Where did the sex scenes go? Destroying the “Puritan age” of Hollywood

Let’s go talk about sex … or lack thereof. While movies are still a way to escape the realities of life, it seems like there’s no more need to fantasize about what it would be like to spend the night with an A-Lister — unless they’re offering OnlyFans content.

Some of the biggest blockbusters of the past few years have made millions at the box office, but they’re missing one important thing: intense sex scenes. Miles Teller only in 2022 felt the rush to the F-18 Top Gun: Maverick concerned, and Tom Cruise did not even sleep with love Jennifer Connelly in the movie. Exactly the same Twisters when it premiered in July, audiences were up in arms because nothing romantic happened between the leads Glen Powell and Daisy Edgar-Jones. Not even to stroke – unless you count deleted kiss that leaked on X.

listen us totally in favor of the slow burn, but sometimes the escape of escapism in the form of two hot people showing it on screen is what we want — and need. When did the tides turn? And more importantly, why does it seem like all the sex has disappeared? Let’s put the blame on Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Of course, we’re kidding because who doesn’t love a good superhero movie? (Chris Evanswe miss you!) But something must be said about the ever-growing 34 movies in the MCU. Keep in mind that the movie franchise has been going since 2008, and only one of the movies has a sex scene (the 2021 box office bomb Eternal). Most of them don’t even have a kiss!

Are we really living in the “Puritan Age” of Hollywood, as some call it? Well, a study published last year Economist says yes, saying that since 2000, sexual content in movies has dropped by 40 percent. Previously, 20 percent of movies had no sex at all, and the same study found that number has now risen to 50 percent. However, it has been argued that today’s rare intimate scenes are more revealing than they once were, but this is still a matter of debate.

An additional layer to this discussion is the actors who have taken a stand. A number of stars have spoken about their distaste for filming (or choreographing, as some would say) intimate scenes. Henry Cavillfor example, expressly stated that he’s “not a fan of doing them” in scenes that are “abused” in the film. The younger generation that prefers TikTok to AMC Theaters seems to agree – OnlyFans anyone?

On the subject: Do the actors get excited in the sex scenes? Intimate relationship coordinator tells us

A reader asks us, “How do actors not get turned on during sex scenes?” Spicy moments on Challengers and shows like Outlander got us thinking about this all-important question, too, so we reached out to Intimacy Coordinator Brooke M. Haney for information. Haynie, who worked on Elsbeth, the mayor (…)

In general, it is more appropriate to say that technology is the reason for the recent decline of lovemaking on screen. The Internet era has made sex more accessible to Gen Z thanks to OnlyFans and a host of streaming services. The thrill of going to the cinema and trying to fake your eyes away from an intimate moment between two actors is no longer needed.

While the sex scenes may be something the younger generation prefers to stream on their phones, the studios are leaning towards something that audiences can only truly enjoy in the cinema. Look Pedro Pascal and Paul Mescal fight in the coliseum during Gladiator II on an IMAX screen we will never get at home. Maybe cinemas should switch from intimate to action movies forever? Because based on the box office, it seems likely that these are the only hot and sweaty scenes we’ll see on the big screen. We’ll take what we can get.