This is fascinating! When I was a child, my parents bemoaned the presence of sex scenes in almost every movie - it feels as if I spent half my childhood movie nights with my hands clasped over my eyes while my mom made sure I wasn't peeking at the screen. But recently I have been noticing that film romances, and sex in particular, feel meh. Perfunctory. Uninteresting. I thought that perhaps I'd just seen too many, but your writing just made me realise - aha! There actually is a chemistry recession! I wonder why that could be? Have we all gotten jaded with romance? Are film studios trying to make more child-friendly content? Is it because this decade's unending array of bad news is pulling focus? Either way, super interesting. I hope some real chemistry makes its way back to our screens.
Merry! This is such a great article! As you can imagine I, as a fellow person who dearly loves pulling apart love stories to find what makes them tick, have sooo many thoughts!
Firstly, I completely agree that the Superhero genre has created a sexless/chemistry-starved generation of films and film goers. But I do think when people talk about the RomComs of the 90's/early 2000's the thing that they are forgetting is the Hays Code. I don't think its coincidence that the Hays Code was abolished in 1968 and When Harry Met Sally was released 21 years later. Something something, Hays Code creating "sexless" films, but filmmakers actively fighting against it, which allowed for chemistry. In comparison the sexless films of today, are a product of a money grab rather than you know, a censorship board. Something something capitalism is bad.
Secondly, I love that you brought up the lack of irl couples, bc I maintain Starstruck had some of the best chemistry in recent years. But Nikesh and Rose are clearly just friends, and that's OK. Shout out to their intimacy coordinator for all the work they did!
Thirdly, while movies are becoming sexless, I feel like books aren't (aka the existence of BookTok, Spicy books, etc). Do you think there is any correlation?
I feel the opposite, I am so tired of there being unnecessary sex scenes in film and tv but I crave real tension between characters not just getting their kit off for the sake of it. Watch something like Portrait of a Lady on Fire however (female director of course) and the sexual tension and romance is perfectly done. Not remotely entertained by this Amelia and Andrew ‘thing’ 🙈 but then again I am incredibly uninterested in celebrity culture.
Such a great article! I loved the last line! And I agree we are desperately in a chemistry drought and i miss sex scenes in films and films for adults! So sick of Marvel snd superhero films!
I recently re-listened to Mating in Captivity, and the premise of us wanting a balance of security and risk/vitality to feed into eroticism is a fascinating one. When I think of the sexiest/most chemistry heavy movies I can think of, there really has to be that Forbidden Fruit element. They're friends, so they shouldn't. One's a priest, so they shouldn't. Same sex relationships are taboo, so they shouldn't. And I think the film industry has started to rely more on formula (like the Hallmark machine and its spin-offs), over exploring actual tension.
Moreover, and this is my hot take, there also needs to be space *really* explore our human darkness through fiction. I don't think we should return to exploitative producers and directors, definitely use intimacy coordinators, but where are the torrid affair dramas? The weirdy erotic thrillers? The angsty "awakening" pieces? Why do we have to outsource this mood to all these serial killers serials? I just want an off-the-rails esoteric Belle de Jour for the new millennium, you know?
"Has COVID, and the sex scene drought, left audiences so starved of intimacy on-screen that even the most curated chemistry content pulls at our collective heartstrings?"
I'm 25 and crotchety so I also want to point out that dating apps, ease of online meeting, and tech in general have starved us of human interaction to such a degree that people massively misinterpret ALL positive in-person exchanges, both verbal and non-verbal, as potentially romantic.
You describe well what is missing in romance films this decade and what people want. I think the film industry is working how to have an on-screen couple with a mix witty banter between the one screen couple and sexual chemistry through a 2020s lens.
I’m a 48 year old fan of martial arts and monster movies, and by God the love story in Godzilla minus One still tears me up. I hadn’t realized how much I was missing romance in movies until a stilted, honorable, distant love story in a monster movie got me.
When I think of really fantastic movie chemistry I think of like, Jimmy Stewart and Katherine Hepburn in “The Philadelphia Story”, like most of that is the banter and how they play off each other and the wonderful physicality of their kiss scene. We really need more of that + sex scenes in modern cinema
when I was younger I realised their was a pattern in movies where sex scenes would happen around the 15 (or 30 minute mark I can’t remember anymore lol) That’s just not the case anymore 😂
Have not seen this interview but somehow heard about their “crazy” chemistry in multiple places anyway!! Def think the everyone’s beautiful & nobody is horny article applies, but have also seen some movies with genuine sex appeal this year - love lies bleeding was insane!! Def not everyone’s cup of tea I guess but then if it happens to be your lane (it’s mine lol), it’s DEEPly your lane 💦
So many interesting discussions to have around this topic.
I really feel the lack of romance in American films — so much so that here in Paris I’ve seen the trailer, twice, for a film with Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield (“l’Amour au Présent” in French). Looks incredibly average, but I’ll see at all the same because I’m hungry for what it’s offering.
Going further than romance though, I feel like general chemistry (human warmth) between characters is lacking in modern American cinema — like even in the friendships and familial bonds.
jumping into the comments to recommend you watch the final season of ‘Somebody Somewhere’, which features a shy, slow-burning romance culminating in one of the best ‘date’ scenes I’ve seen in recent years. It’s quiet but there’s just... chemistry, you know?
