5 steamy Netflix films and shows to add to your watch list this summer 

We’ll be the first one to agree that porn sometimes (most times) doesn’t cut it for us—it can sometimes be too crass, it’s mostly unrealistic, and one is always left wondering at its ethics. Thankfully, plenty of alternatives exist—be it erotic books or audio porn. But if you’re more of a visual person, then it might be a good idea to go looking where you never thought you would—Netflix. The streaming platform has many shows that don’t shy away from sex scenes and steamy moments, and are sure to get you hot and heavy.

So, bookmark these shows and films for the next time you’re in a mood for some Netflix and chilling *wink*. 

Bridgerton

Based on the book series by Julia Quinn of the same name, this show by Shonda Rhimes is a heady mix of Regency-era drama, an extremely good-looking cast, and *ahem* a healthy handful of sexy scenes. While there’s quite a bit of nudity and sex depicted in the series, it has been tastefully done through a contemporary lens—most of the intimate moments are filmed through the female gaze, and the overall storyline follows the female characters as someone who have their own mind and agency, who realise how learning about sex and their bodies can be greatly empowering. 

Lady Chatterley’s Lover

This one has quite a few similarities with Bridgerton—it’s set in a time when sex and conversations around it used to be hush-hush, it’s adapted from a book by D.H. Lawrence of the same name, and it gifts us ample of hot scenes. The plot involves an unhappily married aristocrat, played by Emma Corrin who begins an intense affair with the gamekeeper (an extremely good-looking Jack O’Connell) on her husband’s estate. Fun fact: the book was banned in the 1920s when it released, but luckily for us, we can enjoy it in film form without any restrictions!

Sex/Life

The show might have been ridiculed on its release for the lack of a substantial plot, but we believe there are still enough reasons to watch it—you’ll find broader themes of parenthood, marriage, and identity being touched upon throughout its episodes. It follows the life of Billie Connelly, a suburban housewife who’s grown bored with her bland, idyllic life. This results in her daydreaming about her wilder 20s, and participating in hot, steamy, affairs to relive her younger years. 

Outlander

This seven-season series is based on Diana Gabaldon’s eponymous book series, and tells the story of Claire Randall, a nurse who finds that she has accidentally time travelled to mid-18th century Scotland (which is full of dangers, yes, but also hot men with even hotter Scottish accents). Soon, she marries a Highlander, Jamie Fraser in order to blend in, and while the two are initially distrustful of each other, they quickly fall in love. What follows is a romance for keeps, which leads to some of the steamiest scenes on TV that will make you weak in the knees.

Sense8

When it released in 2015, the sci-fi drama was lauded for its LGBTQ+ representation, and for its exploration and depiction of themes like gender identity and sexual preferences. If you’re looking for a show that not only has a real and unfiltered depiction of sex, but also shows same-sex on-screen, then this one should be added to your list, ASAP!