Best nude scenes: 50 Shades of Grey, Gone Girl, and more

in Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)
It’s once, twice, three times a wiener in the first scenes for Jason Segel‘s pitiful but lovable Peter Bretter in Forgetting Sarah Marshall (produced by Judd Apatow; see also Walk Hard). Prop comedy indeed, these initial glimpses of Peter’s flaccid friend — paired nicely with his undefined abs and pecs in the early stages of man boob — succeeded in making his character immediately relatable. In that ”Oh, man, I’ve dated/been that dude” kinda way. —Lisa Raphael

in The Disaster Artist (2017)

The Disaster Artist tells the wild true story of the making of The Room, a.k.a. the “Citizen Kane of bad movies” — and the former film’s director-star James Franco doesn’t hold back when it comes to recreating the antics of the latter’s eccentric director-star Tommy Wiseau. In one memorable moment, Franco-as-Wiseau stops shooting in the middle of a love scene to storm around the set of The Room and scream at the cast and crew, totally naked.

in The Handmaiden (2016)

Park Chan-wook’s 2016 erotic thriller saw its two leads take off their (absolutely gorgeous) clothes for a few explicit sex scenes. The critically adored film transplants Sarah Waters’ Victorian England-set novel Fingersmith into Korea under Japanese rule, and tells a twisty tale about a Japanese heiress (Kim Min-hee) and her Korean handmaiden (Kim Tae-ri), the latter of whom teaches her mistress how to satisfy her soon-to-be husband (among other things) in the steamy scenes.

in The Dreamers (2003)

Michael Pitt stars in Bernardo Bertolucci’s The Dreamers as Matthew, an American student studying in Paris in the late ‘60s, who gets caught up in the political strife of the 1968 student riots and the sexual freedom of his new Parisian friends, twins Théo (Louis Garrel) and Isabelle (Eva Green). When the siblings’ parents go out of town, the three of them all stay in the family’s apartment, sleeping, bathing, and playing games together — more often naked than not.

in Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates (2016) 

Silicon Valley star Kumail Nanjiani bared all onscreen for the first time in Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, a movie that required him to get naked and give an, uh, unconventional massage to the bride. “I wanted to challenge myself and push myself to do this thing that I’ve never done before,” he told The Wrap. “And also, use it to try to get in shape.” The lengthy scene features Nanjiani’s character oiling himself up and using his naked body to pleasure his face-down client — something his father was not too pleased to see. “I got a text from my dad that said, ‘very disturbed,’’ Nanjiani said. “He did not mean it to be funny.”

in Dope (2015) 

Acclaimed Victoria’s Secret model Chanel Iman stepped in front of the camera and out of her clothes for 2015’s Dope. The gorgeous runway model played Lily in the critical darling, going nude for a scene in which her character is under the influence and attempting to seduce Shameik Moore’s lead character of Malcolm.”This was the chance to show people my acting ability because Lily is the total opposite of who I am,” Iman told InStyle last year. “Most people wouldn’t have taken this role because of the nudity, but I’ve done so many shoots topless… I look at it as art. Someone’s got to do it.”

in Carol (2015) 

In the critically acclaimed 2015 drama Carol, Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett play Therese and Carol, respectively, two women who become romantically involved in spite of the societal pressures surrounding them. Mara went nude for an emotional scene, where Therese and Carol make love for the first time, requiring Blanchett to undress as well.

in I Smile Back (2015) 

Sarah Silverman stripped down both physically and emotionally for 2015’s I Smile Back. The funnywoman played Laney, a woman avoiding her inner demons. Of her nudity in the film, Silverman told TIME, “I never was naked in anything until I was 40, and now I’m naked in everything! I was never the sexy girl in a big-budget movie, and now I’m just me! I’m allowed to be naked and say, ‘This is my human shell, that’s all it’s supposed to be.’ Maybe it’s partly that I love being vulnerable and comedy comes easier to me; I’m almost an exhibitionist.”

in Fifty Shades of Grey (2015) 

