1.) In The Mood for Love (2000)
2.) Betty Blue (1986)
3.) Call Me by Your Name (2017)
4.) The English Patient (1996)
5.) The Handmaiden (2016)
6.) Indochine (1992)
7.) I Am Love (2009)
8.) Blue is the Warmest Colour (2013)
9.) Unfaithful (2002)
10.) The Piano Teacher (2001)
11.) Ghost (1990)
12.) Come Agua Para Chocolate (1992)
13.) Shame (2011)
14.) Indecent Proposal (1993)
15.) Carol (2015)
16.) In the Cut (2003)
17.) Lust, Caution (2007)
18.) Belle de Jour (1967)
19.) Nine and a Half Weeks (1986)
20.) Damage (1992)
Honourable mentions: Jeune & Jolie (2014), Cashback (2006) and The Lover (1992).
Some of these films do not contain nudity or contain only limited nudity. The references to eroticism/erotica and sensuality may be only subtle, but powerful. Incidentally, three of the films above are by British director Adrian Lyne (Jacob’s Ladder (1990)) and two – by Italian film master Luca Guadagnino (A Bigger Splash (2015)). This list was in no particular order.
Spotlight on Film 
Subtle is better. I love films that let your mind fill in the blanks. Just allude to it. I don’t have to see parts to get it. A guy or girl in the process of going down on the other does a lot to send one into orbit. LOL
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Interesting post! 😉
“The Duke of Burgundy” and “The Love Witch” could easily fit on this list, as could “Room In Rome” and Korean films “In My End Is My Beginning” and the remake of “The Housemaid”. 🙂
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Excellent recommendations, thank you! Not sure about “Room in Rome”, but “The Duke of Burgundy” and “The Love Witch” are interesting suggestions. Sure, my list is purely subjective.
I should watch more of Korean cinema. I know they have some great stuff, and especially re erotica. I am curious now about “In My End Is My Beginning”, looks interesting.
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Subtlety can be really erotic. Nudity doesn’t always equate to sexy, suggestion can be very hot.
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In The Mood for Love is by far my favourite of these – full of erotic longing, frustrating by politeness and shyness.
The Unbearable LIghtness of Being is another.
Lots of Asian films seem to fall into a category of longing and desire stymied by tradition.
Ju Dou is very erotic, as are many of Zhang Yimou’s films.
In English – Sex, Lies and Videotape and Secretary were both highly charged.
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