When we decided to come up with a list of the 50 sexiest male performances in film history, our approach to the material was not nearly as analytical as Erik’s was—quite the opposite, actually.  We decided to toss out all logic and reasoning and go with our respective guts—or whatever other body parts happened to react—to come up with a list that was as purely instinctive as possible.

We didn’t always agree.  But what we discovered was that, in spite of the ocean that separates us, we were actually on the same page more often than not.  Does this prove anything, like how we could all get along better if we spent less time talking about religion and politics and more time talking about celebrity crushes?  Probably not, but it did make the list a lot easier to write.

#50 – Richard Gere in American Gigolo  (1980)

A young Richard Gere as a gigolo who falls in love with an unhappy politician’s wife.  Need I say more?

#49 – Judd Nelson in The Breakfast Club  (1985)

Who could resist this handsome, damaged teenager, especially when he finally opens his heart to Molly Ringwald.

#48 – Cuba Gooding, Jr. in Men of Honor  (2000)

As a man determined to overcome racism and become the first African-American Navy diver, Gooding’s combination of strength and determination is incredibly sexy.

#47 – Robert Pattinson in Twilight  (2008)

Pattinson’s tortured Edward is magnetic enough to convince you that vampires might make good prom dates.

#46 – Christian Slater in Untamed Heart  (1993)

With his combination of bravery, vulnerability, and childlike innocence, Slater’s Adam is nearly irresistible.

#45 – Jason Lewis in Sex and the City  (2008)

If you could watch this movie with the sound turned off, fast-forwarding to all of Lewis’ scenes, it might be a more worthwhile viewing experience.

#44 – Damien Lewis in Nyfes  (2004)

Lewis exudes sensuality as an American photographer who falls in love with a Greek mail-order bride—destined for someone else.

#43 – Will Smith in Bad Boys  (1995)

Funny, handsome, and good with a gun—what more could you want?

#42 – Tim Curry in The Rocky Horror Picture Show  (1975)

As Frank-N-Furter, the “sweet transsexual from Transylvania,” Tim Curry exudes sex, and you just can’t keep your eyes off of him in spite of yourself.

#41 – Joaquin Phoenix in Walk the Line  (2005)

Phoenix’s magnetism in this role may just prompt you to start listening to country music.

#40 – David Wenham in Better than Sex  (2000)

It takes confidence to be naked on screen for 80% of a movie and David Wenham pulls it off with exuding a natural confidence and attractive unselfconsciousness.

#39 – Clark Gable in Gone with the Wind  (1939)

It’s a testament to Gable’s charisma that he could pull off such a messed-up character in a messed-up relationship and be so irresistible doing it.  Watch how Vivien Leigh's Scarlett reacts when he kisses her; that says it all right there.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxUdtYz93tY

#38 – Viggo Mortensen in A Perfect Murder  (1998)

Who can deny that body?  And an artist on top of that.  Artsy, hot men are yet another type women fall for over and over.

#37 – James McAvoy in Penelope (2006)

Atonement may have been the more sensual performance, but McAvoy is impossible not to fall for as the guy who is able to look past Penelope’s looks and love her just the way she is.

#36 – Brad Pitt in Fight Club  (1999)

Gritty, tough, in shape.  If you love him enough, maybe you can find the soft spot he hides.

#35 – Al Pacino in The Godfather  (1972)

The ultimate Latin lover struggling with father issues and becoming his own man.  Yet another stereotype women fall for easily.

#34 – Ryan Phillipe in Cruel Intentions  (1999)

You get to see Phillipe as both the manipulative jackass and the reformed bad boy desperate to do right by the woman he loves.  The fact that wire-framed glasses and Polo shirts look really, really sexy on him is just a bonus.

#33 – Christian Bale in Batman Begins  (2005)

A superhero without any superpowers, driven by willpower and the pains of his past. Once he gets over all his rage, you want to provide the lap he lays himself and his perfect body to rest in.

#32 – Orlando Bloom in Haven  (2004)

The tropical setting means lots of open Hawaiian shirts for Orlando—and that’s a good thing!

#31 – Cary Grant in An Affair to Remember  (1957)

You can sum this one up in one scene: when Grant comes to Deborah Kerr’s apartment, feeling angry and betrayed, and the way his face changes as he realizes why she did not show up for their meeting on top of the Empire State Building.

#30 – Leonardo DiCaprio in Catch Me If You Can  (2002)

An innovative, creative, fun-loving man.  Sure, he goes crazy in the end, but he sure can show you a good time and look dapper while doing so.

#29 – Robert Redford in Out of Africa  (1985)

Redford plays a character who, like the African wilderness he frequents, cannot be tamed.  So much the better.

#28 – Ryan O’Neil in Love Story  (1970)

Whether it’s sparring with Ali McGraw’s girl from the wrong side of the tracks or mourning her untimely death, O’Neil’s performance hits all the right notes.  When he says, “Love means you never have to say you’re sorry,” you almost believe it.

#27 – Matt Damon in The Bourne Trilogy  (2002, 2004, 2007)

Jason Bourne may be the ultimate guy’s guy—yet his quest to find out his past often reveals the humanity beneath the killer spy.

#26 – Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire  (1951)

Brando’s Stanley Kowalski is brutish, sensual—and dangerous.  Not the perfect combination—he does rape his sister-in-law—but damn if Brando’s magnetism doesn’t make you want to forget that.

