Want to spice up your next “Netflix and chill” night? Boy, we have the list for you! Gone are the days of staying up late at night, scrolling through IFC and HBO, hoping to catch a quick glimpse of a glorious gay sex scene. We now live in an age where we can stream that beautiful NC-17 smut on demand. While there are hundreds of these titles to choose from, only a few rise above the label “softcore.” If you want to watch something as meaningful as it is meaty, check out our recommendations below…
Shortbus
John Cameron Michael’s 2006 film Shortbus is a kinky voyeuristic delight. Not strictly limited to the G in LGBTQ, this film explores the depths of human sexuality inside a New York City fetish club. Fun fact: There’s so much nudity in Shortbus, it’s said that the film crew shot a few scenes naked in order to make the actors feel more comfortable.
Streaming: Youtube, Google Play, and Apple TV (banned on Amazon!)
Stranger by the Lake (L’inconnu du Lac)
This award-winning French erotic thriller made a splash when it premiered at Cannes in 2013. Stranger by the Lake tells a murderous tale of a notorious gay cruising spot and the men who frequent it. If you can handle the suspense, you’re in for a treat. This film contains non-simulated, borderline pornographic gay sex.
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Streaming: Amazon
Weekend
Two strangers meet at a gay bar, and what should have been a drunken one-night stand turns into a weekend-long, unforgettable sexcapade. Though Weekend does not pretend to be an art house film, you should brace yourself for deep, introspective moments that punctuate its raw, carnal scenes.
Streaming: Watch Now
Bad Education (La mala educación)
If you ever hoped to see more of Gael Garcia Bernal’s birthday suit in Y tu mamá también, well honey I got news for you. Bad Education is the answer to your prayers. This 2004 Spanish language film, set in 1980s Madrid, focuses on the relationship between two childhood friends and lovers who reckon with their traumatic pasts as Catholic schoolboys. It received an NC-17 rating in the United States for its depiction of man-on-man sex, but the film is as much a criticism of non-secular education as it is eye candy. On top of that, it shines an unwavering spotlight on transgender identity politics, drag, and sexual assault. Not just for idle watching–the film is widely acclaimed as one of Pedro Almodóvar’s best works.
Streaming: Starz or Amazon
Dry Wind (Vento Seco)
This story follows a shy, hunky bear, Sandro, who attempts to spice up his dull life with a series of explicit sexual encounters—both real and imagined. Set against a background of political unrest, Sandro is caught in a torrid love triangle between a younger co-worker and a motorcycle-riding stud straight out of a Tom of Finland drawing.
Streaming: Amazon
Paris 05:59: Théo & Hugo
This French film will give you everything you’re looking for straight off the bat–it opens with an 18-minute-long orgy scene. If you are still interested in the plot after that point, the film captures the encounter between two gay men, Theo and Hugo, as they wander out of the sex club into the brisk Parisian night air. What starts as an explicit, racy affair, turns into a tender love story.
Streaming: Tubi
Tom of Finland
This biopic illustrates how Tom of Finland shaped the fantasies of an entire generation of gay men. It’s a great flick for those who want to learn a bit about queer history while also getting your jollies. ‘Nuff said.
Streaming: Youtube and Amazon
The Acrobat (L’acrobate)
This French Canadian drama shows a torrid love affair between two men squatting in an abandoned high rise in snowy Montreal. With a setup reminiscent of The Last Tango in Paris, it is the third in filmmaker Rodrigue Jean’s trilogy. The Acrobat continues the auteur’s exploration into sexuality and emotional intimacy, following Lost Song and Love in the Time of Civil War.
Streaming: Youtube and Amazon
Strapped
This sex-filled odyssey shows a young male porn star as he makes his way through his San Francisco apartment building in a series of odd encounters. What it lacks in plot it more than makes up for in stunning cinematography and, of course, sizzle.
Streaming: Amazon
Boy Culture
Based on a novel by the same name, Boy Culture portrays the relationships between a successful male escort and his two roommates through a series of steamy confessionals. This film may be a bit clumsy and campy, but lovable nonetheless.
Streaming: Amazon
tjack47
It’s John Cameron Mitchell not Michael.
Doug
??? “Weekend,” “Strapped,” and “Boy Culture” are not NC-17 films. They’re all quite tame, except for maybe some quick nudity.
esrosejr
If you are watching any, well most, of these films for the big D reveal then you are missing the boat. As an old old guy I can tell you that good films with a gay theme have been a long time coming. So to speak. Strapped is very good. A night of trying to get out of a gay dream. Stranger by the Lake is scary as hell. And so on. I have all of these in my library and many rate a replay every so often to remind me that I do live in a new world where gay art is not only in the mainstream but in some respects IS the mainstream.
ShiningSex
Some of these are really good films like Weekend, Short Bus, Stranger by the Lake, Paris 05:59, and Tom of Finland.
It’s sad the article is reduced to “HEY WANNA SEE SOME DICK” movies.
Ronangelojr
So what you’re saying is I have to subscribe to Amazon? Ugh, My cable bill is outrageous as it is!
Doubly Amped
actually Ronangelojr, all the ones listed for Prime you also have to have a subsciption to Dekkoo. And our bill is too high, so I won’t be watching these either.
kush66
@Doubly Amped …. the problem with Dekoo is that they cut out nudity and raw sex scenes. So, if you’re watching the film just for that, you’ll be immensely disappointed.
Joshooeerr
Or, you know, you could just stream some porn and save yourself the trouble of searching these films for the naughty bits. If that’s your mindset, you’re probably not much interested in the actual films anyway. Eh, Queerty? I’ve never seen an article on here that offers any kind of perceptive critique of gay content. Just which ones have dicks. Honestly, I’m embarrassed for you.
Rugby8
Well said
skyreader
A few of these are excellent for far more than the D, of which you see what you need to see in Paris 05:59: Théo & Hugo, Stranger by the Lake, Weekend and Shortbus. These are thoughtful, intelligent films with stories to tell. The guys are also beautiful with or without their clothes on.