Did they or didn’t they? The racy blockbusters that sparked rumours stars romped for real… and sometimes for good reason

IT was a raunchy year for film in 2024 with many critics around the globe hailing the return of the 'bonkbuster'.

We've seen sex scenes aplenty in 2024 with hits like Nicole Kidman's Babygirl, which was labelled "tremendously horny" by one reviewer, leading the charge.

That film and others including Emma Stone's Poor Things and Kirsten Stewart's Love Lies Bleeding, have all been thanked for finally ending the dry spell.

Earlier this year, The Sun's film critic Dulcie Pearce said: “Banging is back on the big screen and I am delighted. 

"Having watched hundreds of caped crusaders and violent gun battles, it seemed one of the most natural acts in the world had become more extinct than the T-Rex.

“Even a snog became a rarity. But now the on-screen orgasm has come back into fashion, with top actors like Nicole Kidman and Emma Stone happy to strip for the scenes. And thank goodness they’re taking the reins on bringing sexy back.”

While every movement in today's raunchy Hollywood films is carefully scripted with an intimacy coordinator, that hasn't always been the case.

There are a number of racy films from the past where the actors have actually got down and dirty on set - and some which were just so realistic they sparked false rumours of real sex.

Chloë Sevigny and Vincent Gallo

Vincent Gallo not only starred in 2004's The Brown Bunny but he also directed, wrote, and produced the flick too.

The film, which had mixed reviews, centres on a man who travels across the country on his motorcycle to find women to replace the void left by his one true love, played by Chloë Sevigny.

In one of the most controversial movie scenes Hollywood has ever seen, Chloë performs oral sex on Vincent, leaving many critics wondering if it had to go that far.

The scene in question reportedly caused a heated confrontation between Vincent and legendary movie critic Roger Ebert.

Years later, in 2010, Chloë spoke about the movie's impact on her.

She said: "What’s happened with that is all very complicated. There are a lot of emotions.

"I’ll probably have to go to therapy at some point. But I love Vincent. The film is tragic and beautiful and I’m proud of it and my performance.

"I’m sad that people think one way of the movie but what can you do?”

Kieran O'Brien and Margo Stilley

When it comes to unsimulated sex scenes in mainstream movies, very few come close to the raunchiness of 9 Songs, released in 2004.

It tells the story of the passionate relationship between a couple from when they first met to their break up.

Kieran O'Brien and Margo Stilley had sex multiple times on camera. He even had to wear a condom in scenes to avoid the risk of pregnancy.

But Kieran did not understand what all the chatter was about.

In 2005, he said: "It wasn't difficult for me to make and I'm really proud of it. Honestly, I don't know what all the fuss is about. It's a film about two people in a monogamous relationship, having sex as you'd kind of hope that everyone does."

Echoing his sentiments, Margo has also said: "People were really angry with me. I got told I was a wh**e and a sl*t and how could I do it. And what kind of role model did I think I was giving young women?"

"It was a film about love and sex. It wasn't porn. I mean, I had sex with my boyfriend last night and that wasn't porn. It was just hot sex! 9 Songs was a real film about love and sex and I wanted to do that film, and I am proud of it."

Kerry Fox and Mark Rylance

Intimacy, released in 2001, lived up to its name, featuring many sexual scenes between its lead stars.

Many fans were amazed to find out that very little of the love-making scenes were staged.

According to reports, French director Patrice Chéreau wanted to make sure he had very real reactions on set, which meant that Kerry Fox and Mark Rylance had to get it on for real.

As if that wasn't daunting enough, both actors were in long-term relationships when the movie was made.

But you'd be mistaken if you think Kerry is remorseful about the film. In 2012, she said: "I absolutely have no regrets and it's one of the best pieces of work I've ever done.

"You can't have any regrets in this job — what's the point? It's a fruitless waste of time to think like that."

Mark, however, does not see things the same. He has admitted that he was uncomfortable with how far the scenes went.

