Chemistry is important to every relationship. Luckily for romance fans, chemistry is also the heart of every great romantic film. From the initial spark to the tension of the build up, Netflix’s romance catalog has films that go beyond the typical meet cute. At pushwiki, we have found the best 8 romantic films that are highly rated and, of course, are very steamy.
1. Fifty Shades of Grey (2015)
Fifty Shades of Grey centers on college senior Anastasia Steele, played by Dakota Johnson, and her relationship with the business tycoon Christian Grey. From the feedback of the press and critics, we can assume that the film likely didn’t score any points with the critics, but we really should cut some slack and it just might be one of the first recognizably steamy films from the past decade.
2. Babygirl (2024)
In Nicole Kidman’s latest romantic film, the star plays a CEO who is seduced by one of her interns, who is much younger and much more taboo. Because of the themes that Babygirl explores, including the intersection of desire and obsession, as well as the balance of control and power, the film veers from the common obsession with physical attraction and is a film worthy of consideration and thought.
3. Unfaithful (2002)
Diane Lane plays a suburban housewife whose unremarkable life in the suburbs becomes exhilarating and thrilling after her encounter with a stranger turns her newly boring and mundane life into an affair. Unfaithful carries the thrill and danger of infidelity with an emotional and weighty balance of the sensual and the boisterous.
4. The Handmaiden (2016)
Director Park Chan-wook’s The Handmaiden is one of the best and most romantic films of the past decade. A psychological thriller, The Handmaiden wraps a forbidden romance in layers of deception and intrigue. It is critically acclaimed and highly rated, and is inspired by Sarah Walker’s novel Fingersmith.
5. Call Me by Your Name (2017)
Call Me By Your Name is an Italian summer romance set in the 1980s. A slow burn, it is highly romanticized and poetically presented with a large focus on the emotional longing between the two. This film is considered one of the greatest romantic films in modern history, and for good reason with its perfectly executed tension.
6. Basic Instinct (1992)
Basic Instinct is a neo-noir classic that sets the mood with its eroticism and maintains a high level of thrilling suspense. The movie just would not have the same level of success as an erotic thriller if Sharon Stone’s character was not a femme fatale.
7. Wild Things (1998)
Still considered one of the best erotic thrillers today, Wild Things is everything you would expect from a cult classic: a steamy love triangle, deception, and betrayal. The multiple narrative including the central love triangle will captivate your attention with endless plot twists.
8. Office Romance (2026)
Jennifer Lopez stars in the newest Office Romance. Netflix is getting good at this genre. Lopez is the CEO of an airline and has a strict no-dating policy at work. But with the arrival of a new lawyer on her legal team, the policy becomes even more difficult to enforce. Sharp and hilarious, it is no wonder this is one of the most popular new romantic films on the platform, getting millions of views since it was released.
A Quick Note Before You Press Play
The app updates its catalogue frequently and depending on your country, the selection can differ. It is good to check beforehand that the film you want to watch is actually available. You can check this in the app.
Final Thoughts
From romantic film period, classics like Basic Instinct and Office Romance, to tension filled films, this list has a wide variety of what “steamy” can be on screen. There is something for everyone, so enjoy!
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