32 Ethically Made Porn Movies You Can Buy Rn
Time to curl up with some popcorn (and your vibrator) and explore the very best erotic cinema has to offer.
Good news: There are all kinds of ways to enjoy the wonderful world of porn, from reading erotica to listening to it to, of course, getting off to classic porn movies. And by “porn movies,” we don’t just mean these super hot Netflix sex scenes—though, trust, those are definitely worth checking out. Yes, people have been getting off to run-of-the-mill movie sex scenes for a while now, but there is a whole genre of ethically produced porn movies that combines all the real-deal sex-having of porn with the fully developed plots and narrative arcs and cinematic ~flourishes~ of a Hollywood blockbuster. Hello and welcome to the streaming-era revival of the Golden Age of Porn.
Back in the day (by which we mean the pre-internet era of the ’70s and ’80s) the line between porn and mainstream cinema was not quite so sharp. Iconic (and explicit) flicks like Behind the Green Door and Debbie Does Dallas introduced viewers to feature-length, plot-driven pornographic productions—which are coming back in a big way. As Mahx Capacity, Creative Director and Co-Producer at Aorta Films, puts it, “Sometimes you want to get off on a quick clip, but sometimes you want something that goes deeper and stays with you in a different way.” Best of all? Porn movies of today (at least the ones we’ve included here) are ethically produced.
But wait, what is ethical porn? So glad you asked. “Producers who create ‘ethical porn’ focus on fair wages, bodily autonomy, communication, and consent,” explains sociologist and clinical sexologist Sarah Melancon, PhD, resident expert at The Sex Toy Collective. “Remember that ethical porn means different things to different people, and individual preferences vary,” notes clinical psychologist and certified sexologist Denise Renye. “Always prioritize content that respects the autonomy, consent, and well-being of all parties involved. Additionally, be cautious of piracy and consider paying for content to support ethical producers and performers.”
Now, how does one go about sourcing these ethical porn movies? “Your first clue is that you should be looking behind a paywall,” says Angie Rowntree, founder and director of the award-winning site, Sssh.com. Yes, that’s right, friends: You should be paying for your porn. “Money is needed to pay performers, crew, post-production, and all freelance collaborators fairly, and to ensure that sex work is done in a safe environment,” says Erika Lust, feminist porn producer and founder of Erika Lust Films. “I believe we should be responsible consumers and support the people that create the entertainment we enjoy.” Yes, this does mean leaving behind the (incredibly shitty) free tube sites.
Not only does paying for your porn support the artists, performers, and creatives who work hard to provide that entertainment, but it also helps *you* access higher-quality content that you know was produced by consenting, paid professionals. A win-win, wouldn’t you say? With all this in mind, we would love to help you on your ethical smut journey. And so, just for you, we’ve gone ahead and collected the 32 best ethical porn films that money can buy. Happy movie night!
The Wedding
Perhaps Erika Lust’s grandest film yet, The Wedding is an adult comedy centered around, well, a wedding (obviously). The film follows the relationships and sexploits of various people in attendance, both guests and staff. The main tension? The happy, horny husband- and wife-to-be’s fear that the groom’s uppity, WASP-y mom is going to find out her son (Dante Colle) and future daughter-in-law (Nicole Kitt) are pansexual and in an open relationship. It ends the way all weddings should—or at least all weddings in high-budget porn flicks should—with a threesome between the bride, her wedding planner, and the photographer.
$9.95/month subscription at Lustcinema.com
Cabaret Desire
Another Erika Lust film worthy of your time is the iconic Cabaret Desire, which won the 2012 Film of the Year award at the Feminist Porn Film Festival. Cabaret Desire uses a female-gaze-centered perspective to transport you to a “Poetry Brothel” where a decadent Madame introduces each client to an interested party (and not just gentlemen), who leads them through both cinematographically beautiful and ultra-erotic exploration of sex stories.
$9.95/month subscription at Lustcinema.com
Valentine and Jessa
From our faves over at Make Love Not Porn, Valentine and Jessa features two queer, tattooed people of color, bringing unbridled passion to some sunny outdoor sexy time. From the get-go, the film lets you know that all aspects of the crazy-hot sex were negotiated ahead of time, which is perhaps why the stars feel comfortable enough to connect over giggles and validate one another in a sex scene that's touching (pun intended), relatable, and insanely erotic all at once.
