The Cannes Film Festival over the weekend gave us more than just Pedro Pascal’s arms to obsess over, especially after the gay dom/sub movie, Pillion, became the most talked-about premiere.
Despite the graphic content, the film still earned a seven-minute standing ovation once the credits rolled. Besides that, central star Alexander Skarsgård also gave us some sexy-ass leather pants to gawk over, kissed Pascal on the red carpet, and sent the Twittersphere into a frenzy over pup hoods and prosthetic pieces.
The movie also gave us the second naked Harry Potter star this year, following Jason Isaacs baring it all in The White Lotus.
But what is the hype all about?
From its motorbike club premise to its A24 pedigree, here’s everything we know so far about Cannes’s kinkiest crowd‑pleaser.
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Besides being the title of the film, a “pillion” is the backseat of a motorcycle—perfect shorthand for submission in both biker and BDSM circles.
Written and directed by queer newcomer Harry Lighton, Pillion follows Ray (Skarsgård), the alpha leader of a London motorbike club, who spots wallflower Colin (Harry Melling) singing in a barbershop quartet and invites him into the full‑tilt world of leather, chains, and 24/7 power exchange.
As Skarsgård told Stephen Colbert, Colin is “kind of my boyfriend slash sex slave slash butler,” and yes, there’s naked wrestling.
But as Colin plunges deeper, he must decide if living as Ray’s submissive—and literally riding pillion—is truly for him.
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Skarsgård leans into Ray’s magnetic menace: a tattooed biker who issues orders with a single look. Opposite him, Melling—best known as DudleyDursley in HarryPotter and a breakout star of The Queen’s Gambit—plays Colin with wide‑eyed vulnerability.
Their chemistry, according to reviews, is about to have us all hot and bothered after we see it. Whether they’re lacing up combat boots or sparring shirtless in a ring, the explicit nature of the film is equally kinky, romantic, and about to serve us all of our fantasies on a silver platter.
As Colin learns to lick boots and don a lock‑and‑chain collar, Melling’s transformation from nervous suburbanite to willing sub anchors the film’s emotional core.
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Pillion doesn’t stop at its leads. Scissor Sisters frontman Jake Shearsmakes his acting debut as a fellow sub who shares an NSFW picnic‑table scene—complete with a penis prosthetic sporting a Prince Albert piercing.
Elsewhere, out gay biker Paul Tallis popped up in a pup hood, which he posted on his Instagram, and allegedly gave Melling a masterclass in boot‑licking on set.
Plus, several real‑life club members appear in cameos, lending gritty authenticity to the leather‑and‑lash tableau.
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In October, A24 scooped up U.S. rights to Pillion, adding it to a slate that includes MaXXXine and Everything Everywhere All at Once.
Lighton—whose BAFTA‑nominated short Wren Boys explored queer love in a men’s prison—introduced Pillion at Cannes with a wink, saying “I hope it makes you laugh, makes you think and feel, and maybe makes some of you a little bit horny … or a lot. Let’s see.”
Judging by the audience’s reaction, the gamble paid off.
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Skarsgård arrived at the premiere in skin‑tight leather pants and Loewe biker boots, then later upped the ante in SaintLaurent thigh‑high fetish boots, per WWD.
Under a simple white tee depicting a dom boot over a sub, he strutted the carpet like the ultimate bedroom dom. Social media went wild.
“Alexander Skarsgård’s Cannes look IM OBSESSED,” wrote one fan.
Another cheered, “So happy Alexander Skarsgård came out of his cave to remind me what hot men actually look like.”
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After Pillion’s standing ovation, Skarsgård embraced fellow attendee Pascal and stole a quick kiss. The clip went viral overnight, even though it was later confirmed as a peck on the cheek.
Still, the moment has already cemented Pillion’s place in festival lore, which celebrated men in leather and gave us all something to cheer about.
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As with anything, queer or not, the reviews have been as mixed as they’ve been ecstatic.
The Daily Beast called Pillion “delightfully tender,” praising its balance of raw sex and genuine romance. Reuters noted Lighton’s comedic touches—unscripted blunders that make the awkward positions laugh‑out‑loud real. The Hollywood Reporter confirmed a seven‑minute ovation, though some insiders quipped that Cannes standing‑ovation metrics are themselves an industry ritual ripe for critique.
We only needed to hear “sexually explicit content” between Skarsgård and Melling to catch our attention, but the reviews have further whet our appetite and also given us hope that there’s more to the film than raunchy sex.
Photo by Stephane Cardinale - Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images
While Pillion has burned rubber at Cannes, an official U.S. release date remains unannounced. Until A24 or ElementPictures drops the green light, we’ll have to edge out our excitement while we wait.
Whether you’re a seasoned kinkster or simply curious, Pillion delivers a full-throttle ride—complete with leather, chains, tears, laughs, and maybe a sob or two when Colin asks, “Do I really want to ride pillion forever?” At Cannes, the answer was a resounding yes.
Stay tuned for trailers, ratings info, and maybe a director’s cut featuring even more leather.
