Sex Suits Them: 20 of the Sexiest Movie Heroines' Outfits (21 photos)
No matter how much some feminists may object, sex appeal has always been and remains an important part of cinema. Cameras love beautiful women, and they love them even more when they're dressed sexily. To celebrate the allure of stars and the skill of costume designers, we've selected what we consider to be the twenty sexiest-dressed heroines from famous films. Please note that this isn't a fashion magazine-style wardrobe parade, where women are simply "hangers" for striking dresses. We're film buffs, and we appreciate the heroines as a whole, not just the costume designers' tricks. 
Transporter 2 (2005)/ Transporter 2
Action/ Detective/ Thriller
Director: Louis Leterrier
Starring: Jason Statham, Alessandro Gassman, Amber Valletta, Kate Nauta, Matthew Modine 
1. Lola
On the poster of the first In "The Transporter," lead actor Jason Statham was completely alone. Save for his two pistols. This was enough to attract fans of mid-budget action films, but not enough to turn the film into a full-fledged blockbuster, and the film barely recouped its production, advertising, and promotional costs. In the second "Transporter," Luc Besson's team (as producer and screenwriter) avoided this mistake, and Statham was paired with an American model, Kate Nauta, on the poster, dressed in thigh-high boots, tight pants, and a long coat over a white bra. In the film, her character, the ruthless villain Lola, appeared in even more trashy and revealing outfits, and her presence in the film and on the posters doubled the box office (of course, the fame of the first film also played into the sequel's hands). That's how important it is to understand why men go to the movies!
Day Watch (2005)
Drama/ Sci-Fi/ Fantasy
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Cast: Konstantin Khabensky, Vladimir Menshov, Galina Tyunina, Maria Poroshina, Viktor Verzhbitsky 
2. Alisa
In our cinema, actresses with sex appeal have always had complicated relationships, and that's why only one heroine made it into our hit parade: the Dark Witch from Timur Bekmambetov's blockbuster. Zhanna Friske earned this honor for the revealing black dress, completely revealing her back and barely concealing her breasts, which her character wears for the film's climax. Admittedly, Friske is best seen in her music videos and photo shoots for men's magazines. In "Dozor," you have to carefully scour the frames to get a proper look at our star, once considered the "official" sex symbol.
Alien (1979)/ Alien
Thriller/ Horror/ Sci-Fi
Director: Ridley Scott
Cast: Tom Skerritt, Sigourney Weaver, Veronica Cartwright, Harry Dean Stanton, John Hurt 
3. Ripley
While writing the script for Alien, Dan O'Bannon and Ronald Shusett deliberately referred to the characters only by their last names so that each could be played by both actors and actresses. They wanted their film to be a story about "space truckers" in trouble, and for its characters to appear professional, not sex objects or sex subjects. But when it was decided that the protagonist, Ripley, would be a heroine and that she would be played by the attractive actress Sigourney Weaver, director Ridley Scott still filmed a erotic scene for the film's climax, in which Ripley strips down to a short T-shirt and tiny panties to enter a spacesuit for the final confrontation with the alien. It was a very brief sequence, but it was enough to indelibly imprint Weaver's body on the memories of generations of science fiction fans.
The Matrix Reloaded (2003)
Action/ Thriller/ Sci-Fi
Directors: Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Cast: Keanu Reeves, Hugo Weaving, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne, Harold Perrineau
The Matrix Revolutions (2003)
Action/ Adventure/ Sci-Fi
Directors: Andy Wachowski, Lana Wachowski
Cast: Mary Alice, Tanveer K. Atwal, Helmut Bakaitis, Kate Beahan, Francine Bell 
4. Persephone
How do you create a memorable heroine with a major plot point but only a handful of mostly spoken scenes in a sci-fi action film chock-full of impossible stunts and CGI? Back then, the Wachowski brothers solved this problem simply: they cast the European sexpot Monica Bellucci as the living program named Persephone. And they dressed her in two striking outfits that accentuated her breasts. In The Matrix Reloaded, the heroine is easier to spot in a beige dress, but we prefer Bellucci's blood-red vinyl outfit from The Matrix Revolutions, as it makes the star look even sexier.
Death Becomes Her (1992)/ Death Becomes Her
Comedy
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Starring: Meryl Streep, Bruce Willis, Goldie Hawn, Isabella Rossellini, Ian Ogilvy 
5. Liesl von Rumann
How would you dress if you were a self-confident and vain old woman who, thanks to a magic potion, retains the body of a young woman at age 70? Probably very, very revealing. So you wouldn't have to undress to demonstrate the benefits of your drug. And that's exactly how Liesl von Rumann, played by Isabella Rossellini, is dressed in this grotesque black comedy, appearing on camera in a blood-red skirt and a massive necklace on her bare chest. I wonder to what extent this erotic outfit influenced Rossellini's Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress? After all, it's a fairly standard, albeit convincingly performed, role.
