26 Of The Steamiest Scenes In Film And TV That Don't Contain An Ounce Of Sex

Ehis Osifo

Wed, October 22, 2025 at 10:31 AM UTC

5 min read

For those of you wondering, my favorite sub-genre of romance movies and series is when the when there's all the sexual tension but none of the sex — dare I say, a hand touch can be more stirring than a full blown sex scene? So, with that in mind, here are some of my fave sexual scenes from film and TV that contain absolutely no sex:

1. In Pride & Prejudice, when Mr. Darcy is so affected by Elizabeth's touch, he gives us the infamous hand flex:

A person in a long coat dramatically reaches their hand toward an ornate sword hilt, suggesting an action or fantasy scene — Focus Features

If there isn't a single stan of the Mr. Darcy hand flex™ on this Earth, it's because I am dead.

2. In Abbott Elementary , when Gregory tells Janine that "takes all her recommendations seriously" because he "wants to know why [she] likes stuff."

A person in a casual setting says, — ABC

To be loved is to be seen!

3. In Holes , when Sam tells Kissin' Kate Barlow that he "can fix that":

A person wearing a wide-brimmed hat smiles softly, appearing outdoors — Buena Vista Pictures

Dulè Hill can FIX ME!

4. In Scandal, when Fitz asks Olivia for "one minute" together before the re-enter the campaign room:

A man and woman stand close in a dimly lit hallway, appearing to share an intense moment — ABC

If stanning Olivia and Fitz is wrong, then I don't want to be right!

5. In Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, when Lenny offers Midge the "last puff" of their shared cigarette:

Man in a suit offers a cigarette to a woman in a floral dress by a poolside. Subtitles read, — Prime Video

They should have ended up together and I will die on this hill.

6. In Bridgerton , when Simon licks his desert spoon while at tea with Daphne:

Person tasting food with a thoughtful expression, gently raising a spoon to their lips in a cozy setting — Prime Video

Like, Rege Jean-Page, you didn't have to do ALL THAT. But he did it for us!

7. In My Best Friend's Wedding , when Michael removes the stuck-on ring from Julianne's finger WITH HIS MOUTH!

A woman lies down with a tearful expression, touching her face; a man gently kisses her hand in a tender moment — Sony Pictures

If I found out that my fiancé a) let his female best friend try on my wedding ring on the eve of our wedding and b) removed it with his MOUTH he would NOT be my fiancé anymore, but he would be a dead man.

8. In Casino Royale , when Bond comforts Vesper in the shower after the massive fight:

Two people sitting in a shower, wearing formal clothing, with somber expressions, sharing a moment of vulnerability — Sony Pictures

Vesper told Bond that she felt as if there was "blood on her hands" after the deathly fight in the stairwell. So, what does Bond do? He. Licks. Her. Fingers. Clean. I can do an entire dissertation on the significance of this moment, but there aren't enough characters in this article.

9. In Dirty Dancing, when Johnny and Baby are rehearsing their dance and Baby breaks out into laughter:

A couple dances closely, the man with his eyes closed and head resting on the woman's shoulder, capturing an intimate and tender moment — Vestron Pictures

I can tell you right now, if I was in Patrick Schwayze's arms, I would NOT be laughing.

10. In Anyone But You, when Ben helps Bea out of the jeep:

A couple embraces romantically on a waterfront city backdrop, with onlookers smiling in the background — Sony Pictures

I'm convinced that Glenn Powell can have chemistry with a spoon.

11. In The Mask of Zorro, when Elena gets the best of Zorro during their fight:

A person in a mask with a sword faces a woman holding another sword at them in a dramatic, tense scene — TriStar Pictures

Dangerous? Yes. Hot? Also yes.

12. In The Vampire Diaries , when Damon steps in for Stefan at the founders day dance and he shares this moment with Elena:

Two people face each other with raised hands as if about to collide. Onlookers are blurred in the background. They wear formal attire — The CW

In that moment, Stefan could have never returned and I would have been none the wiser.

13. In Killing Eve, when Eve and Villanelle share this ~moment~ in the kitchen:

Two people in a tense kitchen scene, one holding a knife to the other's neck — BBC

If assassination attempt, then why seduction shaped?

14. In Julie and The Phantoms, when Julie dances with Nick but imagines it's Luke she's dancing with instead:

Two people embrace and smile joyfully. One person has short hair and holds the other from behind; the other has long hair and laughs — Netflix

I'm so bummed this show got cancelled because I wanted to know how Julie's relationship with her ghost bae was gonna pan out.

15. In To All The Boys I've Loved Before, when Peter K. walks away from Lara Jean's room after their hot tub rendezvous:

Person in a robe stands indoors, smiling slightly with a relaxed demeanor — Netflix

I can tell you right now, if Peter K. was looking at me like that when he was walking away, I woulda pulled him right back in.

16. In Bridgerton, when Anthony and Kate are both affected by each other's touch while Anthony helps Kate line up her shot:

Two people in 19th-century attire are focused while practicing shooting in a forest setting — Netflix

"You are the bane of my existence. And the object of all my desires."

17. In Pretty Little Liars , when Hannah jumps in on Caleb in the shower to hid from her mom:

A person with wet hair is playfully covering another person's mouth with their hand. They appear to be in a bathroom setting — ABC Family

Caleb and Hanna forever.

18. In The X-Files , when Mulder gives Scully a batting lesson:

A couple smiling, holding a baseball bat together. The woman is in front, the man behind, suggesting a playful or intimate moment — Fox

The truth is out there...and the truth is, I'm obsessed with Mulder and Scully.

19. In The Mindy Project, when Danny's secret Santa gift to Mindy is his dance to "Try Again" by Aaliyah:

Person excitedly dancing in a living room, surrounded by shelves and furniture, with — Fox

Chris Messina, the man that you are.

20. In The Sound of Music, when Maria and Captain von Trapp dance together:

A couple waltzes elegantly, the man in a formal tuxedo with a bow tie and gloves, and the woman in a sleek dress, in an outdoor setting — 20th Century Fox

One of my favorite things.

21. In Stoker, when Charlie and India play the piano together:

A couple stands closely, with the woman looking down thoughtfully and the man appearing supportive behind her — Fox Searchlight

There is so much wrong with this scene/movie, and yet...

22. In Red, White and Royal Blue, when Alex and Henry engage in their flirty lil' pillow fight:

Two people exchanging pleasantries indoors; one exclaims, — Prime Video

I need the sequel to this movie, like, yesterday.

23. In Materialists, when Harry gives Lucy this ~look~ while kissing her hand:

Two people hold hands across a table in a cozy restaurant while chefs work in the background — A24

IDK how Dakota Johnson's character chose Chris Evans' poor character when rich Pedro Pascal was RIGHT THERE.

24. In Nobody Wants This , when Noah reassures Joanne after she starts spiraling:

Scene from a TV show: A man reassures a woman with the captions — Netflix

This was the hottest Adam Brody has ever looked.

25. In The Summer I Turned Pretty, when Conrad wipes Belly's face after she eats the peach:

A young couple stands in a peach orchard. The man uses his shirt to wipe the woman's face, creating an intimate and tender moment — Prime Video

If I had a nickel every time I watched a show or movie sexualize a peach, I'd have two nickels, which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it's happened twice.

26. Finally, in Maxton Hall when James comforts Ruby after rescuing her from the pool:

A couple sitting in the backseat of a car, with one person resting their head on the other's chest, both appearing relaxed and intimate — Prime Video

If Ruby and James have one stan on this Earth, it's me.