This ranking of sex education movies and series for adults (18+) brings together verified English-language Netflix picks with a small set of non-English films that treat adult sexuality just as honestly, from Norway, Spain, and France. Nothing here is aimed at anyone under 18, and nothing here is the fictional high-school-set dramedy that shares a similar name.
How We Chose These Sex Education Movies and Netflix Picks
Netflix has released a small number of genuine documentary and reality series about adult sexuality, distinct from scripted dramas that merely feature sex as a plot device. For the Netflix portion of this ranking, we confirmed each title through Netflix's own official pages plus mainstream review coverage, and we specifically excluded any series centered on under-18 characters, including the well-known scripted comedy-drama that inspired a lot of confusion about what "sex education" means on Netflix. We used the same standard for the non-English films added below: each title was checked against film databases and mainstream coverage, and anything centered on a minor was excluded regardless of critical reputation, including the third film in a Norwegian trilogy that centers on a school teacher's relationship with a student under 18. We also left out Catherine Breillat's "Romance" (1999) and "Anatomy of Hell" (2004), two well-known French films that go past sex education into deliberately explicit art-house territory, better suited to a different, narrower audience than this ranking is written for.
Top 3 Sex Education Netflix Picks in English for Adults
- The Principles of Pleasure (2022). This three-episode Netflix docuseries, narrated by Michelle Buteau, examines female, transgender, and non-binary sexual pleasure across three themes: "Our Bodies," "Our Minds," and "Our Relationships." It combines interviews with sex educators, scientists, and members of the public, and it directly addresses topics like the orgasm gap and the history of sex education. It has been available on Netflix and suits adults who want an accessible, research-informed look at pleasure specifically.
- Sex, Explained (2020). Produced by Vox and narrated by Janelle Monáe, this five-episode explainer series covers one topic per episode: sexual fantasies, attraction, birth control, fertility, and childbirth. Each episode blends research, history, and everyday anecdotes into a straightforward, non-judgmental format. It has been available on Netflix and suits adults who want a broad, factual overview rather than a deep dive into one subject.
- How to Build a Sex Room (2022). Interior designer Melanie Rose works with adult couples to turn a spare room, closet, or corner of their home into a space built around their specific fantasies, from a quiet reading-and-intimacy nook to a fully kitted-out dungeon. It is a reality series rather than a clinical documentary, and it has been available on Netflix. It suits adults who are more interested in the practical, logistical side of a couple's sex life, such as space, props, and privacy, than in biology or psychology.
Sex Education Films for Adults in Other Languages
Beyond Netflix's English-language slate, a handful of films from other countries also hold up as honest, adult-oriented viewing about sex, relationships, and identity, each verified individually rather than pulled from a generic list.
- Sex (2024) and Love (2024), Norway. Directed by Dag Johan Haugerud, these two films are part of a loosely connected Oslo-set trilogy about adult intimacy, relationships, and self-understanding. Both are in Norwegian and follow adult characters, unlike the trilogy's third film, which was excluded here for centering on a minor.
- Blind (2014), Norway. Written and directed by Eskil Vogt, this Norwegian drama follows an adult woman adjusting to sudden blindness, using her imagination to work through questions of intimacy, trust, and her own relationship. It suits adults interested in a more literary, psychological take on adult sexuality than a straightforward documentary.
- Yes, We Fuck! (2015), Spain. Directed by Antonio Centeno and Raul de la Morena, this Spanish documentary looks at sexuality and disability through the experiences of adults with diverse physical disabilities. It suits adults who want their sex education to include bodies and experiences usually left out of mainstream coverage.
- Sex and Lucia (2001), Spain. Directed by Julio Medem, this Spanish drama follows a small group of adults whose intimate lives and past relationships turn out to be more connected than they first appear. It suits adults comfortable with a frank, art-house approach to adult sexuality and storytelling.
- Elisa y Marcela (2019), Spain. Directed by Isabel Coixet, this Spanish-language Netflix original is based on the true story of two adult women who married in Spain in 1901, with one of them presenting as a man to make the marriage legally possible. It suits adults interested in adult same-sex intimacy and identity told through a real historical case, and it has been available on Netflix.
- Les Francais, l'amour et le sexe (2010), France. This French documentary series, featuring sexologist Pascal de Sutter, examines how adults in France actually behave and think about love and sex, based on surveys and interviews rather than fiction. It suits adults who prefer a fact-based, French-language look at adult sexual behavior over a scripted film.
Who This Ranking Suits
"The Principles of Pleasure" and "Sex, Explained" both suit adults who want their sex education framed as research and expert conversation, closer to a well-produced podcast than reality television. "How to Build a Sex Room" is lighter and more voyeuristic, better suited to viewers who enjoy home-makeover formats and want to see how other adult couples design their space rather than learn anatomy or technique. Among the other-language picks, "Yes, We Fuck!" and "Les Francais, l'amour et le sexe" suit adults who want a documentary, fact-based approach, while "Sex," "Love," "Blind," "Sex and Lucia," and "Elisa y Marcela" suit adults who prefer their adult sexuality explored through drama rather than direct explanation. If books suit you better than screens, our ranking of sex education books in English is a good next stop.
Watching Them Together
Most of these picks work well as a shared watch, since each one raises questions that are easier to answer together than alone. After an episode or a film, try asking "Did anything in there sound like something you'd want to try?" or "Was there a part of your own body or your own pleasure that this made you curious about?" With "How to Build a Sex Room" specifically, a fun and low-pressure prompt is "If we had the budget, what would our version of this room actually look like?" With the dramas among the other-language picks, a simple "What did that couple's relationship remind you of in your own life?" works just as well. Treat all of them as a conversation starter, and stop or skip anything that makes either of you uncomfortable rather than pushing through it.
It is also worth watching with the sound and setting you actually want. "The Principles of Pleasure" and "Sex, Explained" are dense enough that many viewers prefer them one episode at a time with a pause for discussion, rather than binged back to back. "How to Build a Sex Room" is lighter and episodic, so it works fine as background viewing too, though the couples featured are more relatable if you are paying full attention. The other-language dramas reward full attention as well, since subtitled dialogue is easy to miss if you are distracted.
Sex Education Movies and Series FAQ
Is "Sex Education," the Netflix high-school dramedy, part of this ranking?
No. That series follows a protagonist under 18 and his classmates and is not appropriate for an 18+ ranking, even though the title causes frequent confusion with genuine adult sex education content.
Are these titles still available on Netflix and elsewhere right now?
Streaming catalogs and film availability change over time, so rather than assume current availability, check Netflix or your preferred platform before you start watching.
Are any of these sex education picks scripted dramas?
Some are. The three English Netflix picks are non-fiction: two documentary-style explainer series and one unscripted reality series. Several of the other-language films, including "Sex," "Love," "Blind," "Sex and Lucia," and "Elisa y Marcela," are scripted dramas rather than documentaries.
Do I need a mature content setting to watch them?
Yes. All of these titles carry a mature audience rating on their respective platforms due to frank sexual content and adult themes, so they will not appear under a restricted or under-18 viewing profile.
Where can I find sex education books in these languages?
See our full adult sex education section for separate rankings of sex education books in English, Spanish, French, and Norwegian.
