Hong Kong’s top 12 sexiest movies

Controversial on its release in 1972 due to its lesbian and exploitation themes, director Chor Yuen’s rape-revenge epic – mixing wuxia swordplay with moments of period erotica – still arrests the senses with the sheer intensity of its tale, which sees a defiant beauty (Lily Ho) exacting vicious retribution on her tormentors years after being abducted into a high-class brothel. The erotic moments might seem a little tame by later standards but they were particularly daring back in the day.

Written and directed by acclaimed director Li Han-hsiang, produced by Sir Run Run Shaw and the film debut for one Jackie Chan, The Golden Lotus surely has one of the strongest lineups of all-time for any sex film. This seductive tale focuses on the licentious sex life of a merchant and references The Plum in the Golden Vase, a classic piece of erotic literature from the Ming Dynasty. This is a truly timeless piece of antique cinema that’s as much about action and storyline as it is naughty bits.

Veronica Yip (her again) plays a married woman who hires a gigolo (played by Simon Yam) to get her pregnant, so her impotent husband can receive his family’s money. The plot transgresses into jealously, lust and murder in this fairly soft-core film, but the sex scenes are perfectly executed and the duo beautifully captured. Yam has starred in other gigolo roles – Gigolo and Whore, Friday Gigolo, Hong Kong Gigolo, take your pick – but this is probably his best.

Chingmy Yau stars as the deadly assassin in this delirious cult classic. While being investigated by an infatuated cop (Simon Yam, again), she falls in love with a fellow female killer, who targets rapists and psychos. The film’s combination of kick-ass action and lesbian entanglement attracted a significant following and resulted in Yau being nominated for Best Actress at the 1993 Hong Kong Film Awards.

Directed by Roman Cheung, this film is less about any sort of plot and more a chance to see Loletta Lee’s energetic and erotic performance in various states of undress. The story centres on a girl in search of different sexual partners as she looks to get revenge on her cheating boyfriend. In contrast to the coarse production, it’s Lee’s angelic face, heartwarming smile and frequent shower scenes that explain why people are mad about Crazy Love.

This somewhat dubious classic focuses on the relationships that blossom at a local brothel. Yvonne Yung, Hong Kong’s Miss World 1989 entry, plays the whorehouse Madame in this erotic masterpiece. Although there are questionable scenes of torture (involving eels), amid all the sex and awe, there are touching moments, while the smut and generally lighthearted side of Ancient Chinese Whorehouse was characteristic of many Category III films of this ilk.

Claiming to be the world’s first 3D erotic film (actually, that honour belongs to The Stewardesses in 1969), the film is the most recent sequel to 1991’s Sex and Zen, adapted from The Carnal Prayer Mat, a Chinese erotic novel about a Ming Dynasty scholar’s lust and sexual exploits. Although the film was banned in mainland China, it raked in more than $40m at the local box office – the highest total ever for its genre.