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There’s just something about watching older women have sex with younger men on-screen. Whether it’s the rarity factor or reversal of power dynamics, or the fact that many of these relationships happen in secret, the dynamic between older women and younger men is tantalizing to see.
One of the most well-known movies of that ilk is — of course — The Graduate. Starring Dustin Hoffman as a young man who is seduced by an older woman (Anne Bancroft), iconic spicy scenes ensue before Benjamin goes on to fall for her daughter, who is his age. Just imagine that Thanksgiving dinner!
In 2024, Nicole Kidman nailed her portrayal of female sexual desires in her erotic film Babygirl, which sees her have a BDSM-filled affair with Harris Dickinson. Also in 2024, Anne Hathaway tried her hand at a steamy age gap romance with her onscreen love interest Nicholas Galitzine in mom-com The Idea of You.
Check out some of the steamiest sex scenes featuring older women and younger men below!
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‘Babygirl’
Image Credit: A24 In one of 2024’s sexiest releases, Nicole Kidman plays a CEO who begins an affair with her intern (Harris Dickinson) in an attempt to live out her BDSM fantasies with plenty of memorable sex scenes.
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‘Notes on a Scandal’
Image Credit: ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection In Notes on a Scandal, Cate Blanchett plays a teacher having a clandestine affair with a younger male student (Andrew Simpson). When Blanchett’s colleague (Judi Dench) catches them, she uses the secret to manipulate her coworker.
In one of several steamy moments, Blanchett and Simpson’s characters meet up outside at night to have sex without her family knowing.
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‘The Idea of You’
Image Credit: ©Amazon/Courtesy Everett Collection In one notable sex scene, Nicholas Galitzine and Anne Hathaway’s character have a lengthy and sensual hook-up in a hotel amid their secret affair.
Hathaway plays a single mom who begins a passionate romance with a much-younger boy band member, and their secret fling definitely left us all hot and bothered.
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‘Good Luck to You, Leo Grande’
Image Credit: ©Searchlight Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection Emma Thompson and Daryl McCormack showcase just how hot sex with an older woman towards the end of the film and they keep edging the whole way through the film.
In this raw, honest movie about sex and pleasure, Thompson plays Nancy Stokes, a retired teacher who has never had an orgasm, so she hires a sex worker named Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack) to finally tick things off her sexual bucket list. With some time together, they connect far more than just physically.
Stream on Hulu.
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White Palace
Image Credit: ©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection Starring James Spader and Susan Sarandon, White Palace is steamy and erotic all the way through but when Sarandon’s Nora gives Spader’s Max a blowjob the night they meet, one of the film’s best sex scenes begins.
The film follows a 20-something-year-old advertising executive who is still recovering from the death of his wife when he strikes up a secret fling with a waitress in her 40s.
These two get to it pretty quickly, literally within the first 30 minutes of the movie, so there are plenty of sex scenes to enjoy.
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‘The Graduate’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection We couldn’t make this list without including 1967’s The Graduate. Known for the now iconic relationship between Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft’s characters, this movie feels like the first of its kind as it explores the romantic dynamic between an older woman and a younger man (and doesn’t shy away from steamy, intimate scenes!)
In a nutshell, this Hollywood classic tells the story of Benjamin Braddock (Hoffman) as he falls for Mrs Robinson (Bancroft) and her daughter (played by Katharine Ross).
In one of the hottest moments in the film, Mrs Robinson bares it all as she seduces Ben in her daughter’s bedroom.
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‘Being Julia’
Image Credit: ©Sony Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection In 2004’s Being Julia, Annette Bening plays Julia Lambert, an accomplished actress who’s bored with her life and career. At the height of her boredom, her husband introduces her to a young American actor named Tom (Shaun Evans) and they begin a whirlwind romance.
In one particular sex scene, sexual jokes become sensual moans, giving audiences plenty to listen to and Bening delivers a performance that landed her an Oscar nomination.
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‘The Piano Teacher’
Image Credit: ©Kino International/Courtesy Everett Collection In this dark 2001 French drama, The Piano Teacher tells the story of a masochistic piano teacher, Erika (Isabelle Huppert), who is seduced by one of her students, Walter (Benoît Magimel).
Erika has some voyeuristic tendencies, so one of the underrated sex scenes in this film actually doesn’t involve her. Instead, she explores her sexual desires at a sex show.
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‘Don Jon’
Image Credit: Daniel McFadden/©Relativity Media/courtesy Everett Collection In 2013’s Don Jon, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Julianne Moore’s characters spark an unlikely connection after a random conversation during a community college class.
One sex scene between Moore and Gordon-Levitt’s characters on a couch is particularly memorable.
Though their steamy scene is great by itself, their connection is also incredibly compelling as they open up to each other, something life-altering for Gordon-Levitt’s porn-addicted character.
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‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back’
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox Licensing/Merchandising / Everett Collection One of the ways Stella got her groove back? Taye Diggs! In this 1998 comedy/romance, Angela Bassett plays Stella, a 40-something executive who agrees to travel to Jamaica to let loose. Once there, she develops a sexy connection with Winston (Diggs). That shower sex scene is really where things ramp up.
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‘The Boy Next Door’
Image Credit: Suzanne Hanover/©Universal Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection The psychological thriller The Boy Next Door tells the story of the newly single teacher Claire (Jennifer Lopez) and her young neighbor Noah (Ryan Guzman). After a passionate night together, Lopez’s character tries to end things with him, but things quickly take a dark turn.
In one of several steamy moments, Claire takes control and pushes Noah’s head between her legs and… you can imagine the rest.
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‘The English Teacher’
Image Credit: Nicole Rivelli/Tribeca Film/courtesy Everett Collection 2013’s The English Teacher tells the story of Linda (Julianne Moore), a high school English teacher whose life goes off the rails when a former student (Michael Angarano) returns to seek advice.
Their first sexual encounter together really sets the passionate, jealous tone for the rest of the film.
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‘The Reader’
Image Credit: ©Weinstein Company/Courtesy Everett Collection For those history buffs out there, The Reader tells the story of a teenager (David Kross) in postwar Germany who has an affair with an older woman (Kate Winslet). Many years later, their paths cross again, but this time in much worse conditions.
There are multiple full frontal sex scenes in this film so take your pick.
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‘Adore’
Image Credit: Matt Nettheim/Exclusive Releasing/Courtesy Everett Collection In a story full of romance, sex and betrayal, Adore digs into the story of two childhood friends (Naomi Watts and Robin Wright) who fall in love with each others sons.
There are three sex scenes in this film and each is more sensual than the previous with plenty of thrusting and moderate nudity.
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‘Chéri’
Image Credit: Bruno Calvo/©Miramax/Courtesy Everett Collection A steamy romance set in Paris during the 1920s? Yes please. Chéri tells the story of a son (Rupert Friend) who’s forced to end his relationship with an older woman (Michelle Pfeiffer) who educated him in the ways of love.
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‘Book of Love’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection In 2004’s Book of Love, a young ice cream shop worker (Gregory Smith) gets romantically involved with a happily married couple (Simon Baker and Frances O’Connor).
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