Henry Cavill Says He's 'Not A Fan' Of Movie Sex Scenes: 'I Don't Understand Them'

Henry Cavill, adept at portraying spies, superheroes, and monster hunters, admitted he's "not a fan" of scenes involving sex.

During his appearance on a 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast, Cavill, 40, and 'Argylle' director Matthew Vaughn expressed a lack of understanding about on camera intimacy and admit feeling awkward during such scenes.

"I also don't understand them. I'm not a fan," he said. "I think there are circumstances where a sex scene actually is beneficial to the movie, rather than just the audience. I think sometimes they're overused these days. It's when you have a sense where you're going: 'Is this really necessary? Or is it just people with less clothing on?' And that's where you start to get more uncomfortable and you're thinking there's not a performance here. There's not a piece which is going to carry through in the rest of the movie."

He continued: "Sex scenes can be great in a movie, they can really help with the storytelling, but most of the time, the human imagination is going to trump it. So I think it can be a little bit of a cop out if a TV show or a movie is just filled with gyrating bodies."

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Vaughn, 52, agreed with Cavill's critique, saying how he "can't get [his] head" around sex scenes.

Despite Cavill's aversion to the excessive use of nudity in film, some movies have demonstrated that nude scenes were pivotal for the film's popularity and overall success.

'Out of Sight'

Steven Soderbergh's film adaptation of Elmore Leonard's crime thriller exudes coolness, especially in its much-loved sex scene. The elliptical cutting and playful approach to time, coupled with George Clooney and Jennifer Lopez's apparent enjoyment, make it unique. The genuine smiles as they undress convey authenticity, in stark contrast to typical film sex scenes. Rather than halting the narrative, this scene enhances and expands it.

'Last Tango in Paris'

In Bernardo Bertolucci's 1972 controversial film, there are several noteworthy sex scenes, but none quite as impactful as the one where Marlon Brando and Maria Schneider experiment with butter. Bertolucci's portrayal of sex goes beyond mere physicality; it delves into primal desires for self-negation, making their intimate interactions both anonymous and often violent. As the two leads draw closer, the film becomes increasingly alienating.

'Don't Look Now'

In Nicolas Roeg's unnerving chiller depicting a couple haunted by visions of their deceased daughter in Venice, Donald Sutherland and Julie Christie share a passionate and groundbreaking sex scene. Sutherland later asserted they were truly engaged in the act, a claim refuted by some but plausible given the scene's casual intensity and unique physicality. Beyond its hot and steamy nature, the scene conveys a couple grappling with profound grief, showcasing a poignant desperation as they cling to each other.