This is fascinating! When I was a child, my parents bemoaned the presence of sex scenes in almost every movie - it feels as if I spent half my childhood movie nights with my hands clasped over my eyes while my mom made sure I wasn't peeking at the screen. But recently I have been noticing that film romances, and sex in particular, feel meh. Perfunctory. Uninteresting. I thought that perhaps I'd just seen too many, but your writing just made me realise - aha! There actually is a chemistry recession! I wonder why that could be? Have we all gotten jaded with romance? Are film studios trying to make more child-friendly content? Is it because this decade's unending array of bad news is pulling focus? Either way, super interesting. I hope some real chemistry makes its way back to our screens.
Merry! This is such a great article! As you can imagine I, as a fellow person who dearly loves pulling apart love stories to find what makes them tick, have sooo many thoughts!
Firstly, I completely agree that the Superhero genre has created a sexless/chemistry-starved generation of films and film goers. But I do think when people talk about the RomComs of the 90's/early 2000's the thing that they are forgetting is the Hays Code. I don't think its coincidence that the Hays Code was abolished in 1968 and When Harry Met Sally was released 21 years later. Something something, Hays Code creating "sexless" films, but filmmakers actively fighting against it, which allowed for chemistry. In comparison the sexless films of today, are a product of a money grab rather than you know, a censorship board. Something something capitalism is bad.
Secondly, I love that you brought up the lack of irl couples, bc I maintain Starstruck had some of the best chemistry in recent years. But Nikesh and Rose are clearly just friends, and that's OK. Shout out to their intimacy coordinator for all the work they did!
Thirdly, while movies are becoming sexless, I feel like books aren't (aka the existence of BookTok, Spicy books, etc). Do you think there is any correlation?
I feel the opposite, I am so tired of there being unnecessary sex scenes in film and tv but I crave real tension between characters not just getting their kit off for the sake of it. Watch something like Portrait of a Lady on Fire however (female director of course) and the sexual tension and romance is perfectly done. Not remotely entertained by this Amelia and Andrew ‘thing’ 🙈 but then again I am incredibly uninterested in celebrity culture.
Such a great article! I loved the last line! And I agree we are desperately in a chemistry drought and i miss sex scenes in films and films for adults! So sick of Marvel snd superhero films!
as always the everyone is beautiful & nobody is horny article remains ever applicable 🥲🥲
It’s a classic!
I recently re-listened to Mating in Captivity, and the premise of us wanting a balance of security and risk/vitality to feed into eroticism is a fascinating one. When I think of the sexiest/most chemistry heavy movies I can think of, there really has to be that Forbidden Fruit element. They're friends, so they shouldn't. One's a priest, so they shouldn't. Same sex relationships are taboo, so they shouldn't. And I think the film industry has started to rely more on formula (like the Hallmark machine and its spin-offs), over exploring actual tension.
Moreover, and this is my hot take, there also needs to be space *really* explore our human darkness through fiction. I don't think we should return to exploitative producers and directors, definitely use intimacy coordinators, but where are the torrid affair dramas? The weirdy erotic thrillers? The angsty "awakening" pieces? Why do we have to outsource this mood to all these serial killers serials? I just want an off-the-rails esoteric Belle de Jour for the new millennium, you know?
"Has COVID, and the sex scene drought, left audiences so starved of intimacy on-screen that even the most curated chemistry content pulls at our collective heartstrings?"
I'm 25 and crotchety so I also want to point out that dating apps, ease of online meeting, and tech in general have starved us of human interaction to such a degree that people massively misinterpret ALL positive in-person exchanges, both verbal and non-verbal, as potentially romantic.
You describe well what is missing in romance films this decade and what people want. I think the film industry is working how to have an on-screen couple with a mix witty banter between the one screen couple and sexual chemistry through a 2020s lens.
I’m a 48 year old fan of martial arts and monster movies, and by God the love story in Godzilla minus One still tears me up. I hadn’t realized how much I was missing romance in movies until a stilted, honorable, distant love story in a monster movie got me.
When I think of really fantastic movie chemistry I think of like, Jimmy Stewart and Katherine Hepburn in “The Philadelphia Story”, like most of that is the banter and how they play off each other and the wonderful physicality of their kiss scene. We really need more of that + sex scenes in modern cinema
How can you mention this and leave out Cary Grant? The man personified chemistry.
True! I just really love the Jimmy/Katherine kiss scene but Grant had pretty consistent chemistry across his filmography
when I was younger I realised their was a pattern in movies where sex scenes would happen around the 15 (or 30 minute mark I can’t remember anymore lol) That’s just not the case anymore 😂
Have not seen this interview but somehow heard about their “crazy” chemistry in multiple places anyway!! Def think the everyone’s beautiful & nobody is horny article applies, but have also seen some movies with genuine sex appeal this year - love lies bleeding was insane!! Def not everyone’s cup of tea I guess but then if it happens to be your lane (it’s mine lol), it’s DEEPly your lane 💦
SO AWESOME
So many interesting discussions to have around this topic.
I really feel the lack of romance in American films — so much so that here in Paris I’ve seen the trailer, twice, for a film with Florence Pugh and Andrew Garfield (“l’Amour au Présent” in French). Looks incredibly average, but I’ll see at all the same because I’m hungry for what it’s offering.
Going further than romance though, I feel like general chemistry (human warmth) between characters is lacking in modern American cinema — like even in the friendships and familial bonds.
jumping into the comments to recommend you watch the final season of ‘Somebody Somewhere’, which features a shy, slow-burning romance culminating in one of the best ‘date’ scenes I’ve seen in recent years. It’s quiet but there’s just... chemistry, you know?
Genuinely wondering: were the romcoms and celebrity affairs of the nineties not as curated as the example of Amelia and Andrew?