Prepare for Challengers With These 7 Threesome Movies

Triangles are the strongest shape not just in structural engineering but in the bedroom, too. Whether you call it a threesome, a ménage à trois, or an ethical polyamorous encounter, the idea of adding an extra person to your extracurricular activities seems to hold an almost inherent fascination. If Challengers were just a movie about Zendaya being a tennis star, I’d still be interested, sure. But show me a teaser of Zendaya in bed with two guys, and I’m lining up for tickets, preferably in IMAX if they’re available. I have to know how it goes down and who kisses who first. Most importantly, I need to find out whether the trio seamlessly gels or if one person ends up awkwardly watching from the sidelines as the other two go at it.

Fortunately, Challengers is just one entry in a long and proud tradition of cinematic threesomes. For decades, queer viewers — and perhaps especially bisexuals — have been driven to the absolute brink by the sight of three incredibly hot actors simulating sex on screen. Just as Saltburn didn’t invent unusual love scenes, Luca Guadagnino’s latest did not coin the erotic triple threat. So if the idea of the hot tennis movie is whetting your appetite for more, I’ve assembled this collection of my favorite threesome scenes throughout film history.

I do have some caveats and disclaimers before we dive in: First, while I certainly approve of group sex in my movies, this list will be exclusively composed of moments in which more than two but fewer than four people do the deed. Threesomes only! It’s also solely reflective of my own personal taste, so your favorite scene might not appear here. (I’m sorry, Wild Things lovers!) And lastly, for reasons you might surmise, most of these scenes are not available on YouTube, so I’ll point you toward the trailers and let you do the rest from there. Happy viewing!

Threesome (1994) — Tubi

What’s the movie about? The movie Threesome is about two people who are in love and never interact with anyone else. Just kidding, it’s about a threesome. College students Stuart (Stephen Baldwin) and Eddy (Josh Charles) get a female roommate named Alex (Lara Flynn Boyle) by mistake due to her androgynous name. A love triangle develops.

Who’s in the threesome? Stuart, Eddy, and Alex, of course.

Why do I recommend it? You can’t be a student of cinematic threesomes without watching Threesome. The fun thing about the threesome in Threesome is that one second, the three actors are all dressed in classic ’90s attire (plaid, jeans, plain tees), and the next they are totally naked grinding against each other in bed. Plus, there’s a climactic butt grab.

My Own Private Idaho (1991)

What’s the movie about? Street hustlers Mike (River Phoenix) and Scott (Keanu Reeves) take a road trip to search for Mike’s mother in Idaho, but end up following the breadcrumbs all the way to Rome.

Who’s in the threesome? Mike, Scott, and a German client named Hans (Udo Kier).

Why do I recommend it? Erase that other Keanu Reeves threesome scene from your memory; this is the superior one. For starters, it begins quite amusingly: Hans dances with a lamp. (Yes, you read that right.) Then the scene plays out in stop-motion in a bit of an artistic flourish from director Gus Van Sant. This isn’t necessarily the hottest threesome on this list, but it’s a great sex scene to enjoy with a glass of white while congratulating yourself on watching a foundational queer art film. Plus, it might make you look at lamps differently.

Appropriate Behavior (2015) — Tubi

What’s the movie about? Closeted bisexual Brooklynite Shirin (Desiree Akhavan) tries to get her act together after a breakup.

Who’s in the threesome? Shirin, a man named Ted she meets at a bar (Christopher James Baker), and Ted’s partner Marie (Robyn Rikoon).

Why do I recommend it? This scene is basically the film adaptation of the meme “We Saw You From Across the Bar and Really Dig Your Vibe.” But it plays out in a beautifully naturalistic way. It’s hot, weird, and a little awkward, just like a real-life threesome.

El Sexo de los Ángeles (2012)

What’s the movie about? A college student named Bruno (Llorenç González) finds himself in a complicated relationship with his girlfriend Carla (Astrid Bergès-Frisbey) and karate instructor Rai (Álvaro Cervantes).

Who’s in the threesome? Bruno, Carla, and Rai.

Why do I recommend it? A pioneer in polyamorous cinema, this movie miraculously has a happy ending! Sometimes a threesome doesn’t need to end in one person awkwardly shuffling home in last night’s clothes. Why not keep the party going?

Professor Marston and the Wonder Women (2017) — Tubi

What’s the movie about? The real-life story of Wonder Woman creator William a.k.a. Charles Marston (Luke Evans), detailing his polyamorous relationship with his wife Elizabeth (Rebecca Hall) and his partner Olive Byrne (Bella Heathcote).

Who’s in the threesome? Charles, Elizabeth, and Olive.

Why do I recommend it? I don’t like to make a habit of openly thirsting after actresses. But dear God, I love Rebecca Hall. Whether she’s studying King Kong or delivering a seven-minute monologue, the woman has me in a chokehold. But even if you don’t suffer from my particular affliction, you should watch this scene — and this movie — because it shows kink, fetish wear, and ropes with a refreshing mix of eroticism and matter-of-factness.

Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar (2021)

What’s the movie about? Isn’t it obvious from the title? Barb and Star go to Vista Del Mar. To be more precise, two quintessentially Midwestern best friends (Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig) go to a fictional Florida vacation hotspot and some very strange comedic antics ensue.

Who’s in the threesome? Barb, Star, and a man they meet at the resort named Edgar (played hilariously by Jamie Dornan) who may or may not be involved in a nefarious scheme.

Why do I recommend it? 50 Shades of Grey? Never heard of it. This is the only Jamie Dornan sex scene I recognize. It’s meant to be zany, but I also find the whole dynamic hot: As I inch closer to 40 myself, I can’t help but love a movie in which other women approaching a certain age still get what they want: a man from Northern Ireland with glacier-blue eyes.

Bliss (2019) — Tubi

What’s the movie about? A struggling artist named Dezzy (Dora Madison Burge) takes a hallucinogenic drug for inspiration and then a bunch of horrific, phantasmagoric things happen that I won’t spoil.

Who’s in the threesome? Dezzy, her friend Courtney (Tru Collins), and Courtney’s husband Ronnie (Rhys Wakefield).

Why do I recommend it? It’s one of the only bisexual threesomes I know of that was filmed with bona fide bisexual lighting. This scene is sexy, sultry, and a little ominous. You might want to stop the movie afterward if gore makes you squeamish.

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Originally Appeared on them.