10 Film Sex Scenes That Someone Should Have Intervened In

      Movie sex scenes serve as a reflection of our changing standards regarding relationships and consent. The following ten instances crossed ethical lines in disturbing ways.

      Last Tango in Paris (1972)

      A prime example of how not to handle sex scenes. Director Bernardo Bertolucci, 30, and 48-year-old leading man Marlon Brando decided on the spur of the moment to use butter in one of the film's most notorious sex scenes, without informing the 19-year-old lead actress Maria Schneider until they were filming.

      Bertolucci, who passed away in 2018, later stated, “I wanted her reaction as a girl, not as an actress. I wanted her to feel humiliated.” Schneider, who died in 2007, expressed that she felt violated during the scene.

      When the scene was reevaluated in 2016, Bertolucci clarified that while Schneider was aware the scene would involve violence and it was scripted, the only new element was the butter. He learned years later that this upset her, not the violence itself, which was part of the screenplay. He also confirmed that all sexual acts in the film were simulated.

      Pretty Baby (1978)

      The recent Hulu documentary Brooke Shields: Pretty Baby highlights how Hollywood sought to sexualize Shields from a young age. The title references the film Pretty Baby, directed by Louis Malle, which is based on the true story of a 12-year-old girl raised in a brothel and subjected to exploitation by her mother.

      While the film portrays sympathy for Shields' character Violet, it raised significant concerns by depicting her undressed. Even by 1978 standards, the film was seen as problematic, leading to numerous discussions about its appropriateness, and the British Board of Film Classification debated its legality.

      A particularly troubling moment is a kiss between an 11-year-old Shields and 28-year-old co-star David Carradine. However, Shields recently stated on The Drew Barrymore Show that Carradine was “gracious” and “protective” on set.

      Revenge of the Nerds (1984)

      There is ample criticism of Revenge of the Nerds, much of which focuses on a scene where nerds use hidden cameras to spy on sorority women in various states of undress.

      That is a felony, folks.

      Revenge of the Nerds, Again (1984)

      Another deeply concerning aspect of Revenge of the Nerds involves lead nerd Lewis (Robert Carradine), who wears a mask to deceive a fellow student into thinking he is her boyfriend. After their encounter, she expresses happiness about the experience, which serves as the film's misguided justification for this unethical deception. The lessons here are troubling on multiple levels.

      Screenwriter Steve Zacharias has publicly stated his regrets about both the mask scene and the hidden camera scene and chose to omit them while adapting the film into a musical.

      Sixteen Candles (1984)

      Sixteen Candles is another example where a character's unacceptable behavior is presented in a positive light. Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling) is seen as the ideal partner for our heroine Samantha (Molly Ringwald). However, at one point, Jake passes out his unconscious girlfriend, Caroline (Haviland Morris), to another guy, Ted (Anthony Michael Hall).

      Jake tells Ted to “have fun.” The following day, Caroline and Ted conclude they had sex, and she responds, “You know, I have this weird feeling I did,” which serves as a flimsy justification for the men's actions.

      Basic Instinct (1992)

      In her memoir, The Beauty of Living Twice, Sharon Stone revealed that a crew member deceived her into shooting the most revealing moment in Basic Instinct by claiming the removal of her underwear was necessary for lighting purposes.

      She expressed shock at the final cut, resulting in her slapping director Paul Verhoeven and calling her lawyer, although she ultimately consented to the scene's release. Verhoeven later asserted that Stone was a willing participant and “knew exactly what we were doing,” a claim she disputes.

      Stone recounted in a recent podcast that she lost custody of her child in a 2004 court case due to her involvement in the film.

      Poison Ivy (1992)

      While we do not equate representations of negative behavior with endorsements, Poison Ivy does not condone the relationship between Ivy (played by a then-16-year-old Drew Barrymore) and her friend's father (a then-58-year-old Tom Skerritt).

      The film was not created as exploitative content, having even premiered at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival.

      Director Katt Shea has mentioned that both she and Skerritt were aware of the potential issues raised by the relationship between Ivy and the older character, and she took measures to protect Barrymore by using a body double for certain scenes.

      However, Shea stated in a 2022 Yahoo interview, “I don’t think that movie would be made today, period.”