10 Best Movies About the Adult Film Industry

Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, this epic follows the rise and fall of a young adult film star (Mark Wahlberg) in the '70s and '80s, when the industry moved from film to video. With a fantastic cast (Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, Philip Seymour Hoffman) and a realistic look at the business, it's the ultimate film on the subject.

Directed by Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman, the film stars Amanda Seyfried as Linda Lovelace, the star of Deep Throat (1972), who was abused and exploited by her husband. It reveals the grim reality behind the glamour of the industry.

OK, it's not a film, but this HBO series created by David Simon and George Pelecanos is the definitive look at the adult industry in the '70s and '80s. With James Franco and Maggie Gyllenhaal in the lead roles, The Deuce shows how porn, the mob and feminism collided in a time of great change in New York.

Directed by James Cox, this thriller is based on the true story of John Holmes, a legendary adult film star who was involved in the gruesome Wonderland murders of 1981. With Val Kilmer as Holmes, it shows how the industry, drugs and crime went hand in hand.

Directed by Sean Baker, this small but touching film follows a young adult actress who strikes up an unexpected friendship with an elderly woman. Rather than the industry itself, it focuses on the loneliness and identity of the people working in it.

Directed by Ninja Thyberg, this unflinching, realistic Swedish film follows a young woman who moves to Los Angeles to become an adult film star. It shows the psychological and physical toll the industry takes, without romanticizing it.

Directed by Paul Schrader, this deeply disturbing film follows a conservative Midwestern father (George C. Scott) who discovers that his missing daughter has ended up in the adult film world. It shows the '70s underworld of the industry with a shocking, oppressive atmosphere.

Directed by Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, this documentary tells the shocking and bizarre story behind Deep Throat (1972). From mob money and court cases to its impact on pop culture, it's a must-see for anyone interested in the history of the industry.

Directed by Ti West, this film follows a group of young filmmakers trying to make an adult film on a remote Texas farm in the '70s, only to face something far more dangerous. It combines the look of classic '70s films with gruesome horror and is a surprisingly strong ode to the genre.

Directed by Luke Greenfield, this lighter, comic take on the industry follows a high school senior who falls for the girl next door, who turns out to be a former adult film actress. Not as deep as the others on this list, but an entertaining film with a fun twist.