Dakota Johnson stripped down to play female lead Anastasia Steele in the big-screen adaptation of E L James’ best-selling erotic novel, Fifty Shades of Grey. The Ben and Kate star spent much of the raunchy film nude, appearing as the young woman involved in a BDSM relationship with businessman Christian Grey (Jamie Dornan). “Obviously, I want to look good naked,” she told EW of preparing for the role. “I totally understand now why people exercise, because it kind of f—ing feels awesome.”

in Gone Girl (2014) 

Ben Affleck caused quite a stir with his nude scene in Gone Girl. The Oscar winner was fully naked for just a brief moment in the adaptation of Gillian Flynn’s thriller, veering into X-rated territory for the moment that he is shown stepping out of the shower as Nick Dunne. Despite the brevity of the clip, viewers got enough of a peek that it quickly became one of the most talked-about scenes in the movie.

in Sex Tape (2014) 

Cameron Diaz’s nudity as Annie Hargrove alongside that of Jason Segel, who played her husband Jay Hargrove, set the stage for the raunchy comedy Sex Tape. Hoping to spice up their marriage, the two get naked and set up a camera to capture all the action. “Jason and I are, like, naked together,” Diaz told EW of shooting the movie. ”You don’t wanna be with a dude that’s a total skeebag. You have to be with somebody you trust. We really just had a great partnership.”

in Magic Mike XXL (2015) 

Channing Tatum drew from his experience as a stripper for Magic Mike and its sequel, losing his clothes to play the male stripper with a heart of gold, “Magic” Mike Lane. The Step Up star bared his butt for the movie, upping the ante with his gyrating strip scenes in both R-rated iterations alongside costars Matt Bomer and Joe Manganiello. “I think anytime you want to form a rock solid ensemble, make everybody get naked,” Bomer told EW of filming the stripper sequel. “Instant trust happens.”

in Under the Skin (2013) 

Scarlett Johansson got stark naked for the sci-fi flick Under the Skin. The Don Jonactress is shown as a mysterious, other worldly woman who begins the movie naked. “I think in some ways you have to look at the nudity and sort of assume that it’s going to be a screenshot for someone, and you kind of have to weigh the value of the risk that you’re taking,” she said at a press conference for the film. “You know, ‘Is this gratuitous? Is this a vanity project? Is this an important part of this character’s journey to self-discovery? What’s the gain?’”

in Neighbors (2014) 

Seth Rogen bared it for Neighbors, signing on for a memorable sex scene with his costar Rose Byrne. The two play Mac and Kelly Radner, a young couple living next door to a house of frat boys. In one particularly cringeworthy scene, the two get naked and start hooking up on the couch, only for their partying neighbors to watch the whole thing go down.

in White Bird in a Blizzard (2014) 

Shailene Woodley agreed to go nude for the drama White Bird in a Blizzard. The former child star was shown in a sex scene as she made the transition to more adult roles. “I’m totally comfortable with nudity,” she said in an interview with Glamour UK. “I’m not sure it empowers me as an actress or anything, but if I’m going to do a movie with sex scenes, then I’m going to be naked, because I don’t know about you, but I don’t have sex with bras and panties on.”

in That Awkward Moment (2014) 

Never one to shy away from going shirtless, Zac Efron took it a step further for That Awkward Moment. The 17 Again star went fully nude to play Jason, the 20something sorting out his feelings on relationships with pals Daniel (Miles Teller) and Mikey (Michael B. Jordan) by his side. In one memorable scene, a completely naked Efron lays down on a toilet seat as he speaks to his friend on the phone.

in Welcome to Me (2015) 

Bridesmaids actress Kristen Wiig goes full frontal for her role as a woman with borderline personality disorder in Welcome to Me. Interestingly enough, the budding dramatic actress isn’t taking it all off for a sensual bedroom scene—her character, Alice, simply strips down for a casual stroll through a casino. According to Wiig, the sequence is “important to the story and the character;” either way, it’s safe to say this is her boldest on-screen move to date.

