A recent study found that major movies today have a lot less sex and nudity compared to movies from the early 2000s. The study, done by movie data expert Stephen Follows, looked at the 250 highest-grossing films in America each year since 2000.
Follows rated the movies on a scale from “none” to “severe” for sex and nudity. In 2000, only around 20% of top movies had no sexual content at all. But now, almost 50% of major movies have absolutely no sex scenes.
However, the study showed that when sex is depicted in newer films, the scenes tend to be more graphic compared to the past. Movies like the Oscar winner Poor Things and Saltburn were given as examples of films with very explicit sexual content.
Although in Saltburn, the sex is mostly implied rather than shown directly. The only full nudity is a non-sexual dancing scene with actor Barry Keoghan.
While movie sex has dropped, the study found that other mature content like drugs, violence, and swearing has stayed about the same since 2000 in major films.
One possible reason for less sex in movies could be the #MeToo movement starting in 2018, which led to changes like having intimacy coordinators on set during sex scenes. These coordinators help make intimate scenes comfortable and safe for actors.
Some directors feel intimacy is better suggested than shown explicitly. Others enjoy filming sex as simply another type of scene. But overall, it seems Hollywood is toning down overt sexual content in its biggest box office releases.