Barbarella (1968)/ Barbarella
Comedy/ Adventure/ Sci-Fi/ Fantasy
Director: Roger Vadim
Cast: Jane Fonda, John Phillip Law, Anita Pallenberg, Milo O'Shea, David Hemmings 
6. Barbarella
It's impossible to seriously discuss the script of this cult trashy sci-fi film, and one can only marvel at how its creators, who were among the most prominent figures in the world of European cinema, managed to pull it off in their time. Apparently, drugs were rampant enough in 1968 for director Roger Vadim and producer Dino De Laurentiis to find meaning in a delirious script based on popular erotic comics, which required nearly two dozen people (!). But, for all the moronic nature of "Barbarella," it's impossible to deny Jane Fonda's sex appeal in Paco Rabanne's avant-garde costumes. Each of these outfits is beautiful and quirky in its own way, and we couldn't choose just one. That's what a designer collection is—you have to see it all!
Star Trek: Voyager (1995)/ Star Trek: Voyager
Action/ Adventure/ Science Fiction
Directors: David Livingston, Winrich Kolb, Allen Crocker, Michael Vejar, Alexander Singer, Terry Windell, Cliff Bole, Les Landau, LeVar Burton, Jesus Salvador Trevino, Anson Williams, Robert Duncan McNeill, James L. Conway, Kim Friedman, Jonathan Frakes, Marvin W. Rush, John Bruno, Kenneth Biller, Allan Eastman, Roxann Dawson, John T. Kretchmer, Nancy Malone, Andrew Robinson, Robert Shearer, Robert Picardo, Victor Lobl, Tim Russ, Allison Liddy, Terrence O'Hara, Peter Lauritson, Gabriel Beaumont
In Starring: Robert Picardo, Ethan Phillips, Tim Russ, Kate Mulgrew, Robert Beltran 
7. Seven of Nine
This isn't a hit parade of TV heroines, and we didn't specifically explore uninhibited TV heroines. But since Jeri Ryan recently made our top twenty actresses with the most impressive breasts, we couldn't ignore her character, codenamed "Seven of Nine." (In the cybernetic Borg civilization, which "assimilated" Seven when she was a human girl, all beings are referred to by numbers because they are not separate individuals but are controlled by a shared intelligence.) Seven was introduced into Voyager's plot at the beginning of the fourth season, both to provide a sarcastic counterpoint to the titular starship's otherwise "proper" crew and to boost the show's sex appeal, which was suffering from low ratings. Therefore, Ryan initially wore a form-fitting silver suit that accentuated her curves. Later, her outfits became slightly less provocative, but still more than revealing for a teen sci-fi show.
Transformers (2007)/ Transformers
Action/ Adventure/ Sci-Fi/ Thriller
Director: Michael Bay
Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Rachael Taylor 
8. Mikaela Banes
Say what you will about Megan Fox's acting talent, but in 2007, she was the undisputed champion of the film world when it came to wearing a crop top and denim shorts! This, of course, was no accident. Michael Bay was specifically looking for a woman who would look great in ordinary teenage attire against the backdrop of a car, a robot, or a robot-car. That's why part of Fox's audition included washing the director's car. And while this was, to put it mildly, an unconventional approach to casting, the result is undeniable. After appearing in Transformers, Fox instantly became a sex symbol, and for a time, she was even considered a rising star. However, to observant viewers, it was obvious that her charm was more of a negative than a positive, and therefore she wouldn't last long in leading roles (unless her fan, Bay, continued to cast her).
Flashdance (1983)/ Flashdance
Drama/ Romance/ Music
Director: Adrian Lyne
Cast: Jennifer Beals, Michael Nouri, Lilia Skala, Sunny Johnson, Kyle T. Heffner 
9. Alex Owens
Sex appeal isn't always about provocative frankness. In Adrian Lyne's Flashdance, the lead character has several erotic dance scenes, but in them, you only notice Alex's perfect movements, not her attractiveness. Therefore, the film's most erotic moment, rightfully featured on the poster, is the scene in the middle of the film, where a girl, coming home one evening, takes off her street clothes, and puts on a loose gray sweatshirt... She seems so vulnerable and charming that you just want to invite her in for a cup of sex. Which the protagonist promptly does. Incidentally, this sweatshirt was from the personal wardrobe of Jennifer Beals, who played Alex. Its extra-wide crew neckline was due to the sweatshirt having shrunk after being washed one day, and Beals herself cut a wider neckline to fit into the blouse.
