The Selling of Erotica in Movies

There is a real distinction to be made between pornography and erotica in films.. Pornography for example is the explicit and graphic depiction of sexually scenes. However, Erotica is the art of arousing or stimulating sexually .. (i.e. reading an erotic novel one might feel aroused sexually).. 

Movies are no different.. Here are some my favorite erotic films..

1.  American Gigolo 1980 - is a crime drama based on a high-end escort ( Richard Gere ) who after agreeing to "substitute" for another gigolo realizes that he is being targeted a murder he didn't commit and is now on the hook for an alibi considering his clients value their anonymity..  For me this movie is like a cult classic and is a very compelling subject matter shedding light on a dark subject ..

2. 9 1/2 Weeks 1986 - is an erotic romantic drama based on an art gallery employee ( Kim Basinger ) who has a wildly erotic affair with a Wall Street broker ( Mickey Rourke ).  While the movie received mixed reactions by critics, the film developed a cult following and is still well worth watching..  The novel that the movie was based on  "9½ Weeks: A Memoir of a Love Affair" was said to be of a much darker tone.. 

3. Fifty Shades of Grey 2015 - is an erotic romantic drama based on a young college graduate Anastasia Steele (Dakota Johnson) who becomes involved in a sadomasochistic relationship with a young business magnate Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan).  Based on the E. L. James novel of the same name, Shades of Grey was the first film released in the trilogy.. and was followed by Fifty Shades Darker in 2017 and Fifty Shades Freed in 2018.  All three films did remarkably well at the box office and I can honestly say I loved them ..

4. Unfaithful 2002 - is an erotic drama thriller and based on woman (Diane Lane) who indulges in an erotic affair with a young man she meets.. Her husband (Richard Gere) finds out and ends up having a mental break.  This movie is full of drama and in the end breaks your heart showing just how painful an affair can be..

5. Honorable Mention

Eyes Wide Shut 1999 - is an erotic psychological thriller based on a 1926 Vienna story written by Arthur Schnitzler.  In the film which takes place in the New York City a married physician Bill Harford (Tom Cruise) after being told by his wife Alice (Nicole Kidman) of a contemplated affair becomes sexually aroused and embarks on attending a secret masked sex society event. Unfortunately that is where the story starts to spiral out of control. The reason that this film is basically a cult erotic thriller is more than likely based on the fact that in the 90s the subject matter (i.e. HIV transmission, sex clubs, voyeurism) of the movie was at that time somewhat startling. 

Two Moon Junction 1988 - is an erotic romance thriller that follows April Delongpre (Sherilyn Fenn) the daughter of an Alabama senator and heiress of a respectable, old and well to do Southern family.. When April returns home while awaiting her nuptials to fiance' Chad Fairchild .. A carnival comes to town and while accompanying her sisters to the fairgrounds she is completely enchanted by Perry (Richard Tyson) a ruggedly handsome drifter, and one of the workers at the carnival..  A few days later both her fiance' and family members are away for the weekend spawning a steamy affair between the two..  The film is mesmerizing and intensely erotic.. and is in all aspects an erotic classic that has stood the test of time..