Queer sex scenes in film and TV have a little bit of a fraught history. From ramping up the passion before cutting away, to sapphic scenes directed entirely for the male gaze, LGBTQ+ lovemaking can be hit and miss.

Having said that, some filmmakers have gone above and beyond when it comes to queer love, and we’re taking a moment to give these films and TV shows their flowers.

Ready to watch something steamy? Here are our top queer sex scenes from film and TV.

All of Us Strangers

This film is all about quiet intimacy and unyielding desire while simultaneously dealing with grief, loneliness, and belonging. Two queer men meet in their empty apartment complex and what ensues is one of the most crushing and beautiful romances in recent years. On a lighter note, the audience also gets to see the “unspeakable things” Andrew Scott and Paul Mescal’s characters get up to.

Desert Hearts

Desert Hearts is the first movie to bring lesbian sex to the big screen, and it doesn’t disappoint. Before the release of the film in 1985, lesbians were largely depicted as predators, but Desert Hearts subverted that narrative and gave viewers a masterclass in patience. It also doesn’t shy away from the fear of your first time, and it’s oh-so-endearing. Filled with desire, this heartwarming queer sex scene stands the test of time.

Passages 

In a world where queer sex scenes are often too short, Passages breaks the mould, with a long, steamy session. Beyond this scene, Passages deals with complicated relationships and the fluidity of sexuality. It’s a must-watch for anyone who feels stuck in their lives. The eye-candy, meanwhile, is a plus.

A Fantastic Woman

This is, first and foremost, a film about grief, but it is paramount in its representation. Following a trans woman grieving the loss of her partner, this award-winning Chilean movie shows us the good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s also maybe the only piece of cinema daring enough to go from oral sex to a full-blown musical number, so that alone makes it worth a watch.

Sense 8

This show truly has everything. In a great introduction for a great couple, for instance, we get sapphic sex with a rainbow strap. In a refreshing twist, Sense 8 isn’t about queerness, yet it portrays it effortlessly, without veering into tired tropes. There’s also a mind-link orgy if that’s your thing.

 The Handmaiden

This 2016 South Korean historical drama has become nothing short of a queer classic, and we can understand why. The Handmaiden follows a pickpocket who is hired to pose as a handmaiden to a wealthy noblewoman, and, as you might have guessed, given this list’s premise, develops feelings for her.

Bruised

In her feature-length debut, Halle Berry directs herself in one of the best sex scenes to date. With a lovely score and camera work, this scene is full of need even when the characters aren’t speaking. These women look like they can’t get close enough, and if that isn’t queer desire, we don’t know what is.

Disobedience 

Sebastián Leilo’s 2017 film Disobedience offers viewers a fascinating look at queerness and religion, as it follows Ronit (Rachel Weisz) as she returns to the Orthodox community she grew up in. During this trip home, she meets Esti (Rachel McAdams), and a steamy relationship ensues. One scene in particular shows that skin-on-skin contact is not always a central tenet of a great sex scene.

Bros

In the Billy Eichner romantic comedy Bros, we get muscle worship, group sex, and all sorts of kinky shenanigans. It’s a wild change in cinema that marks a new era for raunchy representation on screen. Not all queer relationships are PG, and queer people deserve to deliver the punchlines instead of being one themselves.

So, there you have it, nine of our favourite queer sex scenes to spice up your screentime. As we head into the new year, we’re looking back at the very best in queer representation, from film to TV and everything in between.

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