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Massimo and Laura’s European escapades balance SOAP-style drama with eroticism and taboo power dynamics. These movies are effectively the equivalent of trashy romance novellas, and while they might not be for everyone, they can scratch an itch that most other films ignore. Surprisingly, there are not all that many movies like 365 Days, but the following films should be good alternatives. Updated June 12, 2025 by Mark Sammut: Two more films like 365 Days have been added to this discussion, and they are both relatively mainstream compared to most other recommendations. Click below to jump to these movies.
23
Lost Girls & Love Hotels
A Yakuza Romance In Tokyo
Lost Girls and Love Hotels
Release Date
September 18, 2020
Runtime
97 minutes
Director
William Olsson
Lost Girls & Love Hotels is a fascinating movie about an American expat who works in Tokyo as a teacher for flight attendants, educating them on the basics of English safety protocols. Margaret leads a listless and directionless life, one that she seems to have little control over. The movie, in general, has this almost dream-like element to it, especially in the fragmented nature of its storytelling. The main hook that might appeal to 365 Days fans is that Margaret becomes enamored with a Yakuza member named Kazu, and they start dating. This relationship serves to drive the protagonist’s development, but the story always remains about her journey rather than the romance. Kazu is fairly interesting and has great chemistry with the lead, but he is mostly only seen through Margaret’s eyes.
22
Eyes Wide Shut
A Twisted Tale Of Secrecy & Sex
Eyes Wide Shut
Release Date
July 16, 1999
Runtime
159 minutes
Director
Stanley Kubrick
Stanley Kubrick is a master of his craft, and it’s a shame that he didn’t manage to complete his editing process on Eyes Wide Shut before meeting an untimely demise that rocked the entire filmmaking world to its core. To this day, the director is touted by many as one of the most influential filmmakers of all time, and people are still influenced by his work and hold it to an extremely high standard that very few people have managed to reach. Eyes Wide Shut is an erotic psychological thriller that focuses on the exploits of a couple who deal with marital issues of their own while toying around with the concept of infidelity in many unique ways. The movie almost feels surreal in certain instances, making for an intense watch, and shows just how much of a master Kubrick was of his craft, relentlessly editing the movie days before his death.
21
The Boy Next Door
A Campy Thriller With A Fun Performance By Jennifer Lopez
The Boy Next Door
Release Date
January 23, 2015
Runtime
91 Minutes
Director
Rob Cohen
365 Days is built on a lopsided power dynamic, and The Boy Next Door goes down a somewhat similar route, albeit slightly more taboo. While going through personal trauma, Jennifer Lopez’s Claire, a teacher, finds herself in the arms of Noah, who she eventually learns is still a high school student. This moment spirals into pure chaos, with Claire quickly realizing that Noah is a very dangerous person. OK, The Boy Next Door’s teacher-student dynamic is not as taboo as it sounds since Noah is painted as being around 20, which does reduce the yuck factor to an extent. The movie is also fairly campy without being straight-up silly, and it is bolstered by a pretty great performance by Jennifer Lopez.
20
Girls To Buy
A Journey Into A Dark Industry
Girls To Buy
Release Date
November 26, 2021
Runtime
146 Minutes
Director
Maria Sadowska
A Polish movie, Girls to Buy follows Emi, a young woman who goes on a wild trip and ends up attracted by the allure of the sex worker industry, seeing it as a road to riches and power. She is drawn to this world by Sam, a guy who knows exactly what to say to convince impressionable women like Emi to do what he wants. Now, Girls to Buy is quite a different experience from 365 Days, and it is arguably not that much of an erotic thriller. While certainly packed with scenes devoted to showing the “appeal” of this lifestyle, the movie also shines a light on the dark underbelly hidden by expensive apartments and fancy clothes.
19
Indiscretion
Fun & Sordid
Indiscretion
Release Date
June 8, 2016
Runtime
99 minutes
Director
John Stewart Muller
A movie that combines a bunch of steamy scenes with a political thriller, Indiscretion is a unique blend of genres that fans of 365 Days will have a great time with. The movie’s setup deals with the wife of a politician who ends up having an affair with a young artist, only for things to spiral out of control after the man ends up developing a dangerous obsession with her. It may not be a mind-blowing movie by any stretch of the imagination, but Indiscretion is a great choice for a couple looking for a more raunchy movie to watch over the weekend. The shots are decent, the plot gets the job done, and the actors succeed in convincing the audience just how crazy they are for each other throughout the movie’s runtime.
