The belief that "sex sells" goes back as far as the 1870s. Whether it still holds true, it’s safe to say that sex and entertainment will continue to share a strong bond. The advent of streaming has given creators more control over their work, allowing them to feature steamier romantic content.
Shows aren't afraid to tackle sex as a concept anymore and Netflix boasts more than a few steamy hits in its line-up. From female empowerment to an added sense of realism and education, television has expanded the conversation surrounding sex and its complexities.
25 Sex and the City (1998-2004) Was Ahead of the Game In Terms of Being a Sexy Sitcom
6 seasons, 94 episodes
As part of its attempt to get more use out of its content, Warner Bros. Discovery has been licensing out some of its most famous HBO shows to other streaming services, and one of the first shows that it licensed out was Sex and the City to Netflix. When the show debuted in 1998, there were few examples of a sitcom like this that was raunchy, but also well done.
Sex and the City follows columnist Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) and her friends as they navigate single life in New York City, and that involves a good deal of hilarious (and steamy) sexual escapades. The show currently has a sequel series airing on HBO now, but the original version has a lot more charm in ir.
24 The Decameron (2024-) Worked Sexual Exploits Into a Period Farce
1 season and counting
In the 14th Century, Giovanni Boccaccio wrote The Decameron, a collection of short stories built around the framing sequences of a group of men and women holng up in a villa while trying to avoid an outbreak fo the Black Plague. That doesn't sound like something that would get steamy, but, well, as you might imagine, some of those stories are a bit on the saucier side of things, and that approach was kept when the book was adapted into a series on Neftlix.
The same basic setup of the book arrives, which is that a group of nobles and their servants all head to a villa in the countryside to avoid the plague that is ravaging Florence, and while there, they hilariously begin to engage in some debauchery, while not knowing that they might soon need to fight for their lives. While the series is generally a black comedy, there is still a good deal of sex involved.
23 Eva Lasting (2023-) Tells a Charming (and Sometimes Sexy )Nostalgic Story
2 Seasons and counting
In this Colombian series, Francisca Estevez plays Eva Samper, the first girl to attend the formerly all-boys school, Jose Maria Root Public School, in Bogota in 1976. Naturally, the boys are all fascinated with their new female classmate, especially Camilo Granados (Emmanuel Restrepo). Her influence is beginning to show in Camilo's interactions with his family and friends, so his father decides to bring him to a brothel for his son to lose his virginity.
Camilo tries to pursue Eva, but she is seemingly unaware of his interests, so he begins to date the SECOND girl in the school, Luisa, to try to make Eva jealous, but it backfires horribly, and when he finally DOES get together with Eva, he is met with a shocking cliffhanger at the end of Season 1, that Luisa is pregnant! This charming series makes use of its time period well for some nostalgic fun.
22 Let's Talk About CHU (2024-) Finds Humor in the Pursuit of Sex, Not Love
1 season and counting
In this Taiwanese relationship comedy, Chu Ai (Tzu Hsuan Chan) is a video blogger who frequently discusses sex on her show. She is adamant that she isn't interested in having a relationship, and is all about "Sex, not love." She is currently in a friends with benefits situation with Ping-ke (Kai Ko). As you might imagine, the twist on the show is that Chu suddenly realizes that maybe she IS ready for more than just casual sex.
Meanwhile, sexual problems persist throughout Chu's family, from her siblings (her sister is having marriage problems, and their brother is having trouble with his longtime boyfriend) to her parents, who are having issues in bed. It's all very relatable and charming.
21 Deceitful Love (2024) Is Practically a Harlequin Romance Turned Into a Modern TV Series
1 season, 6 episodes
In this Italian series, Gabrielle (Monica Guerritore) runs a luxury hotel on the coast of Italy. She encounters a mysterious young man, Elia (Giacomo Gianniotti), when his car breaks down. She lets him stay with her, and they begin a torrid affair. She is drawn to the young man, who is the same age as her adult son, but he seems practically obsessed with her.
This whole arrangement, though, infuriates Gabrielle's adult children, who decide to try to prove to her that Elia is up to no good. For a woman in her 60s, Guerritore is quite at home in the nude, as her encounters with Gianniotti's Elia are a good deal more graphic than you might expect with a program on Netflix.
