logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
15m 8s

Where’s all the sex gone in movies?

Bbc World Service
About this episode

Challengers. Poor Things. Saltburn. Three Hollywood movies released in the last six months which haven't held back on sex. However, the stats tell us movies in America are actually getting less steamy…

A study from The Economist suggests that sexual content in movies has dropped by 40% since 2000. BBC Culture reporter, Annabel Rackham, explains what’s behind this Hollywood trend.

Intimacy co-ordinators are a more regular sight on sets these days, helping people in front of the camera and behind it to navigate their way through a sensitive scene. Alicia Rodis, an intimacy co-ordinator who’s worked on Watchmen, And Just Like That and The Deuce, explains what the job entails.

Plus, BBC Asian Network’s Haroon Rashid describes how sex and romance is treated in Bollywood. Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: Alex Rhodes Producers: Emily Horler, Baldeep Chahal and Adam Chowdhury Editor: Verity Wilde

Up next
Yesterday
Hangxiety: Why some people experience anxiety after drinking alcohol
After drinking alcohol, some people don’t just have a headache - they feel guilt, dread, low mood and a deep sense of embarrassment. It’s known as ‘hang-xiety’ or hangover anxiety, and science backs up that it’s a real phenomenon. Alcohol affects all systems in the body, includin ... Show More
8m 58s
Oct 21
How have the protests in France changed?
Protests are still ongoing across France, but now it’s no longer just about schools. People of all ages are protesting over a high cost of living. But there was violence and riots over the weekend, with thousands of arrests.Dramatic pictures of wreckage, fires and police clampdow ... Show More
9m 10s
Oct 20
Why polyester is in its flop era
Have a look at the label in the clothes you’re wearing today. Chances are, you’re wearing some polyester. It’s the most- produced synthetic fibre on the planet and it’s having a bit of a moment on socials. In a bad way…people are giving it up and swapping for more natural fibres. ... Show More
10m 45s
Recommended Episodes
Apr 2022
What Happened to All The Sex in Movies?
Has sex changed in movies? Is 40 too old to launch a new career? Where do we get ideas for films? And tech news about Blackmagic Design’s latest release… In this episode, we talk about… The evolution of erotic thrillers and how genres never die  Male gaze vs. female gaze, shif ... Show More
41m 33s
Aug 2019
Why are we having less sex?
Porn, smart phones and the ‘slutty transmitter’. Adults in the US have sex on average about 50 times a year, which has dropped by 20 per cent over the last two decades. It’s a similar story in the UK, Australia, Germany, Finland and Japan. Could it be down to porn or our smart ph ... Show More
23m 13s
Mar 2025
Lights, Camera, Sex: Intimacy Coordinator Secrets Revealed!
While Sex in Hollywood movies goes in and out of style, we seem to be in an upswing moment with Academy Award wins for nudity-containing films like Anora and The Substance. Jason personally has some scenes, mostly for comedic purposes but even then, performing it is complicated a ... Show More
42m 35s
Jun 2024
S7 Ep5: Why are young people having less sex?
Accredited sex and relationships therapist Cate Campbell and her son Diggory Waite discuss reports that sexual content in top films has dropped since the 2000s, outline the context surrounding the world at the moment and attempt to answer why this, as a recent study claims, means ... Show More
33m 37s
Feb 2021
Intimacy on screen
<p>Whether it’s a stroke of a cheek or a sex scene, filming intimate content for movies and TV is a delicate business. When badly handled, it can even cause the actors harm. Kim Chakanetsa talks to an Indian movie director and to a pioneering intimacy coordinator about ensuring a ... Show More
27m 25s
Oct 2023
Why We Need Sex Scenes in Movies and ‘Fair Play’
Sean and Amanda review a trio of movies—‘Fair Play’ (1:00), ‘The Royal Hotel’ (30:00), and ‘Cat Person’ (40:00)—before having a wider conversation about the current role of sex in cinema (52:00). Then, Sean is joined by ‘Fair Play’ writer-director Chloe Domont to discuss her debu ... Show More
1h 47m