#25 – Hugh Jackman in the X-Men movies  (2000, 2003, 2006)

Sure, he comes off as a macho tough guy, but one only needs to watch his scenes with Rouge to know that he’s really good at heart.

#24 – Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird  (1962)

An eloquent man with convictions, willing to stand up for what he believes is right.  Plus he's a good father on top of that.  A dream come true.

#23 – Christian Bale in American Psycho  (2000)

Not someone you wanna date, given he is psycho, but who can deny that body?  The body to define “body” for all time.

#22 – Ralph Fiennes in The English Patient  (1996)

Fiennes’ Count Almasy is essentially an arrogant jerk seducing a friend’s wife.  But admit it: if you were Katharine Clifton, you would have done exactly the same thing.

#21 – George Clooney in Out of Sight  (1998)

Never has a delinquent been so sexy.  He doesn’t mean to hurt anyone; he's just down on his luck.  Regardless, he can cuff us anytime.

#20 – Gerard Butler in 300  (2006)

A body modeled after “the body” of Christian Bale in American Psycho, this movie is one to take delight in.  Gerard is naked in two steamy sex scenes and half-naked the rest of the film.  Add the accent and you got women swooning.  Plus he’s a king and a hero.  What more can you want?

#19 – Robert Sean Leonard in Dead Poets Society  (1989)

Did I mention women like struggling artists?  RSL is a scrawny kid in this movie, and yet he is more attractive than the guys with 20 pounds of muscle because he has such soul.  He struggles to find his identity, but you can see inner beauty shining out.

#18 – Viggo Mortensen, Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003)

The rugged, handsome, sensitive loner has always appealed to women.  Viggo’s Aragorn is the archetype all women love: brave, loyal, modest, honest, and sensitive with women.

#17 – Orson Welles in Jane Eyre  (1944)

Welles perfectly captures Edward Rochester’s brooding, dangerous quality—and the passion and intelligence that makes Jane love him anyway.

#16 – Matt Damon in Good Will Hunting  (1997)

A tortured soul, a genius with a banging body: hard on the outside, soft on the inside.  Everything a girl wants.

#15 – Colin Firth in Pride and Prejudice  (1995)

Firth is the ultimate Darcy: snobbish and arrogant, and yet with a gentleness and intelligence that makes us fall in love with him long before Elizabeth Bennet does.

#14 – Richard Gere in An Officer and a Gentleman  (1982)

Forget Debra Winger—that white uniform at the end is enough to sweep all of us off our feet.

#13 – Brad Pitt in A River Runs Through It  (1992)

As the rebellious younger brother, Brad Pitt delivers one of the finest performances of his career and looks damn fine doing it.

#12 – Mark Ruffalo in My Life Without Me  (2003)

Sweet, devoted, and unassuming—not to mention gorgeous—Mark Ruffalo’s Lee is everything you could want in a man.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gc6nmYh34GM

#11 – Heath Ledger in Brokeback Mountain  (2005)

Sure, his character was gay, but you couldn’t help but wanting to heal Enis Del Mar.  Love him enough so that he can finally breathe.  A tortured soul wins women’s hearts any day.

#10 – Harrison Ford in the Star Wars movies  (1977, 1980, 1983)

Han Solo is who every guy wants to be, and who every girl wants to do—even when our mothers warn us not to.

#9 – Ryan Gosling in Half Nelson  (2006)

The less obvious choice (many would expect The Notebook to show up here), but a conflicted soul goes a long way with women and, much like Brad Pitt, Gosling is sexiest when he isn’t made up to look pretty.

#8 – Gerard Butler in Phantom of the Opera  (2004)

Butler’s soulful Phantom makes you wonder how Christine could have picked that drippy Raoul.  Who cares about murderous tendencies and extensive facial scarring when you’ve got eyes like that?

#7 – Clint Eastwood in The Bridges of Madison County  (1995)

As the mysterious stranger wandering into a woman’s life, Clint Eastwood makes every woman yearn for that true love he brings along with him—even if it was only for four days.

#6 – James McAvoy in Atonement  (2007)

All he ever wanted was to be allowed to love the woman of his dreams. A true soul, never giving up on his love is only made better —if bittersweet— by his untimely demise.

#5 – Robert Redford in The Way We Were  (1973)

Handsome and popular, Hubbell Gardner is the ultimate unattainable guy.  When he falls for ordinary girl Barbra Streisand, it makes the ultimate female fantasy. 

#4 – Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca  (1942)

Rick’s a drunk, womanizing loner—until Ilsa walks back into his life.  A performance made even sexier by the fact that he ultimately gives Ilsa up to the better man.

#3 – Patrick Swayze in Dirty Dancing  (1987)

A hot, sensitive guy grinding with you and proving loyalty to his friends.  What’s not to like?

#2 – James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause  (1955)

A teenager looking for his place in the world, only ever trying to do right and seemingly failing all the time.  Jim Stark is kind, sincere, and sensitive.  There aren’t many faces like that of James Dean, that can instantly pull you in.

#1 – Paul Newman in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid  (1969)

Funny, rebellious and loyal, Butch Cassidy and his steely blue eyes win every woman over within minutes.  He’s just trying to make a living and smile a little while he’s at it.  Plus, this movie features one of the greatest bromances of all time.  While there are many sexy scenes to choose from, this one pretty much says it all.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kpOyTQNgA8