Story perspectives

Gregg Araki's “I Want Your Sex” Debuts with Intimacy Coordinator

7/30/2026

Summary

Araki’s Film Opens

Gregg Araki’s “I Want Your Sex” opens Friday after its Sundance premiere in January.
Magnolia Pictures releases the 90-minute R-rated film starring Cooper Hoffman as Elliot, a UCLA grad who becomes assistant and sexual muse to Olivia Wilde’s artist Erika Tracy, with Charli XCX as his sex-less girlfriend Minerva.
Critics award three out of four stars, noting Wilde’s comedic timing, Hoffman’s fearless performance and the film’s satire of the contemporary art world.

Summary

Araki Ensures Safety

Gregg Araki hired intimacy coordinator Yehuda Duenyas, his first use of such a specialist for explicit scenes.
He rewrote the script through 2017, citing #MeToo and discomfort with a female-sub scenario to reverse the power dynamic.
He described the set as a “womb of safety,” emphasizing clear boundaries and a supportive atmosphere.
He selected a bright pop-color palette to keep the tone joyful rather than dark or dystopian.

History

Historical Context

After the New York Times exposed Harvey Weinstein in October 2017, Alyssa Milano’s #MeToo tweet sparked a wave of accountability that led 19 U.S. states to pass new harassment protections and over 200 legislative bills by 2021. Founder Tarana Burke’s earlier “Me Too” activism set the framework, enabling 2024 director Gregg Araki to film ‘I Want Your Sex’ with an intimacy coordinator and revised power dynamics.

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Araki’s Film Opens

Gregg Araki’s “I Want Your Sex” opens Friday after its Sundance premiere in January.
Magnolia Pictures releases the 90-minute R-rated film starring Cooper Hoffman as Elliot, a UCLA grad who becomes assistant and sexual muse to Olivia Wilde’s artist Erika Tracy, with Charli XCX as his sex-less girlfriend Minerva.
Critics award three out of four stars, noting Wilde’s comedic timing, Hoffman’s fearless performance and the film’s satire of the contemporary art world.

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