "bury your gays" trope nowhere in sight.
A big part of Bound's competent representation stems from the Wachowskis, who both directed and wrote the film. If you've seen The Matrix (1999), then you already know the sibling duo has a knack for telling stories that have something to say. Bound isn't just gripping. It's a story about women rising from oppression, breaking down barriers, and flipping what audiences think they know about the typical erotic thriller on its head.
Cruel Intentions (1999)
If you're looking for an erotic thriller with young adult sensibilities, Cruel Intentions is that movie. It's got that trademark '90s vibe of films like Fear (1996) and I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), just with a bit more cynicism and a lot more sensuality. It's still a teen movie, but it's on the racier side, with Sarah Michelle Gellar and Ryan Phillippe playing a pair of hormone-fueled step-siblings who get Reese Witherspoon's Annette wrapped up in their twisted sex games.
It's a little trashy, wickedly fun, and the perfect type of cringey for a guilty pleasure watch. Think of it like Gossip Girl (2007) meets dark thrillers. Truthfully, it's an imperfect movie that doesn't come close to matching the source material, Les Liaisons dangereuses. But, hey, it's an iconic cult favorite that spawned an entire franchise, nonetheless.
Gone Girl (2014)
Want to get slapped in the face by twist after twist? Then, meet Gone Girl. The David Fincher adaptation of Gillian Flynn's novel isn't as heavy on the eroticism as some of the other entries on this list. This one is more about the juicy revelations that arise after Ben Affleck's character discovers his wife (Rosamund Pike) is missing on their fifth wedding anniversary. If your guilty pleasure is watching dysfunctional marriages crumble within the confines of fiction, you'll get all that and then some.
I'll never forget stumbling upon Gone Girl on the shelves of Barnes & Noble. The book rocked my world and cemented Gillian Flynn as one of my favorite authors of all time. While the movie will never be quite as good as the source material (yes, I'm one of those people), it does a pretty stellar job of capturing the sheer depravity going on behind the closed doors of a seemingly "normal" couple. Check out the adaptations of Flynn's other work, Dark Places (2015) and Sharp Objects (2018), if you're left craving more stories about feminine darkness.
The Handmaiden (2016)
If Bound's sapphic elements piqued your ears, The Handmaiden takes its queer romance back in history to Japan's occupation of Korea during the 1930s. What begins as a con man using a pickpocket to pose as an heiress's handmaiden ultimately unravels when the two fall in love, leading to a sexy, little story complicated by double-crosses, betrayals, and an oppressive historical setting.
For fans of forbidden love stories, The Handmaiden ensures you feel the weight and risk of the women's romance with each secret tryst. If you like period dramas with a similar forbidden element like Portrait of a Lady on Fire (2019), or the Japanese-occupation setting of Lust, Caution (2007), then The Handmaiden works as a deliciously twisty companion watch.