In Nymphomaniac (2014)

As their suggestive promo posters made clear, Lars Von Trier’s two-volume exploration of an insatiable woman (played by Martin at a young age in flashback scenes, Charlotte Gainsbourg when character is at her current age) includes graphic sex scenes, with LaBeouf playing her first love(r). There’s nudity to spare throughout the film, which includes costars such as Uma Thurman, Willem Dafoe, Christian Slater, and Connie Nielsen. To figure out which of those performers get full-frontal, you’ll have to see the film (though EW’s Chris Nashawaty wouldn’t necessarily recommend it.

in Ex Machina (2015) 

Rising star Alicia Vikander went nude as the otherworldly being Ava in 2015’s Ex Machina. The Swedish actress portrayed the alluring android, telling Nylon of the role and the character’s romantic involvement, “I wanted to do something very pure. There’s also reasons for her to act certain parts of it out — she’s been developing and searching for her sexuality in the movie. I wanted to find a certain physicality and voice to Ava to create this very special being.”

In Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)

Bless Jim Jarmusch for bringing together everyone’s Internet boyfriend and the big screen’s most glorious weirdo, larger than life and in flagrante! Swinton and Hiddleston play a pair of centuries-old vampires who rekindle their flame in Detroit (as you do) in the forthcoming film. Of course, getting buck naked onscreen is old hat for Hiddleston, who was nude in 2011’s The Deep Blue Sea. Just sayin’, Hiddles: Two times is a coincidence, three is a lifestyle. Is it time for a lifestyle change? (The Internet screams, ”YES!”)

In True Blood (2013)
(SPOILER ALERT! Includes season 6 finale details)

Of course Eric Northman (Skarsgard) was sunbathing au naturel on one of the snow-capped mountains of his native Sweden. It spoke to his confidence that he’d overcome his vampy vulnerability to the sun. Eric’s, ahem, cockiness was our gain when the cure lifted and he stood to reveal his enviable physique in all its glory. Alas, the heat was coming from without and within as Eric brought new, literal meaning to the term ”smokin’ hot.”

In On the Road (2012)

Nudity was just part of the gig for Stewart when she signed on for the film version of Jack Kerouac’s seminal book, in which she portrays the free-spirited Marylou. ”I love pushing. I love scaring myself,” Stewart, seen here sitting naked between costars Sam Riley and Garret Hedlund, told People. Scared is not what comes across in her performance, says EW’s Owen Gleiberman. Stewart ”acts this scene very well — for once, she looks more ebullient than cool.”

In Wanderlust (2012)

She’s shown her bottom in The Break-Up and sported lustful lingerie in Horrible Bosses, but in this year’s Wanderlust, Jennifer Aniston was finally ready to let the gloves (and more) come off. Though her nude bod is pixilated in the film, the scene in question features Aniston going topless for news cameras — an act that she’s called ”liberating” to many a news source. You could also call it a tease.

In The Vow (2012)

Okay, we can understand that Rachel McAdams was suffering from intense memory loss in The Vow, but what we can’t understand is why that would influence her decision to see Channing Tatum’s topless (and bottomless) physique in any way. Doctor, can we get another head examination?

In Shame (2011)
Fassbender’s NC-17 movie about a Manhattan man struggling with a crippling sex addiction has what EW’s Sara Vilkomerson called a ”staggering amount of full frontal Fassbender.” Well, alright then.

In Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011)
Usually the thought of a naked, buff Ryan Gosling does not inspire laughter, but couple that vision with an extremely uncomfortable Steve Carell and you’ve got one funny scene. But Carell reportedly said the scene, in which Gosling’s confident ladies’ man bares himself before Carell’s sad-sack soon-to-be divorcé in a locker room, wasn’t that hard to do: ”Was it awkward? No, actually I kind of enjoyed it. He’s a very handsome guy, you know, there’s no disputing that. And I am not ashamed to say that I find him very attractive.” You’re not alone, Steve.

In The Hangover Part II (2011)
Jeong’s English-mangling gangster Mr. Chow is back, and what would he be if he couldn’t find a way to strip down again, this time with his wife’s blessing? ”I got her permission. I’m not stupid. I ran it by her before I ran it by [director] Todd Phillips.”