Batman Returns (1992)/ Batman Returns
Action/ Detective/ Sci-Fi/ Thriller
Director: Tim Burton
Cast: Michael Keaton, Danny DeVito, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Michael Gough 
10. Catwoman
Which on-screen incarnation of Catwoman, the famous antiheroine from the DC Comics universe, is the sexiest? It's a difficult question, because each has its fans—even the infamous Catwoman played by Halle Berry, who bears little resemblance to the comic book character. But it seems Michelle Pfeiffer's character in Tim Burton's blockbuster has the most fans, as it was her vinyl outfit, reminiscent of S&M nightclubs, that introduced the world to Catwoman. Incidentally, Pfeiffer landed the role despite Sean Young's desire to play Catwoman, even showing up to the audition in a costume she'd made herself. Tim Burton only needed one meeting with Pfeiffer to decide she was the one for the role.
From Dusk Till Dawn (1996)
Action/ Detective/ Horror
Director: Robert Rodriguez
Cast: George Clooney, Quentin Tarantino, Harvey Keitel, Juliette Lewis, Ernest Liu 
11. Santanico Pandemonium
We could have compiled a whole sexy hit parade of actresses who played strippers. But to give other erotic roles a chance, we decided to settle for just one performer. And we chose Salma Hayek, who had a small but crucial and deeply erotic role in Robert Rodriguez's vampire thriller. Whatever roles Hayek has played since then, for us she will always be, first and foremost, "the snake dancer from the Mexican vampire bar." In later adaptations of From Dusk Till Dawn, Santanico was played by Ara Celi and Eiza González, but the real Santanico is Hayek.
Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961)
Drama/ Comedy/ Romance
Director: Blake Edwards
Cast: Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal, Buddy Ibsen, Martin Balsam 
12. Holly Golightly
Truman Capote, author of Breakfast at Tiffany's, was certain that only Marilyn Monroe could play his leading lady, and the studio intended to follow his advice. However, Monroe refused to play a prostitute, and the role went to Audrey Hepburn—who seemed destined to play princesses, not "easy girls." Nevertheless, she brilliantly portrayed the innocent eroticism and unexpected style of a girl from the depths of the countryside. And her "little black dress," designed by Hubert de Givenchy, which Holly wears at the beginning of the film, became a true fashion icon and a symbol of all "little black dresses" in the world.
The Seven Year Itch (1955)
Comedy/ Romance
Director: Billy Wilder
Cast: Marilyn Monroe, Tom Ewell, Evelyn Keyes, Sonny Tufts, Robert Strauss 
13. The Girl
Who could be more erotic than the star brought in to replace Marilyn Monroe? Obviously, Marilyn Monroe herself. That's why her white cocktail dress from Billy Wilder's comedy, designed by William Travilla, ranks higher in our hit parade than Audrey Hepburn's look from Breakfast at Tiffany's. The scene in which Monroe's character stands above a New York subway vent in this dress features perhaps the most famous, often quoted, and parodied shot of the sex bomb. But, of course, Monroe didn't need to catch the air to appear seductive. She pulled it off beautifully, even when fully and modestly dressed.
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001)
Action/ Adventure/ Sci-Fi
Director: Simon West
Starring: Angelina Jolie, Jon Voight, Iain Glen, Noah Taylor, Daniel Craig 
14. Lara Croft
Lara Croft wasn't the first leading lady of a popular video game, but she was the first video game heroine to become a sex symbol. Her impressive bust became the talk of the town, and when it was announced that American Angelina Jolie would play the British "Tomb Raider" in the film version of the game, many fans doubted the star would fit Croft's curves. As we now know, the skeptics were proven wrong. With the help of a booster bra and a tight black outfit (a T-shirt and shorts), Jolie played a more than convincing and more than sexy "real-life" Lara Croft. The only fans who were dissatisfied were those who simply couldn't be satisfied.
X-Men (2000)/ X-Men
Action/ Adventure/ Sci-Fi
Director: Bryan Singer
Cast: Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Famke Janssen, James Marsden 
15. Mystique
Can a blue woman be erotic? It very well can! If she's played by Rebecca Romijn (then Rebecca Romijn-Stamos), and if she's practically naked on camera, covered only with special body paint and prosthetic makeup. Director Bryan Singer made Romijn a symbol of superhero and supervillain eroticism, but the actress had to endure many unpleasant hours to achieve this. It wasn't just the complexity and length of the makeup application process, but also the fact that Mystique's appearance was hidden from paparazzi, and the actress was kept in a closed, windowless room between takes. While the other X-Men stars became friends during filming, Romijn never even got to know them properly.