$5 rental at makelovenotporn.tv
The OH Files
Clocking in at 35 minutes, AORTA films' The OH Files may not technically be a feature, but given that it's the studio's film of origin, it makes sense to include. Part of a larger multi-media art project called the ETLE Universe that spanned live performance, a comic book, 3D-printed jewelry, and a concept album (among other projects) this film is a collection of short porn vignettes exploring the aesthetics of this sci-fi universe. From oral sex with swipe-to-change genitals to slow-motion milk-chugging, this film put AORTA films on the map as a studio interested in experimental, explicit film.
Available for rental or download AORTAfilms.com; Membership starts as low as $8/month and members get full streaming access to all films, and 50 percent off all downloads.
Perspective
From celebrated director Bree Mills, Perspective won a bounty of awards at AVN (American Adult News). Reminding us all that porn can be as captivating as it is sexy, this psychological thriller follows a couple's erotic journey in the final days of marriage from both of their perspectives (you know, hence the name) The film is acclaimed for not only its sex but also its award-winning performances from stars Angela White and Seth Gamble and its mind-bending cinematography.
$19.95/month at Adulttime.com
The Crash Pad: Director’s Cut
Crash Pad Series was started in 2005 by Shine Louise Houston, who quit her day job to start the porn company Pink and White Productions. Now, you can head over to Crash Pad Series to browse a plethora of smoking hot queer films, but this is "the film that started it all," winning the Feminist Porn Award's "Hottest Dyke Sex Scene" and becoming an instant cult classic. After the success of this film, Houston launched CrashPadSeries.com in response to the growing demand for LGBTQ+ erotic films.
$25/month at Crashpadseries.comAlla Prima
Experience the awakening of desire through a simple touch. Observe as a young couple's (Ava Mir-Ausziehen and Malcolm Lovejoy) passion takes on vibrant colors with each sensual caress, every tender kiss, every sigh of satisfaction. Unaware of the art they are creating, they make love on a blank canvas, gradually immersing themselves in a masterpiece heightened by their mutual pleasure. Blues, golds, and the intimate play of flesh on flesh; "Alla Prima" showcases the power of art and sexual fantasy blending in a mesmerizing tableau of modern art. In the end, the fruits of their intimate labour are presented for public admiration, with the two artists observing with pride.
$20/month subscription at Sssh.com
Supplicant
Headed by performer Vex Ashley, Four Chambers, once an art project, now exists as its own independent, indie porn production company. The films exist in a space somewhere between porn, art, dreamscape, and fantasy. Supplicant is a meditation on religion, power, and sex. That is, “the act of giving up control; devotion and subjugation. Dual states of purity and sin. The ritual of transcendence. The undertones of tension that are imbued in repression and reverence,” writes Ashley.
$9/month pledge at AFourChamberedHeart.com
Pirates
Are you more of a parody fan? If you want something over-the-top and campy, look no further than this XXX blockbuster based on Pirates of the Caribbean. With a budget of $1 million, it was the most expensive porn movie ever at the time of its 2005 release. Starring Jesse Jane, the film set another record by winning a whopping 11 AVN Awards.
A Taste of Joy
From director Petra Joy comes a film centered on female pleasure and celebrating authentic lust. Through three titillating vignettes, we see fiery sex and sensually shot images paired perfectly with gorgeous music. It's like an erotic visual poem that all the art babes will die for.
The Bi Apple
The Feminist Film Awards crowned this choice as one of the "best bisexual movies to come out in years." An obvious play on the Big Apple (calling all bisexual New Yorkers), this erotic film follows sex researcher Simone on her scientific sexual quest to investigate New York City's red-hot erotic diversity. It's queer, it's hot, and it's a classic.
Rent for $3.99 at hotmovies.comSnapshot
If Alfred Hitchcock was a queer POC, the award-winning full-length thriller Snapshot might have been the result. Photographer and voyeur Charlie is lusting after a gorgeous older butch named Danny, but their doin' it is complicated when Charlie accidentally snaps a photo of a murderer and becomes his target. Also playing an uncredited starring role is a well-used Magic Wand.