In Cedar Rapids (2011)
No inhibitions here for the Office costar, who decided to go for broke when the movie called for him to give actor Kurtwood Smith a hug… while in the buff. ”I was completely naked,” Helms told People. ”I feel that those little modesty pouches that they give you for nude scenes are far more humiliating than actually nudity, so why not just go for it?”

In HBO’s Mildred Pierce (2011)
When Wood took on the role of Veda Pierce, one of the worst daughters in pop culture, she reportedly turned to her onscreen mom Kate Winslet for help with her first full-frontal nude scene. From what we’ve seen of the five-part miniseries, she took Winslet’s just-do-it advice to heart, merkin and all.

In Machete (2010)
Alba has admitted that she’s not really completely naked in this steamy nude scene, but it’s doubtful that anyone’s complaining about the final CGI’ed product.

In Hot Tub Time Machine (2010)
Before she won over Don Draper on Mad Men this season, Paré played rub-a-dub-dub in the tub with Craig Robinson’s weepy Nick.

In The Proposal (2009)
There’s nothing sexier than two people who hate each other, naked, slamming their bodies up against one another awkwardly. Okay, the sexy quotient goes up when they’re played by Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds. And it helps if they’re wet. —Marc Bernardin

In Basic Instinct (1992)
It was the leg-crossing heard ’round the world. With one shift of her not-inconsequential gams, Sharon Stone became a star. —Marc Bernardin

In The Crying Game (1992)
Didn’t see that coming, did you? Never has a John Thomas been so integral to a film’s plot.

In Monster’s Ball (2001)
This wasn’t the first time Halle Berry had dropped her kit for a movie — that’d be the otherwise forgettable Swordfish — but it was the first time she had a valid reason to do so. As a woefully repressed recent widow, baring her body to Billy Bob Thornton’s prison guard was the equivalent to baring her soul. Plus, it was totally hot. —Marc Bernardin

In Trainspotting (1996)
It’s almost hard to believe that a dude who drops trou as often as McGregor does is also known to millions of kids as General Obi-Wan Kenobi, Jedi Master and keeper of all things good and pure. But we adults knew him first as heroin junkie Mark Renton in Danny Boyle’s breakthrough feature — in which McGregor showed off his not-so-wee lightsaber after a quickie with an underage vixen (Kelly Macdonald). —Marc Bernardin

in The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1989)
Uma Thurman became a star with her first nude scene — jaws dropped when the 18-year-old ingenue took her top off for a sex scene with John Malkovich in 1988’s Dangerous Liaisons — but this scene was a lot more artful. Literally, as she plays the goddess Venus, emerging naked from the surf via clamshell, her hair strategically draped, in an homage to Botticelli’s famous painting. —Gary Susman

in Short Cuts (1993)
Moore has recounted that Robert Altman warned her that the role of Marian Wyman had a lengthy monologue where she confesses her infidelity to her husband (Matthew Modine) while naked from the waist down. The redheaded actress says she not only agreed to take the role on the spot but also told Altman that, as a bonus, viewers would see that the carpet matches the drapes. We did, and it does. —Gary Susman

in Animal House (1978)
Karen Allen has said she was reluctant to appear in only a shirt during the scene where Boon (Peter Riegert) catches Katy (Allen) with Professor Jennings (Sutherland). Then, she said, Sutherland (whose sex scene with Julie Christie in Don’t Look Now was so torrid it was long rumored to be unsimulated) volunteered to show his rear end if Allen showed hers. Allen relented, resulting in the now famous scene where Sutherland reaches into a kitchen cabinet, casually revealing that there’s nothing on under his sweater. —Gary Susman

in A Fish Called Wanda (1988)
His character is named Archie Leach (which was Cary Grant’s real name), and though John Cleese is not nearly as suave as his namesake — especially when showing off his middle-aged bod to Jamie Lee Curtis as he tries to strip seductively for her — he’s certainly a lot more hilarious. —Gary Susman