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How to Have Sex (2024): Cast, Ratings, Box Office & Plot

How to Have Sex (2024) movie poster

How to Have Sex is a 2024 drama directed by Molly Manning Walker, starring Mia McKenna-Bruce as Tara, Lara Peake and Shaun Thomas. It runs 1 hour 31 minutes and earned $1.2 million worldwide. It earned 3 award nominations, including Best Casting at the BAFTA 2024. Critics gave it 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and 79 on Metacritic.

Rotten Tomatoes
97%
worldwide gross
$1.2M
award nominations
3
Echo Score
79
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How to Have Sex (2024) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 31m (91 min)
Genre
Drama
Original language
English
Studio
Film4
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is How to Have Sex About?

The premise of How to Have Sex without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

Three British teenagers experience newfound freedom during a summer in Malia. Amidst nightlife and parties, they navigate the complexities of intimacy, consent, and self-discovery, confronting the realities of growing up with honesty and vulnerability.

How to Have Sex Themes & Keywords

· 50 tags
  • toxic friendship
  • coming of age drama
  • loss of virginity
  • teenage sex
  • female buttocks nudity in thongs
  • sex scene
  • lesbian
  • partying
  • teenage girl
  • scantly clad female teens
  • rape
  • hedonism
+38 more
  • adult actress plays a minor teenage girl
  • female sexuality
  • lesbian friend
  • written by director
  • sexualized female teens
  • female protagonist
  • female friendship
  • friendship between girls
  • teenage protagonist
  • female virgin
  • teenage virgin
  • peer pressure
  • party girl
  • teen drama
  • friendship
  • beach
  • sea
  • cigarette smoking
  • swimming pool
  • karaoke
  • drunk
  • teenage prostitute
  • deflowered
  • loser
  • hormone
  • conformity
  • conformist
  • nightclub
  • club
  • clubbing
  • consent
  • reference to a zodiac sign
  • reference to libra the constellation
  • f rated
  • triple f rated
  • vomiting
  • loose
  • loose morals
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Cast & crew

How to Have Sex Cast & Characters

Mia McKenna-Bruce leads the cast as Tara, with Lara Peake as Skye and Shaun Thomas as Badger. Directed by Molly Manning Walker; 18 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in How to Have Sex

· 14 more
From the director

More from Molly Manning Walker

More films directed by Molly Manning Walker: Good Thanks, You?, The Forgotten C and The World’s My Oyster.

Full filmography
Ratings

How to Have Sex Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave How to Have Sex 97% on Rotten Tomatoes and 79 on Metacritic. Our Echo Score gives it 79/100, strongest in art & craft (90) and weakest in rewatch factor (50).

79 /100

How to Have Sex Echo Score Breakdown

In its exploration of adolescent sexuality and consent, the film excels at conveying raw emotional truth through a naturalistic approach. The direction and central performance deliver an immersive sense of immediacy that few dramas achieve, even as the narrative occasionally feels fragmented and underdeveloped in its pacing. Visually, the film’s documentary-like style underscores its sincerity but can render key story beats hazy. Despite these uneven elements, its candid treatment leaves a lasting emotional impression.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 90

    In terms of art and craft, the film demonstrates assured visual composition and fluid editing that evoke a documentary sensibility. The naturalistic framing and measured pacing of camera movements reinforce the sense of immersion in each scene. Nicolás Canniccioni’s photography balances saturated club sequences with moody hangover imagery, while the concise editing sustains narrative momentum. The combined effect is a cohesive aesthetic that supports the film’s unvarnished realism.

  • Character & Emotion 90

    When it comes to character and emotion, the central performance anchors the film with nuanced emotional intelligence. Mia McKenna-Bruce conveys both vulnerability and resilience in her portrayal, creating authentic rapport within the trio of friends. The film’s empathetic focus allows secondary characters to register distinct emotional arcs, underscoring themes of consent and social pressure. Overall, the character dynamics feel genuine and emotionally compelling.

  • Story & Flow 60

    In terms of story and flow, the narrative offers a candid depiction of youthful exploration but occasionally lacks structural coherence. The fragmented, elliptical style can hinder engagement with key plot developments, and pacing sometimes feels uneven as it shifts between introspective moments and abrupt tonal shifts. While the thematic exploration of consent is thought-provoking, the storyline’s episodic construction may leave viewers seeking more narrative clarity.

