Entertainment in 2026 has increasingly pivoted toward themes of desire, reversing a long-standing trend of increasingly sanitized cinematic content. The new romantic comedy “One Night Only,” starring Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner, serves as a recent example of this shift. Set in a reality where a conservative Congress has implemented a ban on intimacy, the film explores the tension of yearning, echoing the provocative nature of other recent hits like “Wuthering Heights” and “Heated Rivalry.” This year what’s on our screens has frequently been aimed at turning us on. Sex has been front and center in a slew of recent hits in ways that might previously have made them ineligible to be mainstream cultural powerhouses, from the sensual pleasures of “Wuthering Heights” to the steamy shower scenes in “Heated Rivalry”. It’s safe to say horniness is having a moment. Enter the next competitor for both your eyeballs and fantasies: “One Night Only,” a just-released romantic comedy that’s very much on the titillating trend. The movie takes place in a universe where a conservative Congress has passed a law banning sex between single people — save for one night of the year in which they are permitted to go to town on each other in restaurants, on subways and in public parks, starring Oscar-nominee Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner (aka Mr. Dua Lipa). Sure, the premise is ridiculous — and one that’s sparked a slew of recent jokes online — but it ensures “One Night Only” is rife with lustful hunger that’s bound to appeal to horny audiences.
Data suggests this change is significant. Research by film analyst Stephen Follows, published in the Economist, indicated that sexual content in top-grossing films declined by nearly 40% between 2000 and 2023. Further metrics from Kids-in-Mind.com showed that films earning high ratings on their sex and nudity scale dropped from 8% in 2016 to between 2% and 3% in the 2019-2023 period. According to a study of the 250 highest-grossing motion pictures each year by film-data analyst Stephen Follows that was published in the Economist, the level of sexual content across most movies fell by almost 40% between 2000 and 2023.
This creative retreat from adult themes was highlighted by writer RS Benedict in her 2021 essay “Everyone is Beautiful and No One is Horny,” which critiqued the trend of superhero-dominated cinema where characters appeared physically perfect but emotionally and sexually absent. According to Benedict, the rise of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and a focus on broad, age-neutral intellectual property led studios to deprioritize adult-oriented narratives to secure wider commercial appeal.
However, current industry successes suggest a reversal. Works like “Heated Rivalry” and “Off Campus” have spurred production interest in similar themes, while reality programs like “Love Island USA” have gained significant cultural traction. Eroticism is now appearing in varied formats, from the BDSM-themed “Pillion” to Olivia Wilde’s project “The Invite.” Even shows traditionally viewed as softer, such as “Heartstopper,” have incorporated more mature relationship dynamics.
Industry observers link this transition to multiple factors. Romance novelist and sex columnist Sophia Benoit points to the emergence of the “female gaze” and more sophisticated romantic storytelling, noting that modern audiences are actively signaling a demand for these narratives through their viewing habits. Additionally, the proliferation of romance bookstores—which grew from just one location in 2016 to over 230 today—reflects a broadening appetite for such content. According to “It’s one of those premises that’s so bonkers and funny because you’ve got the easy logline of it being ‘The Purge’ but for sex,”, Sophia Benoit, a romance novelist and sex columnist who has been among those reveling in 2026’s entertainment offerings. “I often feel like I’m voting with my movie-going purchase: please make more things like this.”.
Historical context also plays a role. Sex historian Esmé Louise James, author of “Kinky History,” argues that media often reflects sexual exploration and societal disruption, citing the emergence of commercial pornography during the French Revolution as a parallel to modern media cycles. She suggests that in times of significant global upheaval, audiences gravitate toward entertainment that challenges expectations and sparks public conversation.
While the #MeToo movement in 2017 introduced necessary safeguards through the role of intimacy coordinators, Benoit suggests the industry may have initially overcorrected by leaning into puritanical standards. The current resurgence, she believes, is fundamentally different from earlier depictions, moving away from gratuitous content toward narratives grounded in genuine chemistry and character dynamics, much like the $220-million success of the 2023 film “Anyone but You.”
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