$9.95/rent for 48 hours, or free with $9.95/month subscription at PinkLabel.tv
Mirror Game
Mirror Game unfolds a riveting tale of an ordinary couple, Michael (Rob Gadling) and Giselle (June Ann), uprooted by a cross-country move to New England. A chance encounter with a cryptic book catapults Giselle into a perilous reality she's unknowingly tied to, risking her sanity and existence. This sinister artifact, ruthless through centuries, transcends time on a merciless, darkly seductive odyssey. An erotic exploration, this is not a game in any traditional sense—it's a chilling engagement that consumes all. It's a challenge where the stakes are as high as they get, and survival means constantly deciphering the reflections in the mirror while hoping not to lose oneself in its depths. Remember: Mirror Game never plays—it claims everything.
$20/month subscription at Sssh.com
The Intern
This was Erika Lust’s first film and remains possibly her most amazing work ever. The plot has a bit of Taken vibes in the beginning, but in a good way. When Paisley's sister Maddie disappears in a foreign country, she decides to follow her to Spain. Arriving in Barcelona, she discovers her little sister isn’t the innocent girl she used to be anymore. To make things more complex, she winds up in a (very hot) tryst with Maddie's roommate Michael. Paisley's search leads her to the offices of none other than Erika Lust herself. She becomes an intern, and, well, things get dirty and we’re here for it.
$7 at ErikaLust.com
Room 208: Julia Roca & Sylvan Garcia
Ok, so the plot is kinda non-existent in this one, and it’s basically just: couple has sex. On the other hand, maybe that's the best plot ever. It's joyful, passionate sex with lots of connection and laughter. Julia Roca has a beautiful, real-seeming orgasm and it seems super believable because, well, take a look at Sylvan Garcia's truly stellar uncut dick.
$6.50/monthly subscription to Dusk-tv.com
(W/HOLE)
Indie queer porn studio AORTA films' (W/HOLE) was honored with Best Feature awards at the Hacker Porn Film Festival (Rome) and the Vienna Porn Film Festival in 2019, as well as being selected as the opening or closing film at a handful of other festivals that year. Featuring 5 adult performers and 5 dancers, the film combines experimental performance and explicit sex scenes to a gorgeous and dreamy effect, leading the viewer from simple pleasures like q-tips and favorite songs through glistening mossy trysts, water balloon fights, opulent dinner party orgies, and intense BDSM scenes.
Available for rental or download at AORTAfilms.com; membership starts as low as $8/month and members get full streaming access to all films, and 50 percent off all downloads.
The Submission of Emma Marx
This movie is Fifty Shades—handcuffs and a BDSM contract-wielding rich guy included—but with more graphic sex and with less questionable ethics. There's plot—Emma's attempting to deny her desires and be “normal"—but she's obviously going to be all-in with the submissive thing. I mean, it's right there in the title. The Canadian Feminist Porn Awards gave the movie the award for “steamiest romantic movie.”
$15/to stream (forever) at the Ethical Porn Store
XoColate
Performers (and real-life couple!) Daniela Escalona and Manuel Melinkoff play a chocolatier and cacao supplier in Venezuela who have had an ongoing, burning attraction, but have never taken it further than their own personal fantasies. Luckily for us viewers, after assistance from an Amazonian aphrodisiac concoction, they find themselves overpowered by desire and chocolate covered sex ensues. The passion in this film is pure fire.
$12/12 month subscription to XConfessions
Parisian Pleasure
On Lustery, real couples share their sex videos to capture the realness and intimacy of homemade/amateur porn, but with higher ethical and aesthetic standards than the stuff you get on free tube sites. Parisians James and Luna are sexy and gorgeous, as we know is required by French law, and filmed themselves in their bedroom having all kinds of deliciously GGG (good, giving, game) sex. Need more convincing? This film includes swoony POV from Luna's chest of James' mouth between her legs.
$8/12 month subscription at Lustery.com
Playing Neck
Okay, so we know we said movies, but we would truly be doing you a disservice by not including this incredibly amazing, super-hot five-minute short. In it, the couple sensually touches, caresses, and makes out. There are major Dom/sub vibes. This is the only time we’ll recommend something without sex and unpaid on this list but trust us: It belongs here. It originally appeared at legendary writer, podcaster, and sex positive icon Dan Savage’s Hump Film Festival, which might just make this the ethical and sexiest porn(ish) out there.
Watch it for free on Vimeo.com
Jill Hamilton is a contributor for Cosmopolitan.com and writes the blog In Bed With Married Women.
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