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Olivia Wilde Says Gen Z Wants Authentic Sex Onscreen, Not More of It

At Sundance, she pointed to structured intimacy practices as a route to more believable scenes.

Overview

  • Citing a UCLA finding that 48.4% of Gen Z think TV and movies feature too much sexual content, Wilde said younger viewers are rejecting inauthentic portrayals in favor of genuine relationships.
  • Discussing I Want Your Sex at its Sundance premiere, Wilde described the film as an irreverent, playful exploration that uses sexual themes as a metaphor for experimentation and life experience.
  • Director Gregg Araki said this was his first production using an intimacy coordinator, collaborating with Yehuda Duenyas to establish clear boundaries that enable safer, more focused performances.
  • Co-stars Mason Gooding and Chase Sui Wonders emphasized the appeal of realistic intimacy, highlighting relatable awkwardness and hoping the film encourages openness around sexual experience.
  • Broader industry data reported by The Times shows sexual content in major films has declined since 2000, with more titles featuring none at all and growing adoption of intimacy coordination.