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There’s just something about watching younger men and older women get together on-screen. Whether it’s the rarity factor or reversal of power dynamics or the fact that many of these relationships happen in secret, the dynamic between older women and younger men is tantalizing to see.
One of the most-known movies of that ilk is — of course — The Graduate. Starring Dustin Hoffman as a young man who’s seduced by an older woman (Anne Bancroft), iconic spicy scenes ensue before Benjamin goes on to fall for her daughter, who’s his age. Just imagine that Thanksgiving dinner!
In 2022, there was the well-received film Good Luck to You, Leo Grande, which tells the story of a sexually inexperienced retired school teacher (Emma Thompson), who reluctantly hires a sex worker (Daryl McCormack) to finally have her sexual awakening. Though she goes into the experience full of fear and hesitation, their connection makes for a steamy and popcorn-worthy watch.
In 2024, Anne Hathaway tried her hand at a steamy age gap romance with onscreen love interest Nicholas Galitzine in The Idea of You.
Check out some of the steamiest sex scenes featuring older women and younger men below!
A version of this article was originally published on Nov 2022.
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‘The Idea of You’
Image Credit: ©Amazon/Courtesy Everett Collection Nicholas Galitzine and Anne Hathaway’s onscreen chemistry in The Idea of You is electric. The movie is all about a single mom’s passionate romance with a much-younger boyband member and their secret fling definitely left us all hot and bothered.
Without giving anything away, there is a particular intense love scene between these two in a hotel and we couldn’t look away.
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‘Magic Mike’s Last Dance’
Image Credit: Claudette Barius / © Warner Bros. /Courtesy Everett Collection When the trailer has you wanting a glass of water, you know that the movie is only going to outdo it. In the upcoming third installment of the Magic Mike franchise, Magic Mike’s Last Dance, premiering on Feb 10, Salma Hayek and Channing Tatum will share their fair share of steamy sex scenes and we can’t wait to see it. Did someone say Valentine’s Day plans?
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‘Good Luck to You, Leo Grande’
Image Credit: ©Searchlight Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection In this raw, honest movie about sex and pleasure, Emma Thompson plays Nancy Stokes, a retired teacher who hires a sex worker name Leo Grande (Daryl McCormack) to finally tick things off her sexual bucket list. With some time together, they connect far more than just physically.
Stream on Hulu.
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‘White Palace’
Image Credit: (c)Universal/courtesy Everett Collection. Starring James Spader and Susan Sarandon, White Palace follows Sarandon, who plays a working-class woman, and Spader, a white-collar gentleman, who finds a connection in their carnal desires for one another.
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‘The Graduate’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection We couldn’t make this list without including 1967’s The Graduate. Known for the now iconic relationship between Dustin Hoffman and Anne Bancroft’s characters, this movie feels like the first of its kind as it explores the romantic dynamic between an older woman and a younger man (and doesn’t shy away from steamy, intimate scenes!)
In a nutshell, this Hollywood classic tells the story of Benjamin Braddock (Hoffman) as he falls for Mrs Robinson (Bancroft) and her daughter (played by Katharine Ross).
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‘Being Julia’
Image Credit: ©Sony Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection In 2004’s Being Julia, Annette Bening plays Julia Lambert, an accomplished actress who’s bored with her life and career. At the height of her boredom, she’s introduced to a young American actor named Tom (Shaun Evans) and they begin a whirlwind remance. Bening was nominated for an Oscar for her role in this comedy/drama.
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‘Home Again’
Image Credit: Karen Ballard. ©Open Road Films/courtesy Everett Collection Home Again is the type of movie that will have you smiling after you’re done watching. This 2017 rom-com tells the story of a single mom (played by Reese Witherspoon) as she lets three 20-somethings move in with her and enjoys some steamy one-on-one time with one of the guys. Sexy and funny!
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‘The Piano Teacher’
Image Credit: ©Kino International/Courtesy Everett Collection In this dark 2001 French drama, The Piano Teacher tells the story of a masochistic piano teacher who is seduced by one of her students. Plenty of sexiness up ahead.
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‘Don Jon’
Image Credit: Daniel McFadden/©Relativity Media/courtesy Everett Collection In 2013’s Don Jon, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Julianne Moore’s characters spark an unlikely connection after a random conversation during a community college class. Though their steamy scene is great by itself, their connection is also incredibly compelling as they open up to each other – something life-altering for Gordon-Levitt’s porn-addicted character.
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‘How Stella Got Her Groove Back’
Image Credit: 20th Century Fox Licensing/Merchandising / Everett Collection One of the ways Stella got her groove back? Taye Diggs! In this 1998 comedy/romance, Angela Bassett plays Stella, a 40-something executive who agrees to travel to Jamaica to let loose. Once there, she develops a sexy connection with Winston (Taye Diggs).
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‘The Boy Next Door’
Image Credit: Suzanne Hanover/©Universal Pictures/Courtesy Everett Collection The psychological thriller The Boy Next Door tells the story of the newly single teacher Claire (Jennifer Lopez) and her young neighbor Noah (Ryan Guzman). After a passionate night together, Lopez’s character tries to end things with him but things quickly take a dark turn.
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‘The English Teacher’
Image Credit: Nicole Rivelli/Tribeca Film/courtesy Everett Collection 2013’s The English Teacher tells the story of Linda (Julianne Moore), a high school English teacher whose life goes off the rails when a former student (Michael Angarano) returns to seek advice.
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‘The Reader’
Image Credit: ©Weinstein Company/Courtesy Everett Collection For those history buffs out there, The Reader tells the story of a teenager (David Kross) in postwar Germany who has an affair with an older woman (Kate Winslet). Many years later, their paths cross again, but this time in much worse conditions.
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‘Adore’
Image Credit: Matt Nettheim/Exclusive Releasing/Courtesy Everett Collection In a story full of romance, sex and betrayal, Adore digs into the story of two childhood friends (Naomi Watts and Robin Wright) who fall in love with each others sons.
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‘Chéri’
Image Credit: Bruno Calvo/©Miramax/Courtesy Everett Collection A steamy romance set in Paris during the 1920s? Yes please. Chéri tells the story of a son (Rupert Friend) who’s forced to end his relationship with an older woman (Michelle Pfeiffer) who educated him in the ways of love.
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‘Book of Love’
Image Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection In 2004’s Book of Love, a young ice cream shop worker (Gregory Smith) gets romantically involved with a happily married couple (Simon Baker and Frances O’Connor).
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