The 2021 steamy drama film Pleasure will most likely be one of the most controversial movies heading to U.S. theaters this May. Written and directed by Ninja Thyberg in her directional debut, Pleasure is about a 20-year-old woman named Linnéa (played by Sofia Kappel) from a small Swedish town who moves to Los Angeles, California to become a porn star.
The film also stars Revika Anne Reustle, Evelyn Claire, Chris Cock, Dana DeArmond and Kendra Spade, and if you're familiar with most of these names, you've probably watched their naughty videos. With the exception of Kappel, all other actors are actually active in the porn industry.
If you're wondering where and when you can watch/stream Pleasure online or in theaters, here's a guide for you.
When is Pleasure coming to U.S. theaters?
Pleasure was released in select U.S. theaters on May 13, 2022. It received an NC-17 rating for nudity and sexual themes, and only select theaters are currently screening it.
According to Showtimes.com, only 7 states currently have theaters screening Pleasure:
The film originally premiered on Sundance on Feb. 1, 2021; October, 8, 2021 in Sweden; October 20, 2021 in France; November 4, 2021 in Netherlands.
Two versions of trailer for Pleasure have been released to promote its theatrical release in the U.S: greenband and redband (includes more mature footage).
You can watch the greenband trailer below: for Pleasure:
When is Pleasure coming to Netflix?
Netflix is known for bringing European films to its streaming service even the ones that the company didn't originally produce (like 365 Days: This Day), so it wouldn't be surprising if the streaming giant adds Pleasure to its huge streaming library. However, at the time of this writing, Netflix and the production companies behind Pleasure haven't made an official announcement on any plans to bring the movie to the biggest streaming service.
The streamer's list of what's coming to its platform in October 2022 doesn't include Ninja Thyberg's Pleasure, so don't expect it to arrive on the streaming service this month.
It's likely that this is because the producers want to release the film in theaters around the world first, before bringing them to streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.
Is Pleasure coming to Amazon Prime Video?
Pleasure is now available on Amazon Prime Video, but you will need a SHOWTIME subscription, which costs $10.99/month after the free trial.
Where can I watch Pleasure online?
Ninja Thyberg's Pleasure is available for rent and purchase digitally on Apple TV, Vudu, and Redbox.
You can rent the mobie for $5.99 but it will cost you $14.99 to purchase the digital copy.
What are critics saying about Pleasure?
Currently, Pleasure holds an 88% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes. The aggregate website's critics consensus reads: "Provocative on more than one level, Pleasure peels back the curtain on unsavory aspects of the adult film industry, with Sofia Kappel's powerful performance leading the way."
Here are what critics are saying:
Edward Douglas of The Weekend Warrior:
"Brings an unnerving authenticity to its subject matter while driving home the point that porn is a pretty awful industry to try to succeed in."
Leslie Felsperin of The Hollywood Reporter:
"Grounded in years of meticulous research into the porn scene and cast with actors drawn entirely from that world except for Kappel herself, Pleasure is very persuasive in its evocation of the milieu."
Alonso Duralde of TheWrap:
"Thyberg doesn't shy away from the specifics of her milieu, but it's not an exposé on what pornography does to women as much as a harrowing examination of what the workplace expects and allows from women and men."
David Ehrlich of indieWire:
"Less interested in giving pleasure than in taking it back, Thyberg's film might end on an ambiguous note, but few movies have ever been so eager to bare the simple truth of those words."
Emily Maskell of Little White Lies:
"With clarity, the most dire and disgusting aspects of the porn industry are highlighted in this technically accomplished if potentially divisive 18+ feature."
Antonio Trashorras of Fotogramas:
"Ninja Thyberg crafts a character study that more closely resembles a universal parable about exploitation, labor and market traps than a predictable morality tale that less skilled filmmakers would have delivered. [Full Review in Spanish]"
We will update this article with the latest information on where to stream Pleasure once we get the latest scoop, so stay tuned here on Epicstream.com, and follow @NetflixReporter on Twitter or Netflix Rocks MY World on Facebook to get notified when this article gets updated.
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