Sex Addiction Portrayed in Pop Culture: TV, Movies
Published:
Mar 21, 2025
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11:37 a.m.
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Key Points
Sex addiction has become more prevalent in pop culture in recent years, including in a recent episode of HBO’s “The White Lotus”
Portraying sex addiction accurately in TV and movies can be difficult due to its complexity
Treatment for sex addiction can be multifaceted and should be explored through specialized guidance with a certified professional
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TV and movies are notorious for pushing the envelope and tackling tricky topics in the name of entertainment. In recent decades, the concept of sex being addictive in nature – not just the steamy part of a RomCom – has become more apparent through depictions in both television shows and movies. This article will explore relevant examples of sex addiction in pop culture and how they portray the complicated nature and varied impacts it can have on those who suffer from it.
Examples of Sex Addiction portrayed in TV and movies
“The White Lotus” - Season 3, Episode 5 - HBO/Max (2025)
In a recent episode of season 3, The White Lotus used Oscar-winning actor Sam Rockwell to deliver a graphic, yet vulnerable, portrayal of addiction. In his first appearance, Rockwell's character Frank chronicles his recent journey of sobriety from multiple vices over the previous 10 months.
He opens up fully to an old friend, admitting in graphic detail that he was addicted to sex and engaging in increasingly reckless sexual encounters to try to fill a void in his life, to no avail. Frank divulges his true intentions for moving to Thailand, which largely revolves around a sex addiction.
“I was out of control. I became insatiable. And, you know, after about a thousand nights like that, you start to lose it. I started to wonder: Where am I going with this? Why do I feel the need to fuck all these women? What is desire? The form of this cute Asian girl, why does it have such a grip on me? ‘Cause she’s the opposite of me? Is she gonna complete me in some way? I realized I could fuck a million women, I’d still never be satisfied.”
Eventually he thought, “maybe, what I really want is to be one of these Asian girls.” Frank goes on to indulge in what appears to be a second era of sex addiction, having intercourse with men that resemble himself, while cross-dressing and imagining himself as a woman. He even pays others to sit alongside and watch him to help him see himself in their place. “Then I got addicted to that,” he explains.
Frank finally reaches a peak of this stage of his sex addiction and finds himself at a dead end. He turns away from indulgence and toward Buddhism, to understand that desire is to be transcended. He says he is now prioritizing “spirit versus form, detaching from self, getting off the never-ending carousel of lust and suffering.” Rockwell’s portrayal ends with a poignant comment, stating that being sober is easy, but being celibate is hard.
“Californication” - Showtime TV series (2007-2014)
Californication features a single dad, played by David Duchovny, who is a sex-addicted struggling novelist. The show portrays main character Hank Moody engaging in everything from threesomes, to sexualizing nuns and having one-night stands, all while embracing and enjoying his vices of drugs and alcohol, alongside the excessive sex. The show also portrays the significant negative impacts that sex addiction can have on one's personal life and those of others around them, such as the dissolution of Moody’s marriage and the toll his sexual exploits take on his daughter.
In this particular instance, art and life imitate one another as Duchovny, the actor, admitted to the press that he was entering sex addiction treatment for his real life struggles prior to the release of the series’ second season. Psychoanalyst Bethany Marshall discussed with ABC.com how individuals with addiction seek out situations where they can solidify their behaviors, such as an alcoholic working in a bar. By working on a show that centered largely around the behaviors and experiences of a sex addict, Duchovny merged real-life compulsions with work.
Concerned about your sexual behaviors? Connect with Birches Health today by clicking here, calling 833-483-3838 or emailing help@bircheshealth.com
“Love” - Netflix TV Series (2016-2018)
Love is a show about a woman named Mickey who struggles with drug, alcohol, sex and love addiction. Played by actress Gillian Jacobs, Mickey is an erratic, unstable, selfish and complicated character that is “trying” to work on her various addictions while navigating the first “healthy” relationship she has encountered with classic “codependent” Gus, played by Paul Rust, who also co-wrote the series.
Mickey eventually decides to join S.L.A.A (Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous) to try and make positive changes for herself. The series aptly portrays the difficulties that someone struggling with sex and/or love addiction may have when engaging with a partner who also struggles with their own mental health challenges, such as the codependent behavior shown in Gus’ character.
“Addicted” - Movie (2014)
The movie “Addicted” follows a gallerist named Zoe, played by Sharon Leal, who risks her personal and professional lives by engaging in an affair with an artist and another man as the story progresses.
Zoe recalls the affairs in flashbacks to her therapist in the present day, who has diagnosed her with sex and love addiction. While Zoe’s therapist tries to find the root cause of her addiction, Zoe refuses to acknowledge a dark truth about her past. After her husband finds out about her affairs, Zoe’s life falls apart and she starts group therapy for sex addiction, revealing that she was sexually assaulted at a young age. This depiction of sex addiction and its origin in sexual trauma in the movie is a realistic portrayal of a common indication of why an individual may develop sex addiction.
“Thanks for Sharing” - Movie (2012)
Thanks for Sharing is a romantic comedy that follows a group of people who all struggle with sex addiction and are in the same support group. This film does a strong job of chronicling the struggles of people who are from all different stages and walks of life, but still struggle with sex addiction.
The film highlights the ups and downs of trying to maintain sobriety while in sex addiction recovery, including ways in which relapses often happen and how group therapy can assist with the recovery process.
Signs of Sex Addiction
It can be difficult to distinguish healthy sexual urges from the harmful behaviors associated with sex addiction. The most significant indication that someone may struggle with sex addiction is if their actions, urges or behaviors continue despite negatively impacting their lives. Other signs of sex addiction may include:
Preoccupation with sexual urges, thoughts and behaviors
Increased use of pornographic material over time to achieve the same “high”
Harmful or dangerous sexual acts
Engaging in risky sex, such as sex in public places
Prioritizing sex over other important responsibilities
Feeling guilt, shame, depression or anxiety around sexual behaviors
Experiencing symptoms of withdrawal when unable to have sex or masturbate
Sex addiction treatment options in the U.S.
If you or a loved one is suffering from sex addiction, there are treatment options available in the U.S. and level of treatment will depend on the severity of one's behaviors. Common treatment options for sex addiction include inpatient facilities, outpatient groups, individual therapy or a combination of them. Individual therapy is a popular option for sex addiction treatment and can be conducted virtually in today’s world. Birches Health offers fully virtual, specialized treatment with therapists who are trained and certified to treat sex addiction. You can connect with Birches however you’d prefer. The main options:
Call 833-483-3838
Email help@bircheshealth.com