20 Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story (2023) Is Heartfelt But Steamy
1 Season, 6 Episodes
Once fans have gotten through the first three seasons of Bridgerton (and that incredible Polin romance), they can dig into a Bridgerton spinoff which is as heartfelt as it is sexy. The story of Queen Charlotte's romance with King George, who was cursed with a number of mental health issues, charted the journeys of these characters beautifully, depicting the arranged marriage romance trope beautifully.
As is the norm with the Shondaland franchise, Queen Charlotte: A Bridgerton Story was liberally sprinkled with steamy romance scenes to show the incredible attachment formed between the King and Queen of Great Britain and Ireland. These are grounded in love and very satisfying to watch.
19 You (2018–) Is A Scintillating Mix of Crime and Love
4 Seasons And Counting
At face value, Joe Goldberg is the quintessential nice guy who is a dream to date. However, look closer and Joe is the very worst that a partner could be, and You details his dangerous excursions into love and relationships rather compellingly. Morbid though the subject matter may be, Joe manages to have the hottest relationships with the women who become his victims.
Whether it is Beck, Love, Candace, or Kate; these relationships are enough to draw in even the most disinterested audience. Joe's chemistry with all his victims is also off the charts in this long-running Netflix series.
18 Obsession (2023) Is A Hot And Heavy Thriller
1 Season, 4 Episodes
This British miniseries centers on William Barrow, a successful married surgeon who is on top of the world, or it seems like it. When he meets his son Jay's fiancée, Anna, things start getting twisted. Sparks fly between William and his son's girlfriend, forming an electrifying romance that is hot, heavy, and totally wrong.
Obsession follows Anna and William's path of destruction, littered with tons of steamy scenes. Their relationship is forbidden and sexy, but also threatens to destroy everything that comes in its path.
17 Fake Profile (2023–) Is Wild and Unexpected
1 Season and Counting
This Colombian drama series tells the story of Camille, who creates a dating profile on Spice, an app that promises to find the man of her dreams. In a twist, Camille meets Miguel who seems like the ideal man, but things start spiraling out of control when he isn't who he claims to be.
Out of the many lies that unravel, one is that Miguel is married. Camille goes through a rollercoaster of lies and deception in her new relationship, but the main attraction is the intimate scenes. The leads are beautiful and the chemistry is unbelievable, which makes it the steamy show to tune into.
16 The Empress (2022–) Is Another Steamy Period Drama
1 Season and Counting
Fans of the period genre would find The Empress, a German show on Netflix, quite pleasing. Based on a real person, it depicts 16-year-old Empress Elisabeth of Austria, who falls for the man her sister is betrothed to. Ultimately, she does marry him and travels to Vienna with her new husband, Emperor Franz Joseph of Austria.
Between learning politics, familial plots, and learning about her new home, Elisabeth also finds love and romance. The show has all the trappings of a decadent period show, along with hot scenes for fans to enjoy on their Netflix binge.
15 Outlander (2014–) Had Time Travel and Romance, Both
7 Seasons, 92 Episodes
Based on Diana Gabaldon's eponymous book series, Outlander tells the story of Claire Randall, a 1940s nurse who accidentally time-travels back to mid-18th century Scotland. Confused and alone, she ends up marrying a Highlander from Clan MacKenzie called Jamie Fraser to blend in and survive in her new home.
Although Jamie and Claire get married quite quickly in Outlander, they take their time to fall in love. However, they're stuck in a web of mistrust and uncertainty. Their love story leads to some of the steamiest moments in Outlander, providing Netflix viewers with some of the most swoon-worthy scenes in historical dramas.
14 Valeria (2020–) Has Four Young Women Finding Love
3 Seasons, 24 Episodes
Valeria is a Spanish-language series that includes several entertaining and dramatic storylines with plenty of character development for its female leads. The series delves deeper into the power of female friendships, the importance and troubles of a healthy romantic life, and the rocky road to a successful career.
