13 Films About the World's Oldest Profession That Present a Softened View

      While the recent Best Picture winner, Anora, provides a straightforward and impartial view of sex work, films have historically been critiqued for romanticizing the realities of the world’s oldest profession. Here are 13 instances.

      Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961)

      If you’re questioning “Breakfast at Tiffany’s?”, the answer is yes, indeed!

      Although the film softens some of the harsher aspects of Truman Capote's novella, it clearly indicates that Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn), an enduring icon of style and sophistication, engages in covert activities.

      Capote described Holly Golightly not as a typical sex worker but rather as an “American geisha”: “She had no job but accompanied affluent men to fine dining and nightlife venues, with an unspoken understanding that her escort would provide her with some form of gift, possibly jewelry or a check… if she chose, she might bring her escort home for the night.”

      At one moment, she remarks that “any gentleman with a hint of class will hand a girl a $50 bill for the restroom.”

      Never on Sunday (1960)

      This Greek film features Melina Mercouri as Ilya, a liberally spirited woman of the night whose way of life is challenged by classical scholar Homer (Jules Dassin, who wrote and directed the film). He attempts to guide her towards his interpretation of morality while she seeks to loosen him up.

      And the thing she avoids on Sundays?

      You guessed it.

      Irma la Douce (1963)

      The Apartment stars Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine. Director Billy Wilder and screenwriter I.A.L. Diamond collaborated again in this comedic romantic adventure where Lemmon portrays a policeman who falls for the charming Irma (MacLaine) and vows to save her through a comically convoluted series of deceptions.

      The film leans towards humor more than The Apartment, which examined similar themes.

      Belle de Jour (1967)

      This French romantic drama features the incredibly glamorous Catherine Deneuve as Séverine, a married woman who embarks on a journey of self-discovery by working at a high-end brothel.

      Initially hesitant, she eventually discovers excitement and fulfillment in her new lifestyle, which positively impacts her relationship with her husband.

      Being a film from 1967, however, complications arise — but not necessarily due to her new profession. Issues emerge when Marcel (Pierre Clémenti), with whom she has an exhilarating affair, becomes jealous and aggressive.

      The Happy Hooker (1975)

      The title is self-explanatory. Based on Xaviera Hollander’s popular memoir, this comedy stars Lynn Redgrave as a Dutch consulate worker who quits to enter a more profitable line of work.

      New York Times critic Vincent Canby described it as “a cheerfully amoral New York comedy about greed and lust in the land of opportunity” and “a witty work.” While the protagonist encounters various obstacles, she charm her way through them. The film led to two sequels.

      Night Shift (1982)

      Night Shift is yet another film that uses prostitution as a metaphor for capitalism. This Ron Howard comedy features Henry Winkler and Michael Keaton as Chuck and Bill, two amiable morgue workers in New York City. They are soon introduced to thrilling new prospects by Belinda (Shelly Long), Chuck’s neighbor who works as a prostitute. Before long, they transform the morgue into a party venue/brothel.

      The film portrays sex work as beneficial for all involved until law enforcement and competing pimps take issue. Shelly also expresses her desire to keep her job, reminding Chuck that being a pimp is not inherently superior to being a sex worker.

      The film argues that the issue lies not within sex work itself, but rather with the law enforcement and violence surrounding it — leading us to the convenient resolution presented in the next film.

      The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas (1982)

      This very sex-positive film featuring Burt Reynolds and Dolly Parton illustrates a harmonious partnership between a madam (Dolly Parton) and a sheriff (Burt Reynolds).

      He lets her business thrive, viewing her form of sex work as a crime without victims. The situation only becomes complicated when local activists start protesting.

      The film envisions a scenario where law enforcement protects rather than persecutes sex workers, who could steer their own destinies, which was quite progressive for 1982.

      Trading Places (1983)

      Jamie Lee Curtis’s character, Ophelia, perhaps emerges as the most relatable character in Trading Places, a comedy that shifts between rags to riches and back again, inspired by Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro.

      While the film does not shy away from the harsh realities of Ophelia’s life, it ultimately fosters an optimistic outlook — reminiscent of Pretty Woman — where a chance encounter amidst hardship can lead to a life of luxury.

      By the film's conclusion, Ophelia is enjoying a blissful life in a