Challengers

As the public discourse around sex in movies (or lack thereof) raged on throughout the year — seemingly confirming our growing suspicion that Gen Z kids have grown up to be even more prudish than their parents — certified rabble-rouser Luca Guadagnino stirred up a lot of noise and loosened up a little with this steamy ménage à trois, which pits two childhood besties turned pro tennis rivals in the battle for Zendaya’s heart.

The days of yore when grown-up, racy erotic thrillers like “Fatal Attraction” could spend eight straight weeks atop the domestic box office and muscle their way into the Best Picture race may be long gone, but “Challengers” soaring reception suggests general audiences are still champing at the bit to get back to theaters to indulge in their most basic instincts.

Come to watch Zendaya serve an ace performance and play Mike Faist and Josh O’Connor like fiddles as they fight hard to earn bragging rights as the next US Open champ, stay for Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ thumping rave score.