Top 10 Most Paused Movie Sex Scenes

“Passion Play” (2010)

There isn’t any extended nudity from Megan Fox during this early film appearance in “Passion Play.” However, that didn’t mean that fans of the “Transformers” actress didn’t likely pause home video copies during Fox’s sex scene with co-star Mickey Rourke. Fox admittedly shows off a lot within her performance of a carnival attraction that may or may not possess working, angelic wings. Fox’s star certainly was on the rise back in 2010 when she appeared in “Passion Play,” making this film one that “Transformers” fans likely sought out, hoping to see “more than meets the eye.”

“American Pie” (1999)

The original intention behind 1999’s “American Pie” was to revisit the post “Porky’s” landscape of teen sex comedies. Yet, in doing so, the film itself has become a time capsule of sexual politics that some modern viewers have found offensive. This reading arrives from one of these film’s most paused moments when Shannon Elizabeth’s Nadia is visiting Jim in his home. Elizabeth’s nudity and subsequent scene with co-star Jason Biggs are photographed and broadcast on the ‘net without her consent. This ties into the home video voyeur culture, as well, since many paused and rewound this scene. It was a problematic moment that nevertheless proved to be popular.

“Don’t Look Now” (1973)

Rumors have continued to swirl for years concerning the frank sexuality at play within Nicolas Roeg’s 1973 thriller, “Don’t Look Now.” In a film full of shocking imagery, John and Laura Baxter’s bedroom scene might’ve been the most daring at the time. Roeg shoots the sequence with a remarkable amount of realism for 1973, making it easy for audiences to assume that the on-screen coupling is real. Fast forward to the home video era, and the conversation continues. Did Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie actually turn their fictitious romance into a reality? Or was it all a trick of the camera lens? Only those involved during filming know for certain.

“Body Heat” (1981)

The erotic thriller was a made-for-cable mainstay during the 1990s, but the 1981 production shot co-star Kathleen Turner into the stratosphere, thanks to this incendiary performance. “Body Heat” was inspired by the classic noir tropes present within efforts like “Double Indemnity,” with Turner as a femme fatale seeking the death of her rich husband. Her erotic sequences with co-star William Hurt would not only light up the silver screen, but leave home VCRs smoldering in the aftermath. This was supremely sexy stuff, but also bold and fearless since Hurt and Turner definitely put themselves out there with regards to their raw physicality. This makes an admission by “Body Heat” editor Carol Littleton, that the final cut was actually cut down, even more incredible.

“Black Swan” (2010)

The psychedelic set-up and “did they or didn’t they” execution of this scene are just two of the reasons why this encounter from “Black Swan” was so memorable. Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis possess great push-and-pull chemistry here as rivals who become lovers. Or, at least the audience is led to believe that this is the case. Director Darren Aronofsky ensures that nothing is ever quite as it seems here within this 2010 thriller, but that didn’t stop audiences from analyzing this intense scene. The hazy, uncertain, and druggy atmosphere makes rewatching this scene interesting from both a filmmaking and erotic point of view. It also ties heavily into the film’s narrative, making it more than just mere titillation.

“Starship Troopers” (1997)


Shower scenes. You either love them, or you think they’re a relic of a bygone era of filmmaking. Luckily for us, Paul Verhoeven’s “Starship Troopers” was released long enough ago to perhaps be considered such a relic. Enter Dina Meyer, who played Infantrywoman Dizzy Flores, a character that gained a certain prominence during the VHS era. Her co-ed shower scene was frequently paused for obvious reasons, while her brief sex scene with co-star Casper Van Dien showcased the pair’s on-screen chemistry. Their kissing is surprisingly passionate and well-executed for a film like “Starship Troopers.” Meanwhile, Meyer’s additional bit of nudity during the scene had viewers scrambling for that pause button.

“Fifty Shades of Grey” (2015)


Every now and then, a movie franchise manages to capture a culture’s attention. The “Fifty Shades of Grey” series certainly managed to get some pulses quickened during its run. Scenes such as this one within Christian Grey’s “playroom” may have gotten audiences hot and bothered in the cinema, but what about at home? Owners of “Fifty Shades of Grey” were able to pinpoint exactly which frames they liked the best while indulging in multiplex BDSM for the masses. Meanwhile, viewers with a certain voyeuristic streak were able to pause at their leisure, able to enjoy watching the beautiful people lay it all out on screen in the privacy of their homes.

“Wild Things” (1998)

The actual plot of “Wild Things” is the sort of labyrinthine set-up we’d normally get in a mystery noir. This seems to be by design by writer Stephen Peters and director John McNaughton. Yet, the themes of class and privilege were largely lost in the wake of the film’s notorious threesome scene. This combination of Neve Campbell, Denise Richards, and Matt Dillon feels like something focused with a male gaze, while also falling within the parameters of the day. Erotic thrillers were big business during the early days of the internet. This clip soon became something of a shared, viral sensation. It’s gone on, for better or worse, to define the legacy of the “Wild Things” franchise. Yes, this was a franchise.

“Showgirls” (1995)

Elizabeth Berkley certainly succeeded in shedding the skin of her former character on “Saved By the Bell” with this erotic thriller from director Paul Verhoeven. She also shed pretty much everything else, effectively making bad movie history with scenes such as this pool encounter with co-star Kyle McLachlan. The sexual histrionics at play need to be seen to be believed, as Berkley gyrates and gesticulates with an almost uncomfortable level of enthusiasm. Still, many viewers of a certain age likely sought out “Showgirls” specifically for scenes such as this one…if only to pruriently ogle Jessie Spano doing the nasty.

“Basic Instinct” (1992)


It’s no accident that Paul Verhoeven has appeared again and again on this list. The man just had a remarkable (and lucrative) run of combining entertainment with eroticism. “Basic Instinct” is infamous for several pausable moments, including its opening ice-pick murder. The sex act here is combined with death, but was often rewatched during the VHS and DVD era for… we’re gonna go with “dramatic effect.” Meanwhile, the most paused moment here, for better or worse, has to be the interrogation scene. Stone has come out in more recent years claiming that she didn’t realize the scene would be so explicit. Verhoeven, meanwhile, told CinemaBlend that there was "no way" he could've filmed the scene without Stone knowing his intentions.


Which movies did you have to sneak to see back in the day? Let us know in the comments!