15 Steamy Movies Like Fifty Shades of Grey and 365 Days

If you’re a fan of the erotic romance and BDSM themes in Fifty Shades of Grey and the intense, boundary-pushing sexual content of 365 Days, you’re probably craving more movies that deliver a similar mix of steamy scenes, complicated relationships, and edgy thrills. Well, look no further! We’ve compiled a list of the 15 best films to watch next. From classic erotic dramas to modern takes on obsessive love, these flicks will definitely get your pulse racing.

1. 9 1/2 Weeks (1986)

Directed by Adrian Lyne, 9 1/2 Weeks was one of the first mainstream movies to heavily feature elements of BDSM like spanking and domination. The story follows the intense sexual relationship between Elizabeth (Kim Basinger), an art gallery assistant, and John (Mickey Rourke), a mysterious Wall Street broker. As John becomes more controlling and their encounters more daring, Elizabeth has to decide how far she’s willing to go. While tame by today’s standards, this film was groundbreaking for its time and paved the way for movies like Fifty Shades of Grey.

2. Secretary (2002)

In this indie drama, Maggie Gyllenhaal stars as Lee Holloway, a troubled young woman who takes a job as a secretary for a demanding lawyer named E. Edward Grey (James Spader). The two begin a BDSM relationship as Lee embraces her submissive side. Secretary takes a nuanced look at the psychology behind BDSM and features a career-making performance from Gyllenhaal. If you like the dominant-submissive dynamic between Christian and Ana but want a more realistic portrayal, this one’s for you.

3. Indecent Proposal (1993)

Would you let someone sleep with your spouse for $1 million? That’s the scandalous premise of Indecent Proposal. Demi Moore and Woody Harrelson play Diana and David, a married couple in financial trouble who travel to Las Vegas. A wealthy businessman (Robert Redford) offers them a million dollars for a night with Diana, sending the couple into a tailspin. While the movie was panned by critics, its steamy scenes and morally questionable set-up make it a guilty pleasure watch for Fifty Shades fans.

4. Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

The final film from legendary director Stanley Kubrick, Eyes Wide Shut is a surreal erotic drama about a married couple played by then real-life husband and wife Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman. After his wife admits to having fantasies about another man, Dr. Bill Hartford (Cruise) goes on a bizarre sexual odyssey, including infiltrating a masked orgy of an underground cult. With its hypnotic visuals and unsettling exploration of sexual jealousy and temptation, this dreamlike movie is a trip you won’t forget.

5. The Piano Teacher (2001)

For those who wanted Fifty Shades of Grey to be darker and more psychologically complex, The Piano Teacher is the perfect pick. Isabelle Huppert gives a fearless performance as Erika, a repressed piano professor who enters a sadomasochistic affair with her much younger student, Walter (Benoît Magimel). Directed by provocateur Michael Haneke, this disturbing character study delves into the damage behind Erika’s sexual proclivities. It’s definitely not a light watch, but it’s a powerful film for those interested in the darker side of desire.

6. Unfaithful (2002)

Another entry from Fatal Attraction director Adrian Lyne, Unfaithful stars Diane Lane as Connie, a restless housewife who begins a torrid affair with a sexy French book dealer (Olivier Martinez). Richard Gere plays her husband Edward, whose jealousy takes the story to shocking places. Lane sizzles in an Oscar-nominated performance, and the movie’s depiction of female lust and midlife malaise is refreshingly raw. It’s a classic erotic thriller with indie drama grit.

7. Y Tu Mamá También (2001)

Before taking on Harry Potter, Alfonso Cuarón directed this provocative Mexican drama about two teenage boys (Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal) who take an eye-opening road trip with an older woman (Maribel Verdú). As the three connect physically and emotionally, the movie explores themes of love, loss, and sexual awakening. With its sensual scenes and honest look at adolescent sexuality, Y Tu Mamá También is a frank and poetic coming-of-age story for adults.

8. Lust, Caution (2007)

From acclaimed director Ang Lee, Lust, Caution is a lush period thriller set in 1940s Shanghai. Tang Wei stars as Wong Chia Chi, a young woman who joins a plot to seduce and assassinate a powerful political figure (Tony Leung) by becoming his mistress. As their relationship intensifies, lines blur between performance and real passion. The movie’s explicit sex scenes earned it an NC-17 rating, but it’s the slow-burn tension and gorgeous visuals that make it a must-see for fans of erotic cinema.

