You probably know Mila Kunis from That '70s Show or maybe as the voice of Meg Griffin. If you’re a film nerd, Black Swan is usually the first thing that pops into your head. But there’s this weird, experimental indie movie from 2007 called After Sex that basically everyone has scrubbed from their memory. It’s not a masterpiece. Honestly, it’s kinda messy. But it captures a very specific moment in Mila’s career right before she became a massive A-list movie star.
She plays a character named Nikki. In the film, Nikki is in this sort of casual, semi-confusing sexual relationship with Kat, played by Zoe Saldaña. Yeah, you read that right—Meg Griffin and Gamora in an indie drama about intimacy.
Why After Sex Still Matters for Mila's Career
The movie is structured as a series of vignettes. It’s basically just eight or nine different couples lying in bed or sitting around talking immediately after they’ve finished doing the deed. There’s no real "plot" in the traditional sense. It’s just dialogue. Some of it is witty; some of it is incredibly cringey.
Kunis was only about 23 when she filmed this. At that point, she was trying to shed the "Jackie Burkhart" image. She wanted to prove she could handle R-rated, "grown-up" conversations. In her scenes, she’s abrasive. She’s blunt. She asks her partner if "it tastes like potatoes." It's weird, but it was a deliberate choice to move away from the sitcom lighting of her teens.
The Dynamic With Zoe Saldaña
Watching it now in 2026, the chemistry between Kunis and Saldaña is the only reason people still hunt down the DVD on eBay. They play two college roommates. Nikki (Kunis) is the one insisting she’s not a lesbian, while Kat (Saldaña) is clearly catching feelings.
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They argue in a library. They lounge in bed. It’s a very "early 2000s indie" vibe—lots of hand-held camera work and raw, unpolished dialogue. Critics at the time weren't exactly kind. Many felt the movie played too much into male fantasies, especially the Nikki and Kat storyline. Yet, for Kunis, it was a stepping stone. It was one of the first times we saw her play someone who wasn't meant to be "likable" in a traditional way.
What Really Happened with the Critical Reception
The film currently sits with pretty mediocre ratings on most platforms. We're talking 5.0 on IMDb and a lot of "meh" reviews from people who expected a romantic comedy and got a talky, existential drama instead.
- The Script: Written and directed by Eric Amadio.
- The Cast: Surprisingly stacked. Beside Mila and Zoe, you've got Jane Seymour, Taryn Manning, and Dave Franco.
- The Tone: It tries to be Before Sunrise but ends up feeling more like a student film with a huge budget.
People often confuse this movie with the sex scene in Black Swan. It’s a common mix-up. In Black Swan, Kunis and Natalie Portman had that very famous, very high-stress scene that Kunis later described in interviews as "uncomfortable" and "bizarre" to film because they were close friends. After Sex is a completely different animal. It’s lower stakes, more conversational, and much more about the "post-coital clarity" (or lack thereof).
Misconceptions About the Movie
One major misconception is that this was some kind of "breakout" role. It wasn't. It was an ensemble piece that most people didn't see until years later when they started Googling the cast.
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Another thing? People think it’s a "lost" film. It’s not. You can actually find the whole thing on YouTube or rent it on Amazon if you’re curious enough. It’s just that it never had a massive theatrical push, so it exists in this weird digital limbo.
The Evolution from Indie to Blockbuster
Shortly after this, Kunis landed Forgetting Sarah Marshall in 2008. That was the real game-changer. Suddenly, she wasn't just "the girl from the indie movie about sex"—she was a leading lady in a Judd Apatow-produced hit.
If you watch After Sex now, you can see her testing out the dry, sarcastic delivery that would eventually make her famous in Friends with Benefits. She’s got that same gravelly voice and "I don't care" attitude, but without the polished Hollywood sheen. It’s Mila in the raw.
Actionable Takeaways for Film Fans
If you're planning to revisit this era of Mila Kunis’s filmography, here’s how to do it right:
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Check the Context
Don't go in expecting a plot. It’s an anthology. If you don't like one couple, wait ten minutes; the movie will switch to a different pair of actors.
Look for the Dave Franco Cameo
A very young Dave Franco pops up in one of the vignettes. It’s a "blink and you'll miss it" moment for fans of the Franco brothers.
Compare it to Friends with Benefits
If you want to see how much Mila grew as an actor, watch After Sex and then immediately put on Friends with Benefits. The difference in timing and confidence is massive.
Skip the "Director's Cut" Rumors
There are often "Unseen Director's Cut" clips floating around Reddit. Most of these are just the standard library or bedroom scenes from the movie that have been re-uploaded with clickbait titles. The standard version you find on streaming is the complete experience.
Instead of looking for a traditional narrative, treat it like a time capsule of 2007 indie cinema. It's a reminder that even the biggest stars had to start with experimental, sometimes awkward projects before they found their lane.
Next Steps for Your Movie Night
- Locate the film on a streaming service like Amazon or Tubi.
- Focus on the Kunis/Saldaña segment if you want the "expert" performance highlights.
- Pay attention to the dialogue—it's meant to be hyper-realistic, for better or worse.