  • Sensory Experience 80

    When it comes to sensory experience, the film’s sound and visual design create a vivid atmosphere. The pulsating club soundtrack and subtle ambient audio reinforce emotional tension, while the cinematography alternates between handheld immediacy and composed wide shots. Color and lighting choices underscore shifts in mood, from vibrant nightlife to subdued aftermath. These sensory elements coalesce into a cohesive audio-visual palette that enhances the film’s immersive quality.

  • Rewatch Factor 50

    For rewatch factor, the film’s uncompromising realism may limit repeated viewings. Its intense emotional content and raw depiction of trauma can be challenging, reducing its appeal for casual replays. However, the layered performances and thematic depth offer new insights on subsequent viewings for audiences interested in its nuanced approach to consent and friendship. Overall, the film yields moderate lasting appeal, especially for viewers invested in its subject matter.

Plot

How to Have Sex Plot Summary

What happens in How to Have Sex from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 14 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

As Tara, Em, and Skye arrive at the sun-drenched resort of Malia on the stunning Greek island of Crete, they are on the cusp of a summer filled with self-discovery and liberation. Each young woman stands on the brink of adulthood, eager to embrace a rite-of-passage holiday that vows to be the most unforgettable experience of their lives. For Tara, this trip carries special significance as she wrestles with the pressure to keep pace with her friends’ more adventurous romantic exploits. In contrast, Em is keen to exchange her innocence for a taste of newfound freedom, while Skye grapples with her own inner desires and insecurities.

Full summary

The whole story of How to Have Sex, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Box office

How to Have Sex Box Office

How to Have Sex grossed $1.2 million worldwide. $167,725 came from the US and Canada and $1.1 million (86%) from the rest of the world.

2024 box office

Worldwide gross

$1.2M

US & Canada
$167.7K
International
$1.1M
US & Canada 14% Rest of the world 86%
Awards

How to Have Sex Awards & Nominations

How to Have Sex earned 3 award nominations, including Best Casting at the BAFTA 2024.

3 nominations1 ceremony

Videos

How to Have Sex Trailers & Videos

12 videos: 3 trailers, 2 teasers, 1 clip and 6 featurettes.

All 12 videos
How to Have Sex starring Mia McKenna-Bruce, Lara Peake and more | OFFICIAL TRAILER | Film4
  • Trailer Official Trailer
  • Trailer Official Trailer
  • Teaser Official Teaser
  • Teaser Official Trailer
Quiz

How Well Do You Know How to Have Sex?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Where does the story take place?

Details

How to Have Sex Also Known As

26 alternative titles, including “Jak uprawiać seks” and “하우 투 해브 섹스”.

Also known as
  • Jak uprawiać seks
  • 하우 투 해브 섹스
  • Comment faire l'amour
  • Kako se poseksati
  • Cómo tener sexo
  • Hogyan szexeljünk
  • Eikh La'assot Sex
  • Как заниматься сексом
  • Nasıl Seks Yapacağız?
  • Як зайнятися сексом
  • How to Have S*x
  • 如何做爱
+14 more
  • איך לעשות סקס
  • How to Have Sex - A Primeira Vez
  • Jak mít sex
  • Kako seksati
  • Како се креснути
  • Kaip užsiimti seksu
  • Kỳ Nghỉ Thác Loạn
  • Kako se poševiti
  • 非關性愛
  • ซิงนั้นสำคัญไฉน
  • Cum să faci sex
  • 敢愛咁做
  • Kuidas peaks seksima?
  • Kā tikt pie seksa

Seen How to Have Sex?

FAQ

How to Have Sex FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Awards

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of How to Have Sex, each answered in a sentence.

How long is How to Have Sex?

How to Have Sex runs 1 hour 31 minutes (91 minutes).

When was How to Have Sex released?

How to Have Sex was released on February 2, 2024.

Who directed How to Have Sex?

How to Have Sex was directed by Molly Manning Walker.

More films by Molly Manning Walker

Who is in the cast of How to Have Sex?

How to Have Sex stars Mia McKenna-Bruce as Tara, Lara Peake as Skye and Shaun Thomas as Badger, among 18 credited actors.

How much did How to Have Sex make at the box office?

How to Have Sex grossed $1.2 million worldwide ($167,725 domestic, $1.1 million international).

How is How to Have Sex rated?

How to Have Sex has 97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 79 on Metacritic, 62% on TMDB and 3.6/5 on Letterboxd.

Was How to Have Sex nominated for any awards?

How to Have Sex received 3 nominations across 1 ceremony.

Does How to Have Sex have a post-credit scene?

No. How to Have Sex has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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