Lighthearted, fun, and full of intimate scenes, the Spanish show is a casual watch that many would enjoy. The women in the show have some unique romantic escapades, which form a large part of the show.
13 Sense8 (2015–2018) Shows A Spectrum of Love
2 Seasons, 24 Episodes
In 2015, the Wachowski sisters joined forces with comic book writer J. Michael Straczynski to create Sense8. The sci-fi drama follows people from different parts of the world who are mentally and emotionally linked to one another. Its multinational ensemble cast included Doona Bae, Jamie Clayton, and Miguel Ángel Silvestre.
Sense8 was universally praised for its LGBTQ+ representation, as it explored gender identity and sexual preference with a candidness that had yet to be shown on TV at the time. The show's realistic and unfiltered depiction of same-sex steamy scenes was also groundbreaking for Netflix, starting a trend that continues to this day.
12 Dark Desire/Oscuro Deseo (2020–) Has Forbidden Themes
2 Seasons, 33 Episodes
In Dark Desire, award-winning Mexican actor and RBD member Maite Perroni plays Alma, a law school professor who falls for her student and begins an affair with him. The series follows Alma as she attempts to discover what her husband has been keeping from her while hiding her extramarital relationship from him.
As its name suggests, Dark Desire is one of Netflix's most sensual and mature entries, with plenty of erotic scenes sprinkled in between plot twists. When the series' first season premiered in 2020, Dark Desire gained over 35 million views in less than a month and became the streaming service's most-watched non-English show at the time.
11 Sexify (2021–) Is Playful Fun
2 Seasons, 16 Episodes
Sexify is a Polish comedy that centers on Natalia, Paulina, and Monika, a trio of university students who create an app that allows women to discover and experiment with their sexuality. Consisting of eight episodes, the series follows the three friends as they join a tech competition and explore the world of intimacy.
Given its subject matter, Sexify has also been favorably compared to Netflix's Sex Education for its playful tone, engaging characters, and relatable storylines. While it approaches the topic of sex and relationships from a mostly educational standpoint, Sexify still has an abundance of steamy scenes.
10 Sex/Life (2021–) Has Lots of Intimacy
2 Seasons, 14 Episodes
Sex/Life follows Billie Connelly, played by Sarah Shahi, a suburban housewife who’s grown bored with her idyllic life. This yearning results in Billie daydreaming about her 20s in New York and participating in affairs. The audience is then introduced to Brad, a notable partner in Billie's life.
While Sex/Life has come under fire for delivering nudity without much substance, the show does go deeper. Although it was all but critically panned, Sex/Life asks its characters important questions surrounding parenthood and marriage, as well as the identities that have been gained and lost.
9 Bridgerton (2020–) Is A Sexy Period Drama
3 Seasons, 25 Episodes
Shonda Rimes, creator of Grey’s Anatomy and Scandal, signed a deal with Netflix and brought fans Bridgerton. The series takes place during Regency era London and tackles the Bridgerton siblings’ struggle to find love.
Bridgerton uses the widened freedom of its platform to include more adult themes. Despite the nudity and sexual nature, the creators of Bridgerton use these tools to create a period drama that tells its story through a modern lens. Bridgerton’s female characters develop their own agency and learn how sex, and their bodies, can have great power when they claim ownership over them.
8 Money Heist (2017–2021) Is Thrilling With Heists and Romance, Both
5 Seasons, 41 Episodes
Money Heist became a hit show and cultural phenomenon. As much as its action set pieces and themes played a role in this success, the characters and their relationships are largely to thank for the series' success. Money Heist captures the passion that lies in people who are fighting for something greater than themselves.
While the characters are criminals, the love and romance they find with each other isn’t something that can be locked away. Whether expressing their passion in the middle of an important heist or being vulnerable when hope seems all but lost, Money Heist gives audiences the danger and desire to keep them captivated from one episode to the next.
7 Grey’s Anatomy (2005–) Is Known For Its Scintillating Romance
20 Seasons, 420 Episodes
As one of the longest-running series in American primetime television history, it’s easy for a show like Grey’s Anatomy to feel stale and redundant. That being said, Shonda Rhimes' creation has managed to reinvent itself and keep viewers watching.
