I Want Your Sex 2026

I Want Your Sex (2026) is an American erotic comedy thriller directed by Gregg Araki, starring Olivia Wilde, Cooper Hoffman, Mason Gooding, Chase Sui Wonders, Daveed Diggs, and Charli XCX. The film follows Elliot, a directionless young man whose life changes after he lands a job working for provocative artist Erika Tracy.

When Erika chooses him as her sexual muse, Elliot enters a complicated relationship involving desire, obsession, power, manipulation and betrayal. The movie premiered at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival before receiving a limited U.S. theatrical release on July 31, 2026 through Magnolia Pictures. With its provocative premise and Araki’s distinctive filmmaking style, the R-rated film has attracted considerable attention while dividing audiences over its deliberately transgressive approach.

Storyline & Plot Analysis

The I Want Your Sex storyline follows Elliot, a young man who lands an exciting position working for Erika Tracy, a celebrated and provocative artist. What initially appears to be an ideal career opportunity quickly becomes far more complicated when Erika selects Elliot to become her sexual muse.

Elliot finds himself drawn into Erika’s world, where professional boundaries and personal desires increasingly overlap. His relationship with Erika forces him to reconsider what he actually wants and how far he is willing to go to explore those desires.

The story moves beyond its provocative setup into darker territory involving obsession, power, betrayal and murder. Elliot’s relationships outside Erika’s world also begin to suffer, creating tension between his new experiences and his previous life.

Rather than functioning simply as an erotic thriller, the film uses sexuality as a way to examine control, identity, vulnerability and emotional manipulation.

Production Details & Behind-the-Scenes

Gregg Araki directed and co-wrote I Want Your Sex with Karley Sciortino. Producers include Araki, Sciortino, Seth Caplan, Teddy Schwarzman, Michael Heimler, and Courtney Cunniff. Tucker Korte served as cinematographer, while Araki and Victor de la Parra handled editing. Black Bear Pictures produced the film, with Magnolia Pictures distributing it in the United States.

Principal photography took place in Los Angeles in October 2024. The movie represents a return to the provocative, boundary-pushing style associated with Araki’s earlier work, while incorporating elements of comedy, mystery and psychological thriller storytelling.

The production also involved an intimacy coordinator, Yehuda Duenyas, for the film’s sexually charged scenes. Cooper Hoffman and Chase Sui Wonders have discussed the importance of having professional guidance during the filming of those sequences.

Cast & Characters

The I Want Your Sex cast includes:

• Olivia Wilde as Erika Tracy – A renowned artist and provocateur who brings Elliot into her unconventional world.
• Cooper Hoffman as Elliot – A young man whose new job dramatically changes his understanding of desire and relationships.
• Mason Gooding as Zap – A supporting character in Elliot’s increasingly complicated life.
• Chase Sui Wonders as Apple – Elliot’s roommate and an important connection to his life outside Erika.
• Daveed Diggs as Vikktor – A member of the film’s ensemble.
• Charli XCX as Minerva – A notable supporting presence.
• Johnny Knoxville as Detective Zem – One of the investigators connected to the movie’s darker developments.
• Margaret Cho as Detective Zola – Another detective involved in the story.
• Roxane Mesquida as Yvette.

Olivia Wilde and Cooper Hoffman form the film’s central pairing, with their contrasting performances driving much of the movie’s psychological tension.

Release Date & Reception

I Want Your Sex premiered at Sundance on January 23, 2026, before opening in U.S. theaters on July 31, 2026. It was released as a limited theatrical title through Magnolia Pictures.

The critical response has been notably positive. Rotten Tomatoes currently lists a 90% Tomatometer score from 69 reviews, with critics particularly praising Wilde and Hoffman’s performances and Araki’s handling of the provocative material. IMDb currently lists the film at approximately 5.5/10, although its audience score is based on a comparatively small number of ratings.

The film carries an R rating for graphic nudity, strong sexual content and pervasive language, with a runtime of approximately 90 minutes.

Where to Watch I Want Your Sex

If you’re searching for where to watch I Want Your Sex, the movie is currently in its limited theatrical release following its July 31 U.S. opening. Magnolia Pictures is handling domestic distribution.