Robert Pattinson

He may have starred in the Twilight teen blockbuster movies, but Robert Pattinson later proved he was not scared to go X-rated.

When he first got the script for 2008's Little Ashes, he came across a scene that required him to stimulate a solo sex act.

But not one to do things halfheartedly, he told film bosses that he would like to go all out and have the cameras capture him touching himself for real.

In an interview, he said: "[Faking it] just doesn’t work, so I pleasured myself in front of the camera. My orgasm face is recorded for eternity."

Lauren Lee Smith

Lauren Lee Smith could not believe her ears when her agent phoned her about the requirements of a movie she had just booked.

Not only did she have to take her clothes off, she was also required to have live sex. "Are you kidding me?" she asked in disbelief.

But it was no joke. Movie director Clement Virgo really included the uncensored scene in Lie with Me, released in 2005.

Lauren ended up filming sex scenes with her co-star Eric Balfour and has no regret about the steamy flick.

Addressing the chatter that came after its release, she said: "Let's face it, at some point in any actor's career, you have to get naked — whether physically, emotionally or mentally.

"This movie offered me the chance to do all three at once."

Melvin Van Peebles

Real-life sex scenes are not recent inventions. Back in 1971, Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss Song featured numerous erotic scenes.

Written, directed, and produced by Melvin Van Peebles, he also stepped up to the plate and filmed all the uncensored scenes in the movie.

There were so many of them that Melvin ended up contracting gonorrhoea while making the film.

He successfully filed an injury on the job claim and used the money he got to make more movies.

Sienna Miller and Hayden Christensen

Have you ever watched a film and thought there's no way the actors did not have real sex? That's exactly what fans said about Factory Girl in 2006.

Sienna Miller and Hayden Christensen's performance was so convincing that many moviegoers were certain they actually romped.

Although their chemistry could be put down to a rumoured fling between the pair, production insiders hinted that they were not just acting.

The rumours, which began before the film was even released, were so rampant that Sienna had to respond.

"I take it as a compliment," she said. "I don’t want to do a sex scene that doesn’t look real because that’s my job."

Audrey Plaza

Although Maggie Carey's 2013 romantic film The To Do List may not have been the box office success she had hoped for, it will always be remembered for THAT scene featuring Aubrey Plaza.

Aubrey has said that she was shocked when she arrived on set and was told that she had to pleasure herself for real.

In an interview, she recalled: "I read it on the page, and it said ‘Brandy masturbates.’ And in my head I envisioned a nice scene where you just see my hand slowly go out of frame.

"I thought I was doing one thing and then when I showed up it was a whole different thing. It was a full-body shot. And I asked the director, 'What should I do?' And she said, ‘Masturbate, like it says in the script.’”

Shia Labeouf

When Shia Labeouf was offered the role of Joel in Lars von Tier's controversial Nymphomaniac film, he was reportedly asked to send a picture of his genitals.

When the film came out in 2013, it sent tongues wagging with claims that the actors had real sex on set.

Shia added fuel to the claims by saying: "There's a disclaimer at the top of the script that basically says we're doing it for real. Everything that is illegal, we'll shoot in blurred images. Other than that, everything is happening."

But in the middle of the controversies surrounding the movies, producers denied that the sex between the stars was actually real, claiming CGI and body doubles were used.

Movie producer Louise Vesth told The Hollywood Reporter: “We shot the actors pretending to have sex and then had the body doubles, who really did have sex, and in post (production) we will digital-impose the two.

“So above the waist it will be the star and then below the waist it will be the doubles.”

Pink Flamingos

In 1972, director John Waters caused an uproar in Australia and Switzerland when Pink Flamingos was released.

The black comedy starred drag queen Devine, David Lochary, and Mink Stole.

It told the story of a criminal drag performer who lives in a trailer and is proud to be the "filthiest person in the world."

It was banned in the countries for its sexual nature, including a scene with close-up real depictions of oral sex, according to the board.