The end of the decade may have seen a resurgence of romantic comedies, but don't you worry—meet cutes have not come to replace the visceral motivator that is lust. Filmmakers know that when putting a movie together, some of the best elements that can heighten a drama, ground a comedy, or just make you sit up a little straighter is a bit of chemistry and a peek of sexuality. With that, a new crop of films combining story and sexuality come to light.

With the sexiest movies of 2019, there's no through line that connects them all outside the fact that each of them have the capability to raise an eyebrow (or two). Be it Brad Pitt showing up at 55 with a shirtless scene that most 20 year olds can't pull off, or Jennifer Lopez swinging around on a pole, the sexiest films of 2019 aren't about getting raunchy. It's above that—it's about alluding to the sexiness off screen.

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Someone Great

Someone Great, the Netflix romcom that allegedly inspired a Taylor Swift song, is that sweet spot where a really decent movie also has mad sexual energy. Following a woman (Gina Rodriguez) after a break up, she spends the film remembering the best parts of her relationship with her ex, Nate (Lakeith Stanfield), and yes: the two share a couple pretty sexy scenes as well.

Cats

Listen, don’t scoff at CATS. Is it an absolutely insane movie? Fine. But it’s also horny AF. In this strange stage-to-screen adaptation, there’s a particular “furry” element to this movie that’s hard to explain, and anyone who is daring to say that there’s not a palpable sexual energy to this film clearly hasn’t watched the trailer, in which some cats are given clothes and others aren’t. There’s also a wild discourse about cats with boobs and a whole controversy over Jason Derulo’s shrunken penis. Arguably, there’s no more sexual movie to come out of 2019 than CATS.

Ma

Ma was a bit of a disaster of a film, but it’s rife with teenage sexual angst. It also features a scene with a completely stripped down Luke Evans and a prosthetic penis. Ma took no prisoners, and even though the entire film has a terrifying thriller vibe, it’s undeniably filled with sexual energy, as well.

The Lighthouse

The Lighthouse is a bear of a movie with a lot of moving parts, but among them, it’s hard to ignore how much sexual energy is pumped into a movie about two curmudgeonly lighthouse keepers. There’s the homoeroticism of two men in close quarters, but more specifically, there’s a very explicit Robert Pattinson masturbation scene, as well as some strange mermaid sex. If you’re looking for sex, but disturbing, this is it!

The King

As it turns out, young Henry V was quite the horndog (at least according to Netflix’s version of events). Before he hops into being a military leader and proud monarch, Timothée Chalamet’s Henry V got around and did the deed with quite a few medieval ladies. As the old adage goes, don’t let the fear of a bowl cut keep you from spitting game.

Romance, Love, Forehead, Nose, Interaction, Kiss, Water, Cheek, Human, Fun,
Aviron Pictures

After

If you've heard about the film based off a book of One Direction fan fiction, this is it. Yes, that sounds like a horrible premise for a film, but it did nab Selma Blair in a supporting role, make $69 million dollars, and feature one of the year's best love scenes, so joke's on us for not doing it first.

People, Social group, Audience, Crowd, Event, Performance, Fun, Art, Performance art,
A24

Climax

A24's surreal horror film is part terrifying and slightly arousing. Climax follows a French dance troupe who realize at an afterparty that their sangria might have been drugged. The aftermath is... complicated.

Eyewear, Violet, Purple, Glasses, Lip, Drink, Vision care, Photography, Distilled beverage, Black hair,
A24

Gloria Bell

Gloria Bell is the perfect example of how a little bit of suggestion goes a long way. Ultimately, Gloria Bell is the story of a woman discovering the next chapter of her life, but Julianne Moore proves that sexy is not synonymous with being a 20-something. No one is more ravishing in a film this year.

Long Shot

Credit where it's due, Long Shot somehow manages to make a romance between Charlize Theron and Seth Rogen seem surprisingly realistic—or at least funny. Long Shot is built upon the sexual tension between Rogen's dogged journalist and Theron's Secretary of State. And damn if there isn't something sexy about a smart guy and powerful, intelligent woman.

Barechested, Muscle, Chest, Photography, Trunk, Jeans, Abdomen,
Sony

Once Upon a Time in Hollywood

I mean, just look at this dude. Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood was one of the most anticipated movies of 2019, yet it's Brad Pitt's shirtless 55-year-old body that completely steals the show. No one can deny the sex appeal of Pitt.

Barechested, Event, Dancer, Dance, Performance, Performance art, Musical, Animation, Abdomen, Performing arts,
Paramount

Rocketman

Amid some of the year's more overtly sexual films, Rocketman actually scores a pretty high spot on that list. Paramount took a swing with the Elton John musical-biopic, and it features one of the sexiest (and most realistic) gay sex scenes in film history.

Serenity

Serenity wasn't the best received film of the year, but you'd be remiss to not note the palpable chemistry between Anne Hathaway and Matthew McConaughey in the early-in-the-year noir thriller.

Romance, Interaction, Scene, Love, Human, Photography, Gesture, Flash photography, Movie, Kiss,
Fox Searchlight

The Aftermath

The British period drama that is The Aftermath is fine enough on its plot alone, but what makes it truly captivating is the love triangle set up among Keira Knightley, Alexander Skarsgård, and Jason Clarke.

Sitting, Leg, Muscle, Furniture, Black hair, Reading, Leisure, Vacation, Glasses, Thigh,
Courtesy

Velvet Buzzsaw

Once every few years, Jake Gyllenhaal gets the itch to get butt naked in a movie. This year, it's Netflix's Velvet Buzzsaw, which features Gyllenhaal as a pansexual art critic in this supernatural thriller/horror movie.

Hustlers

Is Jennifer Lopez sexy when she perpendicularly spins on a stripper pole to Fiona Apple's "Criminal?" Sure. Is she even sexier when she leads a team of strippers to dupe Wall Street douchebags out of thousands of dollars? You bet your bedazzled hot pants she is.