Top 10 Movies with the Most Nude Scenes

This film’s setting of adult cinema’s golden age essentially ensured that “Boogie Nights” was going to contain a lot of nudity. Director Paul Thomas Anderson takes his audience from the industry’s early ‘70s innocence, right on through to a comparatively jaded period of Reagan-era desperation. Anderson even included legitimate adult film stars Veronica Hart and Nina Hartley within the cast of “Boogie Nights,” alongside daring performances from Julianne Moore[a] and Heather Graham. This is a film that received varying reviews from those who were actually there performing in erotica back in the day, but that hasn’t stopped “Boogie Nights” from remaining a cult classic.

The transgressive reputation of director Lars Von Trier[c] remained intact after both volumes of his “Nymphomaniac” series debuted back in Denmark in 2013. These films were completed utilizing not only the talents of stars like Charlotte Gainsbourg and Shia LaBeouf[d], but also adult film actors who performed hardcore acts for insert shots. The subject of nymphomania[e] is another that, by definition, required a lot of nudity on set. Von Trier also varies the tone of these set-pieces, from the blackly comedic to the deadly serious. The extremity of this film, as a result, doesn’t always make it light viewing. Yet there’s no denying the frank and honest depictions of compulsive sexual behavior contained with “Nymphomaniac.”

There is a lot to unpack with regards to the controversies of “Blue Is the Warmest Colour.” For starters, there’s the allegations that director Abdellatif Kechiche[f] placed his cast and crew within an atmosphere of unfair working conditions. There have also been those that have pointed out how the film’s themes of bisexual and lesbian relationships were delivered to the screen by a heterosexual male. What wasn’t up for debate, however, were the end results of this film, which held nothing back in terms of nudity. The sexual act is explored within multiple set-pieces and couplings, although “Blue Is the Warmest Colour” generally exists more within the arthouse than the grindhouse.

No list like this would be complete without an appearance from the maestro of sexploitation, Russ Meyer[g]. The man’s cinematic oeuvre is one of tough men and tougher women - larger-than-life sex goddesses that dominated drive-in screens throughout the ‘60s and 70s. The latter part of this decade saw Meyer releasing two of his most envelope pushing features with “Up!” and “Beneath the Valley of the Ultra-Vixens.” The latter’s title is playing on Meyer’s biggest hit, “Beyond the Valley of the Dolls,” while also containing an over-abundance of nudity. Kitten Natividad[h] is the star of the show here, encapsulating all of the protracted dialogue and unsubtle jiggle that made maverick Meyer one-of-a-kind.

This is the sort of film that wears its influences on its sleeve…or is that shirt? The legacy of “H.O.T.S.” has endured today not only due to its acronym (which stands for its title characters) but also the hall of fame level nudity that stacks the screen. History has seen scores of sex comedies over the years, but “H.O.T.S.” played its hand by casting a number of notable models, including “Halloween” star Sandy Johnson, as stars. But “H.O.T.S.” surprisingly never feels sleazy. The vibe here instead feels more silly and sexy, the sort of atmosphere that’s largely parodied today, yet delivered straight-faced back in ‘79 for an excited audience.

If there was a Mount Rushmore for sex comedies, then we’re willing to bet that Bob Clark’s “Porky’s” would deserve a prime spot. The “Black Christmas” and “A Christmas Story” director enjoyed one of 1981’s biggest hits, a franchise-maker that saw no less than two sequels. “Porky’s” is also notable for its casting of Kim Cattrall[j] as Miss Honeywell, whose exaggerated sex scene went on to become the stuff of home video legend. Elsewhere, there’s also that old school, go-to classic, the shower scene, only this time boasting both male and female nudity. Granted, “Porky’s” does have its share of more serious-minded moments within some of its side-plots, but the overarching vibe here remains Sex Comedy 101.

Erotic thrillers were all the rage back in the 1990s, with “Showgirls” existing as one of the most memorable NC-17 flubs of this era. The balance of R-rated intrigue with extreme sexual content highlighted by star Elizabeth Berkley, perhaps seeking to distance herself from her television past. “Showgirls” became infamous for its hard-in-the-paint sex scene between Berkley and co-star Kyle MacLachlan[k], although edited versions were also released for home video. Yet, who are we kidding? There’s only one way to enjoy a “Showgirls” screening, and that’s with the full, uncensored monty.

Director Stanley Kubrick[l]’s cinematic coda[m] “Eyes Wide Shut” was certainly an interesting way to cap off his career. The film earned headlines back in 1999, due to the extremity of its sexual content. “Eyes Wide Shut” was even digitally censored back in the day, in order to achieve its theatrical R rating. The full, uncut version remains available on home video today, however, and it remains a challenging film. The nudity here doesn’t always feel as if it's designed to titillate, just as “Eyes Wide Shut” doesn’t so much feel like an erotic thriller as it does an examination of a marriage. Still, the memorable design, costuming and visual aesthetic ensured this film never strayed too far from a Kubrickian [n]conversation.

So did you think that streaming services like Netflix pioneered the historical drama masquerading as erotica? Think again, because “Caligula” would like you to hold its beer. This utterly unforgettable cult classic was produced by Penthouse Magazine publisher Bob Guccione[p], written by Gore Vidal[q] and directed by Italy’s Tinto Brass[r]. The result was a film of varying cuts, but with a number of creative constants: sex, style and violence. “Caligula” starred Helen Mirren, Malcolm McDowell and Peter O’Toole, alongside performers hired by Guccione during post-production to film hardcore sequences. There’s honestly enough nudity beyond these sequences, of course, but this infamous editing only adds to “Caligula’s” notorious reputation.



Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

The Softcore Sensation That Promised “X Was Never Like This”

A Roger Corman Production Jam-Packed with Monsters & Nudity

The Era of Excess & Excessive Skin

Music Video Star Tawny Kitaen[s] in a French Fantasy Farce

John Waters’ Infamous NC-17 Bomb

Director Bernardo Bertolucci[t] was no stranger to controversy, having helmed the infamous “Last Tango in Paris” back in 1972. “The Dreamers” only added to Bertolucci’s uncompromising legacy, thanks to such taboo topics as the sexualization of sibling relationships. Granted, themes of political unrest and class structure also arise within the narrative of “The Dreamers,” but most attention was paid to the nude scenes of stars Eva Green[u], Michael Pitt and Louis Garrel[v]. This love triangle is juxtaposed against the Parisian riots of May, 1968 and as a result makes “The Dreamers” feel like a study of character and motivation, amidst a backdrop of eroticism.


Be honest: do nude scenes in a film influence your desire to check them out? Let us know in the comments!

[b]Nim-foh-MAY-nee-ak
[c]Larz Von TREE-ur
[d]SHY-uh Luh-BUFF
[e]Nim-foh-MAY-nee-uh
[f]Ab-DELL-uh-teef Keh-SHEESH
[g]Russ MY-er
[h]KIT-tuhn Nah-TEE-vee-dahd
[i]Hots
[j]Kim Kuh-TRALL
[k]Kyle Muh-KLOK-luhn
[l]STAN-lee KOO-brik
[m]KOH-duh
[n]Koo-BRICK-ee-un
[o]Kuh-LIG-yuh-luh
[p]Bob GOOCH-ee-oh-nee
[q]Gor Vee-DAL
[r]TIN-toh Brass
[s]TAW-nee Kuh-TANE
[t]Ber-NAR-doh Bear-toh-LOO-chee
[u]AY-vuh Green
[v]LOO-ee Gah-REL