Polyamory and open relationships – these are subjects that have been often overlooked or misrepresented in mainstream media. However, as society evolves, more filmmakers and scriptwriters have started to venture into these less charted territories. They are creating narratives that not just entertain but also educate, normalizing polyamory and open relationships in the process. Let’s explore some of these cinematic and televisual efforts that shed a light on polyamory & open relationships.
1. ‘Easy’
Easy, a Netflix original series, explores the dynamics of a couple who invite a third person into their relationship to rekindle their spark. The series takes viewers on a journey of understanding how to navigate dating with a third party involved.
2. ‘You Me Her’
You Me Her follows a couple whose relationship chemistry is dwindling. To spice things up, they hire an escort, but things take a turn when the couple starts developing feelings for her.
Click here to watch ‘You Me Her’
3. ‘Couple to Throuple’
A recent addition to the list, the reality show Couple to Throuple, on Peacock, follows four couples as they meet and date singles in the hopes of adding a third member to their relationship.
Click here to watch ‘Couple to Throuple’
4. ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’
The Oscar-winning film Vicky Cristina Barcelona tells the story of two friends who become involved with the same man, only to have the dynamic complicated when his semi-estranged wife re-enters the picture.
Click here to watch ‘Vicky Cristina Barcelona’
5. ‘Cable Girls’
Set in the 1920s, Cable Girls is a Spanish drama series that revolves around four young women working for Spain’s first national telephone company. One of them, Carlota, enters a polyamorous relationship when she falls for Sara while in a relationship with her boyfriend, Miguel.
Click here to watch ‘Cable Girls’
6. ‘She’s Gotta Have It’
She’s Gotta Have It, a Netflix series created by Spike Lee, follows the protagonist, Nola, as she manages her career, ambitions, and her three lovers.
Click here to watch ‘She’s Gotta Have It’
7. ‘The L Word: Generation Q’
In The L Word: Generation Q, Alice and Nat embark on a three-way relationship following a drunken threesome with Nat’s ex-wife, Gigi. The relationship doesn’t last long, but it provides a much-needed awakening for Nat about what she’s looking for in relationships.
Click here to watch ‘The L Word: Generation Q’
8. ‘Good Trouble’
In Good Trouble, Malika enters a poly relationship with Dyonte and his primary partner, Tanya, in season 3. The series is not entirely about polyamory but has it woven into the narratives.
Click here to watch ‘Good Trouble’
9. ‘Big Love’
Set in Salt Lake City, Big Love follows the life of Bill Henrickson, a polyamorist who struggles to balance his three wives, seven kids, and three separate homes.
Click here to watch ‘Big Love’
10. ‘Design for Living’
The 1933 film Design for Living was way ahead of its time. It follows a painter, George, and a playwright, Thomas, as they share an intimate relationship with Gilda, who moves into their apartment.
Click here to watch ‘Design for Living’
11. ‘5 To 7’
5 To 7 is about an unconventional romance between a married French woman and an aspiring American writer. The catch? She’s in an open marriage and can only see her new love interest from 5 pm to 7 pm.
As society continues to evolve, it is essential for media to reflect this change and normalize topics such as polyamory and open relationships. These 11 movies and TV shows do an excellent job of exploring these themes, providing viewers with a more comprehensive understanding of these types of relationships.
