Introduction: In the following illustrated compilation are some of the most significant films in the history of sex on the screen. The influential film milestones and their memorable sexual/erotic scenes are thoroughly described. Including portrayals of sex and/or nudity, these films were often considered quite erotic, groundbreaking, unique and/or controversial at the time. The following listing of these influential, memorable and classic sex scenes and films takes into account all of the available surveys of this type of material, and attempts to provide an informed, detailed, unranked, chronological (by film title) grouping of the most influential and groundbreaking films and scenes. Some of the most notorious (or infamous) films are quite mediocre, usually made as an excuse to display nudity or eroticism of a star performer.

See also the multi-part Sexual and Erotic Films in Cinema, The Most Controversial Films of All-Time and the Best and Most Memorable Film Kisses of All Time in Cinematic History.

Key to Icon Symbol:

- Milestone Films With Scenes That Were Especially Notorious, Infamous, Controversial, or Scandalous

Example

Never Talk to Strangers (1995)

A Reason to Believe (1995)

Showgirls (1995)

Director Paul Verhoeven's erotic show-biz, sexploitation drama (teamed up again with screenwriter Joe Eszterhas) was the first attempt of Hollywood to mass market a studio film with an NC-17 rating (since the failure of Caligula (1979)), although it was a tremendous flop; in subsequent years, it has regained some of its status as a deliberately campy, misogynistic guilty-pleasure adult film; it was controversially loaded with very frequent nudity, sexuality, notorious dialogue (Cristal: "I like nice tits. I always have. How about you?" Nomi: "I like having nice tits." Cristal: "How do you like havin' 'em?" Nomi: "What do you mean?" Cristal: "You know what I mean"), and campy sleaze in a drama about the sex industry that took an uncensored look at cheap Las Vegas strip clubs and shows (with pole-dancing at the Cheetah) and higher-class hotel shows and their headliner dancers; although it flopped at the box-office, the notorious film found an audience among cult film-goers, although it reportedly destroyed the career of star Elizabeth Berkley, earlier noted for her role in the late 80s TV show Saved By the Bell; there were many memorable scenes in this infamous film, including the overacted, over-the-top swimming pool scene with champagne and thrashing orgasmic activity between leggy pole dancer Nomi Malone (Berkley) and hotel entertainment director and impresario Zack Carey (Kyle Maclachlan) - the scene was voted the #1 'unsexiest' or worst sex scene in cinema history by Empire Magazine in 2005; there were many other unclad scenes, including the voyeuristic lap-dance sequence, the topless 'Chorus Line-like' dance audition and "Thrust It" coaching administered by a dancing choreographer, numerous dressing room scenes, the love-hate/lesbian sex and kiss encounter between Nomi and Stardust Hotel revue showgirl star Cristal Connors (Gina Gershon), the stage performance of the "Goddess" topless dance show, and more

Species (1995)

Director Roger Donaldson's R-rated, titillating science-fiction thriller contained plentiful sex and nudity - exhibited by gorgeous, deadly, part-alien/part-human nymphomaniacal Sil (model Natasha Henstridge) who prowled the LA singles scene looking to procreate with a suitable male mate to provide her with the genetic seed necessary to have offspring for colonization; the beauteous murderous creature enticingly seduced men in many scenes by becoming naked and aggressively demanding sex (a reversal of normal sex roles), especially in one hot tub sequence; when aroused, spikes came sprouting from her back and after she was impregnated, she would kill her shocked male victim

Strange Days (1995)

Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995)

Todd Solondz's painfully-realistic, uncompromising rites-of-passage black comedy - his first major independent film success, was about bespectacled, geeky 11 year-old outcast Dawn Weiner (Heather Matarazzo) in a middle-class New Jersey family; without scenes of sex, nudity, or violence (although there are some vulgarities), the film followed her cruel, miserable, and isolated progress through puberty, when called "lesbo," "weiner dog," and "dog-face" by her junior-high classmates and shunned in the cafeteria; she was told that she was "ugly" - the main reason for her tauntings; in one scene, she developed an obvious crush on her brother's garage band-mate Steve Rodgers (Eric Mabius); in another, violence-prone and jealous Lolita (Victoria Davis) forced Dawn in the toilet to relieve her bowels, to exercise power over her; and in a potential rape scene, Heather was menacingly told by crass 7th grade bully Brandon (Brendan Sexton, Jr.) at her locker that he was going to rape her at 3 pm, but then didn't follow through (because he didn't actually know what rape was and only wanted to awkwardly express his interest in her) - although she was willing to let him kiss her and submit in order to be accepted

When Night is Falling (1995, Can.)

Wild Side (1995)