Emmanuelle (1974)

Emmanuelle is a 1974 French erotic drama film directed by Just Jaeckin. It is the first installment in a series of French softcore pornography films based on the novel Emmanuelle by Emmanuelle Arsan. It stars Sylvia Kristel in the title role about a woman who takes a trip to Bangkok to enhance her sexual experience.

The film was former photographer Jaeckin's debut feature film and was shot on location in Thailand and in France between 1973 and 1974. It was received negatively by critics on its initial release and with a more mixed reception years later. On its initial release in France, it was one of the highest-grossing French films, The film was distributed by Columbia Pictures in the United States, making it the first X-rated film released by the company. The film was popular in Europe, the United States, and Asia.

Emmanuelle spawned a film series with multiple sequels, including six theatrical films and seven made-for-television films, with Kristel reprising her role in eleven entries of the original series. It was followed by a sequel titled Emmanuelle 2 (1975), while a reboot of the series was released in 2024 in France.

The film was also the inspiration for several unrelated films and series, including the Italian series Black Emanuelle, or the American series Emmanuelle in Space, as well as many unofficial productions using the Emmanuelle name.