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To quote that iconic Salt-N-Pepa song, let’s talk about sex, baby. Actually, let’s talk about gay sex in movies that have salt and pepper in equal measure!
Gay sex and relationships haven’t always had the best kind of representation on screen. While we’re past the stage of such moments being treated with either a complete lack of sensitivity and/or oversimplification, we’re still a long way before things find the perfect balance.
However, there are many films that have managed to find that fine balance, showcasing both gay sex and relationships in a manner that’s both sensitively enacted and shot and also feels real and relatable.
Here are 7 of the best depictions of gay sex in movies, in no particular order:
The film’s progression both in terms of narrative and display of on-screen gay sex is equally impressive. When the leads meet for the first time, it’s all about unbridled passion. As the film and their equation develop and progress, the sex too becomes so much more than just surface-level intimacy.
This movie is a classic for many reasons, and the sexual chemistry between the trio, and all the sex they have in twosomes and threesomes, is just one of them. This coming-of-age story beautifully addresses the clueless, hormone-driven energy of teenage years, where friendships and relationships are all par for the course. You’ll go in expecting a lot of sex and nudity (which you definitely get here) but come out with so much more! The film is available to be watched on Apple TV.
There was a lot of buzz around this movie, just like every other movie starring Paul Mescal, but fortunately, the film lived up to that hype. And a lot of it has to do with the fantastic performances by both Mescal and Andrew Scott who make it all seem both poignant and passionate, without being obvious about it. You can watch this film on Hotstar or rent it on Google Play.
The 2017 film featuring Timothee Chalamet and Armie Hammer gave us a gay love story for the ages. And even though it’s more about love and longing, whatever sex there is, it more than makes up for it. As Armie Hammer finally embraces Chalament’s Elio, it’s a moment worth all the waiting and pining for prior.
Considering the film’s plot revolves around a gay person and an affair, it’s no surprise that the film has a lot of sex in it. But what makes it incredible is how realistic, raw and ravishingly shot it all is. Definitely not for the faint-hearted or the easily offended, Passages titillates but only the way art can.
Unlike the other movies on this list, this one is a bit on the emotional, tender side. But then, who said that gay sex is only meant to animalistic? Two men, the beach and a handjob… gay sex on screen has never been this tender and tantalizing.
It’s not that we absolutely had to include a Hindi movie here but there’s something about the film's depiction of love, lust and longing that makes it absolutely worthwhile. Both Neelay Mehendale and Prateik Babbar bring the perfect mix of tenderness and tempestuousness to their characters in this criminally-under-watched movie. You can watch this film and their brilliant performances on Netflix.
This isn’t a definitive list by any stretch of imagination so feel free to add your own favourites to it.