1. Emmanuelle (1974)
Positively embracing an X rating upon its release and generating 300 million ticket sales worldwide, Emmanuelle is maybe the most famous decadent delight on our list. It certainly generated a successful franchise and copycat films with Laura Gemser as the 'black' Emanuelle (they had to remove an 'm' to avoid copyright infringement). The original Emmanuelle, starring Sylvia Kristel in the titular role, pushed the barriers of what was acceptable on screen at that time outside of an xxx film. It was released uncensored in France and America but the British censors omitted a rape scene and a famous scene with a lady doing rude things with a cigarette. The storyline basically follows the sexual adventures of diplomat's wife Emmanuelle. Her sexual awakening includes masturbating in front of another woman, lesbian shenanigans during a squash match, a lesbian love triangle, rape in an opium den, men physically fighting to be her lover. The whole way along her husband advises her and tells her who to shag and who not to shag. There is an incredible amount of bed hopping. Filmed in Jaecklin's trademark soft focus style, Emmanuelle deserves to be the iconic erotic film that it is. It has a deft touch and eroticism that makes it ten times sexier than most straight porn films out there despite it not being as explicit in its sexual acts. The main actress - Sylvia Kristel - is very beautiful and exudes sexual magnetism. It is a class act all the way and remains its power to captivate despite being nearly 40 years old.