The 70s and 80s were the golden era of erotic cinema. The boundaries of what could be shown were pushed, and directors experimented with sensuality, taboos, and cinematographic style. In a time when Hollywood was still cautious, European cinema (and some American independent films) dared to go much further.
Here are 10 erotic classics from the 70s and 80s you must see.
1. Emmanuelle (1974) – The ultimate soft-erotic film
This French cult film brought erotica into the mainstream and became a global phenomenon.
The story follows Emmanuelle, a young woman who discovers her sensuality while traveling through Asia, featuring exotic locations and elegant cinematography.
The film was revolutionary because it combined erotica with an almost arthouse-like atmosphere, something Hollywood never would have dared at the time.
2. The Night Porter (1974) – Sadomasochism and trauma
An intense and controversial film that weaves erotica with the aftermath of WWII.
Charlotte Rampling plays a concentration camp survivor who begins a sadomasochistic relationship with her former camp guard.
The film is psychologically profound, morally shocking, and visually hypnotizing—an erotic drama that knows no bounds.
3. Story of O (Histoire d’O, 1975) – Pure submission
Based on the notorious novel by Pauline Réage, this is one of the most infamous erotic films ever made.
The story follows O, a woman who voluntarily submits herself to a world of lust and sadomasochism.
With lush cinematography and an almost hypnotic atmosphere, the film feels more like a work of art than cheap exploitation.
4. Bilitis (1977) – Sensual coming-of-age
One of the most beautiful and dreamlike erotic films ever.
Director David Hamilton was known for his softness and visual romance, and Bilitis is a story about a young girl discovering her first erotic desires.
With enchanting cinematography, soft tones, and a slow, sensual build-up, this is a pure ode to youthful sensuality.
5. 9½ Weeks (1986) – Hollywood’s boldest erotic film
This film shocked the American public with its overt sexual scenes and intense chemistry between Mickey Rourke and Kim Basinger.
The film feels like an 80s version of Fifty Shades of Grey, but with style and character.
From ice cubes on the skin to the legendary striptease moment, this is a sultry, stylish, and emotionally intense erotic classic.
6. Salon Kitty (1976) – Eroticism and fascism
Tinto Brass (Caligula) created this bizarre, erotic Nazi exploitation film about an elite brothel during World War II.
With a mix of decadence, political intrigue, and explicit erotica, this is a film Hollywood would never have dared to make.
The costumes, sets, and operatic atmosphere give the film an almost surreal grandeur.
7. Caligula (1979) – Pure decadence and scandal
Probably the most notorious erotic film ever made.
Featuring a massive Hollywood cast (Malcolm McDowell, Helen Mirren, Peter O’Toole), directed by Tinto Brass, financed by Penthouse and full of explicit sex scenes, this is a unique mix of softcore and historical drama.
The film is full of political intrigue, bloody revenge, and decadent orgies—a rare, untamed look at ancient Rome.
8. The Lover (L’Amant, 1992) – Forbidden passion in colonial Vietnam
Although this film appeared in the early 90s, it breathes the atmosphere of the erotic arthouse films of the 80s.
Based on the autobiography of Marguerite Duras, the film tells the story of a young French student who begins an intense affair with an older, wealthy Chinese man.
With sultry tropical landscapes and slow, hypnotic cinematography, this is a film that combines erotica with class and melancholy.
9. La Marge (1976) – Eroticism as escape
A deeply melancholic erotic drama starring Sylvia Kristel (known for Emmanuelle).
The film follows a businessman who begins an affair with a prostitute in Paris, unaware that his wife has committed suicide back home.
With a sensual yet tragic undertone, the film shows how sex and grief can intersect.
10. L’Image (1975) – The ultimate erotic dominance
A masterpiece within the BDSM genre, exploring the limits of submission and desire.
Many films flirt with themes of sexual control, but this film fully immerses itself in them.
The cinematography is elegant, the tension is intense, and the erotica is as stimulating as it is stifling.
The 70s and 80s were a golden age for erotic cinema
While Hollywood often incorporated sexuality into thrillers or soft-erotic dramas, European cinema went much further and dared to break taboos.
From psychological obsession (9½ Weeks), historical decadence (Caligula) to pure sensuality (Bilitis)—these films portray erotica as art, passion, and scandal.