9. Nymphomaniac (2013)

Always one to push boundaries, Danish auteur Lars von Trier goes all in with this two-part epic about a self-described nymphomaniac named Joe (Charlotte Gainsbourg) recounting her sexual history. The vignettes, which involve a huge cast including Shia LaBeouf, Uma Thurman, and Willem Dafoe, range from darkly funny to disturbing. While definitely not for the faint of heart, Nymphomaniac is a bold, ambitious look at one woman’s journey through shame, desire, and transgressive behavior.

10. Blue Is the Warmest Color (2013)

This French coming-of-age drama gained attention for its extended lesbian sex scenes between stars Adèle Exarchopoulos and Léa Seydoux, who play young lovers Adèle and Emma. But beyond the controversy, this is a beautifully intimate portrait of first love and sexual awakening. Exarchopoulos gives a stunningly vulnerable performance as she captures the rush of feelings and heartbreak of an all-consuming relationship. Raw, sensual, and tender, it’s a queer romance classic.

11. The Handmaiden (2016)

Loosely based on the novel Fingersmith by Sarah Waters, this South Korean erotic psychological thriller from director Park Chan-wook (Oldboy) is a wild, stylish ride. Set in 1930s colonial Korea, it follows Sook-hee, a young pickpocket hired to be the maid of wealthy heiress Lady Hideko and swindle her out of her fortune. But soon Sook-hee and Hideko fall into a passionate, deceptive love affair of their own. Dripping with sensuality and dark humor, The Handmaiden‘s twisty plot and lush visuals are irresistible.

12. Below Her Mouth (2016)

An unapologetically steamy lesbian drama, Below Her Mouth depicts a weekend affair between two women: Dallas, a roofer, and Jasmine, a fashion editor engaged to a man. With a female writer and director and plenty of skin on display, the movie aims to authentically capture queer female lust and intimacy. The plot may be thin, but there’s no denying the palpable sexual chemistry between leads Erika Linder and Natalie Krill. Sometimes you just want to watch beautiful people have lots of sex, and that’s okay!

13. Duck Butter (2018)

For a funny, down-to-earth look at the exhilaration and messiness of new love, check out Duck Butter. Co-written by and starring Alia Shawkat, the movie follows two women who decide to spend 24 uninterrupted hours together having sex on the hour to speed through the early relationship stage. It’s an intimate, often improvised portrait of the ways we bare ourselves to connect with others, both physically and emotionally. With a focus on queer characters and female pleasure, it’s a sex-positive gem.

14. 365 Days (2020)

When this Polish erotic thriller hit Netflix in 2020, it sparked tons of buzz for its wild premise and softcore sex scenes. Massimo, a Sicilian mobster, kidnaps a young Polish woman named Laura and gives her one year to fall in love with him. The movie leans heavily into a problematic “captive falls for captor” fantasy, with little plot beyond the constant sex. It’s trashy fun as long as you don’t think too hard about the darker implications. Two sequels, 365 Days: This Day and The Next 365 Days, continue the story.

15. Lady Chatterley’s Lover (2022)

Based on the once-banned novel by D.H. Lawrence, this romantic drama stars Emma Corrin as Lady Constance Chatterley, a young aristocrat in a passionless marriage who finds herself drawn to Oliver Mellors (Jack O’Connell), the gamekeeper on her husband’s estate. Director Laure de Clermont-Tonnerre updates the classic story with a female gaze, focusing on Constance’s sexual awakening as she discovers new physical pleasures and emotional intimacy. With gorgeous cinematography and strong lead performances, it’s a sensual period piece about desire across class divides.

Whether you’re looking for BDSM power dynamics, obsessive affairs, queer stories, or just a lot of sex and scandal, these movies like Fifty Shades of Grey and 365 Days prove there’s something for everyone when it comes to erotic cinema. From acclaimed arthouse films to guilty pleasure thrillers, they all explore the complexities of human sexuality in provocative, memorable ways. So dim the lights, grab a glass of wine, and enjoy a steamy movie night in. Just maybe don’t watch with your parents.