18
Vicky Cristina Barcelona
A More Artistic Option
Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a unique movie that hooks viewers in from the get-go, featuring two young women who go on a trip to Barcelona and get enamored with an interesting man named Juan Antonio who offers to court them both for the night. However, it turns out that Juan has a crazy ex-wife who is still hopelessly in love with him…and this feeling is mutual, as the movie slowly progresses and explores their unique relationship.
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The movie can be pretty funny, with its steamier scenes handled with great delicacy. The cast is also quite talented, with the trio of Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson, and Penélope Cruz doing great justice to their characters and showing off the wealth of talents at their disposal.
17
Cruel Intentions
A Risqué Movie That Screams “Late 1990s”
Cruel Intentions
Release Date
March 5, 1999
Runtime
97 minutes
Director
Roger Kumble
Cruel Intentions is a product of its time, in the best possible way. The movie’s selling point was its cast, popular young actors from the ’90s who were fairly inescapable at the time. Based on Dangerous Liaisons, Cruel Intentions follows two step-siblings who decide to set up a bet to see if Sebastian (Ryan Phillippe) could seduce Annette (Reese Witherspoon), a girl who believes sex should follow love. If Sebastian pulls it off, he gets to sleep with his step-sister, Kathryn (Sarah Michelle Gellar). Someone’s mileage with Cruel Intentions might come down to whether they have nostalgia for the late ’90s, as the movie has not aged particularly well. That said, it is still an entertaining watch that plays into taboo ideas without going too far, while allowing its characters to have quite a lot of fun with their performances.
16
Fair Play
Finance, Ambition, & Steamy Romance
Fair Play
Release Date
October 6, 2023
Runtime
113 minutes
Director
Chloe Domont
Fair Play is all about power, somewhat similar to 365 Days. Now, on paper, the finance industry might not sound as exciting as Italy or Poland, but this 2023 movie does a fantastic job of exploring the world of hedge funds through a romance between two coworkers. Opting to keep their relationship a secret due to their company prohibiting fraternization, Luke and Emily are a pretty great couple who do not hesitate to embrace their passion when they are alone. They even plan to get married. However, their dynamic takes a strange turn when Emily receives a promotion and Luke ends up working for her. This shift throws their balance off, turning this romance into a surprisingly intense thriller. While not featuring as many steamy scenes as some other recommendations, Fair Play is a well-written drama that throws out quite a few effective twists.
15
Fifty Shades Of Grey
A Mainstream Alternative
Fifty Shades of Grey is probably the first name that will come to mind when considering films like 365 Days, as they are quite similar. For one, they are both trilogies that revolve around a single relationship that is anything but healthy. While not quite as absurd as Massimo and Laura’s relationship, Ana and Christian’s romance has a similar power imbalance, with the latter using his power, money, and influence to try and control the former. Initially, Ana is quite hesitant and passive, but she gradually becomes a more active participant in the story. Fifty Shades of Grey and 365 Days are also structured very similarly, especially the sequels. Both trilogies love to just start and end subplots quickly, and their stories are largely inconsequential. The main focus is on putting together as many hot sequences as possible, and everything else just facilitates that goal.
14
Call Me by Your Name
A Secret Romance In Italy
OK, now for something wildly different from 365 Days that is, simultaneously, still worth watching for fans of that movie. Set in Italy, Call Me By Your Name takes place over a single summer and explores a short romance between a 17-year-old boy named Elio and Oliver, a 24-year-old guy who is temporarily staying with the former’s family. Experiencing his first love, Elio drives the story forward, and his coming-of-age journey is the main focus. With a grounded tone and a fairly slow pace, Call Me By Your Name has none of the absurdity associated with films like 365 Days; however, it also revolves around a taboo relationship, featuring a gorgeous European setting, and is driven more by emotion than plot twists.
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