Dr. No (1962) No
Action/ Detective/ Adventure/ Thriller
Director: Terence Young
Starring: Sean Connery, Ursula Andress, Joseph Wiseman, Jack Lord, Bernard Lee 
16. Honey Ryder
Bikinis were first introduced to the public in 1946 at a fashion show in Paris, but in the 1950s, only the boldest women dared to wear them on the beach. Therefore, the scene midway through Dr. No, in which Honey Ryder, like Aphrodite from sea foam, is "born" from the ocean in a white bikini, became a landmark in the history of this garment. It was thanks to the first Bond film that the bikini became a common beachwear item for swimming and sunbathing. Incidentally, Ursula Andress's tan wasn't real, but applied with a brush, and she didn't speak in her own voice in the film because the Swiss actress had a funny German accent that was unsuitable for the erotic role. But none of this prevented the star from becoming a sex symbol of the era and, to this day, the most popular Bond girl (according to fan polls).
The Fifth Element (1997)
Action/ Adventure/ Sci-Fi/ Thriller
Director: Luc Besson
Cast: Bruce Willis, Gary Oldman, Ian Holm, Milla Jovovich, Chris Tucker 
17. Leeloo
Continuing the tradition established decades earlier with "Barbarella," Luc Besson invited the renowned experimental fashion designer Jean-Paul Gaultier to design the costumes for his epic sci-fi blockbuster, and Jean-Paul Gaultier produced a series of bizarre, futuristic masterpieces. One wonders if he designed the bandage-covered outfit the main character wears after her revival. It's entirely possible that this simple, almost revealing costume was conceived without the maestro's input. Whatever the case, it's certainly one of the most famous and revealing looks in cinema history, marred only by the fact that Milla Jovovich's figure at the time was more boyish than feminine. Well, it's a matter of taste...
Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988)/ Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Animation/ Detective/ Comedy/ Family
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Cast: Bob Hoskins, Christopher Lloyd, Joanna Cassidy, Charles Fleischer, Stubby Kaye 
18. Jessica Rabbit
Since our hit parade is dedicated to the beauty of real women and real outfits, a cartoon version of Jessica Rabbit is somewhat out of place here. However, we decided to include her anyway—for the simple reason that in the Roger Rabbit world, cartoons interact on equal terms with real people, and this humanizes them somewhat. Especially when it comes to Jessica, who, while she may be Rabbit, is not a rabbit at all. She's a woman dressed in a bright red, sparkling dress, with impressive breasts literally spilling out of her cleavage. Her design was a combination of several classic Hollywood beauties: Marilyn Monroe (body), Veronica Lake (hairstyle), Rita Hayworth (hair color), Marlene Dietrich (eyes), Jayne Mansfield (breasts), Lauren Bacall (voice)... She's arguably the sexiest Frankenstein's monster in the history of cinema.
Basic Instinct (1992)/ Basic Instinct
Melodrama/ Mystery/ Thriller
Director: Paul Verhoeven
Cast: Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone, George Dzundzu, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Denis Arndt 
19. Catherine Tramell
The role of a sociopathic seductress in Paul Verhoeven's thriller required Sharon Stone to strip naked repeatedly, but Catherine Tramell took men's breath away even when she was clothed. Just recall the famous scenes midway through the film, in which she first dons a tight white dress over her naked body in full view of the protagonist, and then reveals, during a police interrogation, that she's wearing no underwear. It's a perfect combination of scenes that simultaneously excites audiences drawn to the explicit moments and demonstrates to more thoughtful audiences how Tramell manipulates men, even when they try to bend her to their will.
Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi (1983)/ Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi
Action/ Adventure/ Thriller/ Sci-Fi
Director: Richard Marquand
Cast: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels 
20. Princess Leia
Princess Leia's metal bikini from Star Wars Episode VI needs no introduction. This is perhaps the most famous erotic outfit in the history of modern cinema, and if you show up at a Star Wars fan convention and don't see anyone wearing this bikini, you've probably come to the wrong place. However, this bikini is interesting not only for how well it looked on Carrie Fisher's body, but also for what it symbolized on and off screen. Firstly, George Lucas dressed the actress in this revealing outfit not because he wanted to spoil fans at the end of the trilogy, but because Fisher herself demanded to be allowed to show off her curves. Leia's demure outfits irritated her beyond measure. Secondly, in the film, Leia is captured and made a sex slave because she's trying to save Han Solo. So this isn't "fan service," but a physical expression of her strong feelings for the pilot, which began in Episode V. As much as we love the sociopath Tramell, "right" feelings are still more seductive than malicious ones!
