Womanizer on the Big Screen – The Origin Story Retold
The story behind one of the most influential innovations in intimate wellness is coming to the big screen. ‘Pour le plaisir’, a French comedy-drama inspired by the origins of Womanizer, will be released in France, Belgium and Switzerland on May 6, 2026.
Directed by Reem Kherici and starring Alexandra Lamy and François Cluzet, the film is produced by Baxtory and Vendôme Films. It blends fiction with real-life inspiration to tell the story of an invention that helped reshape conversations around women’s pleasure.
The Real Story Behind the Innovation
The Womanizer story began in southern Germany, where Michael Lenke first read about the orgasm gap, the disparity in sexual satisfaction with only 65% of women regularly reaching orgasm during partnered sex compared to 95% of men. Motivated by this insight, he set out to rethink a category long dominated by traditional vibrating devices. Together with his wife Brigitte, who tested early prototypes, the couple developed a new approach to clitoral stimulation.
Launched in 2014, Womanizer introduced Pleasure Air Technology, a contactless stimulation method using gentle air pulses. The innovation offered a different sensory experience and quickly transformed the sexual wellness market and revolutionized female pleasure.
Beyond the product innovation, Womanizer contributed to a broader shift: opening up conversations around female pleasure and helping normalize sexual wellness as part of everyday life.
From Personal Story to Cultural Shift
At the heart of the movie ‚Pour le Plaisir‘ is a couple confronted with an unexpected truth: after 20 years of marriage, Fanny reveals she has never experienced an orgasm. Determined to change that, her husband Tom, an engineer, sets out to create a solution, sparking a journey that is as personal as it is transformative.
While fictionalized, the narrative draws clear inspiration from the real-life story of Michael and Brigitte Lenke, the German couple that invented the Womanizer in 2014. It also draws from real life experience of French women: In a representative survey, 60 % of French women have admitted that they have already faked an orgasm, 35% even do so occasionally or every time (Representative study conducted with Appinio in March 2024 with 1,000 participants in France).
A Story That Reflects a Wider Movement
By translating this original story to the screen, in a romantic comedy, ‘Pour le Plaisir’ reflects a wider societal shift. Increasing openness around intimacy and female pleasure has not only fueled innovation but has also changed societal conversations, empowering and encouraging women to explore their sexuality on their own terms.