A large reason for Grey Anatomy’s success is its cast. The chemistry in the ensemble has led to relationships ending in heartbreak or holy matrimony. The constant ebb and flow of the characters' lives, professionally and personally, has given Grey Anatomy’s creators many plotlines to pull from.
6 Elite (2018–) Is A Bold High School Drama
7 Seasons, 64 Episodes
Elite explores the economic and social gap between the working class and the wealthy. After the murder of a fellow student, the main characters' lives are transformed. Elite follows the same structure as many teen dramas, from its inclusion of sex to its exploration of relationships between characters and the drama that ensues.
However, Elite diverges from typical teen dramas by commenting on the characters' socioeconomic status, contributing to Elite's status as a highly bingeable series. The students continue to mingle with one another, but the difference in class adds another element and obstacle to the relationships that form and how they navigate them.
5 Sex Education (2019–) Mixes Comedy With Intimacy
4 Seasons, 32 Episodes
Sex Education brings the sensibilities of John Hughes’ work into the modern era. The show follows Otis Milburn (played by Asa Butterfield ), a student who unintentionally follows in his mother’s footsteps when he starts giving sex advice to his peers. The service turns into a business once Maeve Wiley, the rebel of Moordale Secondary School, formalizes Otis’ operation.
Sex Education removes the taboos surrounding sex , especially among teens. While it's filled with hilarity and hijinks, the series explores topics such as intimacy, sexual health, identity, and agency. What’s more, Sex Education works to create a diverse cast through its inclusion of BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities.
4 The Witcher (2019–) Is Fantastical, Steamy, and Compelling
3 Seasons, 25 Episodes
The live-action adaptation of the novels by Andrzej Sapkowski, The Witcher tells Geralt of Rivia's story . Geralt is a monster hunter who's destined to protect Princess Ciri from the evil forces lurking within their world. However, while the action and fantasy elements are at the forefront, romance finds its way into The Witcher .
The most significant relationship in The Witcher is Geralt and Yennefer's. The two have a complicated history in the novels, games, and series. As they're bound by a final wish, Geralt and Yennefer often struggle to determine whether their love is real.
3 Dear White People (2017–2021) Focuses on Self-Discovery
4 Seasons, 40 Episodes
Dear White People , the Netflix series based on Justin Simien’s award-winning feature of the same name, examines the struggles of being Black in predominantly white spaces. The series follows a group of Winchester University students who are attempting to navigate cultural bias and social injustice that often plague the “post-racial” landscape.
Dear White People does well to balance the humor with the impact these moments can have on people. Likewise, the Netflix series depicts how sex can complicate friendships, sway power dynamics, and lead to self-discovery.
2 She’s Gotta Have It (2017–2019) Explores Intimacy In All Its Forms
2 Seasons, 19 Episodes
The reboot of Spike Lee ’s She’s Gotta Have It follows Nola Darling (played by DeWanda Wise) as she tries to navigate life in Brooklyn and balance her job, friendships, and various lovers. Lee’s Netflix series takes the familiar struggles of Darling’s film counterpart and places them in the present day. This gives her character more emotional resonance with modern audiences and speaks to the lack of progress of society.
While there is a great deal of sexual activity, Lee and Wise have crafted a character who isn’t seeking any validation or explicit form of empowerment. Nola Darling is simply having casual affairs with multiple partners for the joy of it, which is a powerful decision in and of itself.
1 Lovesick (2014–2018) Is Charming and Spicy
4 Seasons, 22 Episodes
Lovesick explores love’s many obstacles and the impact each relationship leaves behind. The show follows Dylan Witter, who has recently been diagnosed with Chlamydia. To be a responsible partner, Dylan begins calling his former partners to inform them of this.
Lovesick primarily examines Dylan’s relationships through flashbacks. This allows audiences the chance to not only piece together a timeline of Dylan’s past relationships, but also his growth throughout each season. While there are many laughs to be had about Dylan’s sexual encounters, Lovesick delves into the more intimate moments between friends and lovers. This gives the series a charm akin to Richard Curtis' work.
