The Most Iconic Hats in Film: When Headwear Becomes a Legend

Iconic Hats in Cinema That Made Film History

Throughout the history of cinema, certain accessories become almost as famous as the characters who wear them. Among these, hats hold a special place. They define an era, reveal a personality, and instantly shape a silhouette. From Hollywood classics to modern television series, hats have played a key role in storytelling and style.

Here is a curated look at the most iconic hats in film and television, and how they continue to influence fashion and popular culture today.

Indiana Jones’ Fedora: Adventure Starts Here

Few hats are as instantly recognizable as the one worn by Indiana Jones. This brown fedora, made iconic by Harrison Ford in the Indiana Jones saga, has become the ultimate symbol of adventure and exploration. It accompanies the archaeologist across deserts, temples, and forgotten ruins, reinforcing his rugged yet timeless style.

Most often seen with a safari brim (bending down in the front and back), Indiana Jones also wears a more classic fedora shape in Temple of Doom, similar to the Stetson Temple. That iconic silhouette can also be found in our Henri Henri handmade collection, crafted in Montreal using rabbit fur felt or wool.

Today, Indiana Jones’ fedora is far more than a costume accessory—it has transcended cinema to become a menswear essential. At Henri Henri, it represents a timeless classic for anyone looking to channel a spirit of adventure.

Learn more about this iconic hat here

Explore our Indiana Jones hat selection here

Borsalino: Italian Elegance from Film to Everyday Life

The Borsalino hat, famously associated with the film Borsalino starring Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo, has become synonymous with Italian elegance. Inspired by the classic fedora, this refined headpiece quickly established itself as a symbol of sophistication and cinematic style.

For hat enthusiasts, Borsalino is more than a brand—it represents a legacy deeply rooted in film history, evoking the golden age of film noir and auteur cinema.

Read more about The Great History of Borsalino: Tradition, Elegance and Cinema here

Discover all Borsalino hats here
 

Peaky Blinders: The Cap That Defines a Look

In the series Peaky Blinders, the newsboy (gavroche) cap is more than an accessory—it is an identity. Worn by Cillian Murphy as Thomas “Tommy” Shelby, it perfectly captures the gritty, industrial aesthetic of 1920s Birmingham. 

In the series, the gang famously hides razor blades inside their caps as a last line of defense. Beyond fiction, Peaky Blinders reignited global interest in vintage headwear, making the gatsby and newsboy cap a modern style staple worn far beyond the screen. 

The series also showcases: 

• Women’s cloche hats, worn by Ada Shelby (later Ada Thorne)
• Bowler hats worn by Inspector Chester Campbell
• Homburg hats, notably associated with Winston Churchill
• Classic flat caps and even top hats

Learn more about the caps seen in Peaky Blinders here, about the history of the cloche hat here and explore the best hats of the 1920s here.

Shop Peaky Blinders-inspired caps here, shop cloche hats here

The Western Hat: From Classic Cinema to Modern Style

Classic western films—and more recently, television series like Yellowstone—have brought the cowboy hat back into the spotlight. With its wide brim and commanding presence, the western hat symbolizes freedom, authority, and rugged character.

From spaghetti westerns like The Good, the Bad and the Ugly to modern interpretations, we see classic cowboy styles alongside outback and telescopic-crown hats (also known as pork pie crowns). Models such as the Royal Flush, Renegade Joker, Wild Bunch, and Barmah outback hats recall the iconic look of Clint Eastwood.

Yellowstone

The series Yellowstone has significantly revived interest in western fashion. John Dutton, portrayed by Kevin Costner, famously wears Stetson hats such as the Skyline, combining rustic strength with understated elegance. Want to know more? Read The impact of Yellowstone on western trends and fashion 

• Kayce Dutton favors premium outback styles similar to the Pawnee or Catera by Stetson
• Beth Dutton leans toward bold outback styles like the Firehole and Bozeman
• Rip Wheeler prefers classic western silhouettes such as the Lightning 4X
• Other characters wear styles comparable to those from Bailey

Westworld

The series Westworld showcases a wide range of western hats also available at Henri Henri. Notably, the Stetson Open Road worn by Dr. Robert Ford (Anthony Hopkins), as well as styles similar to the Woodrow, reminiscent of the hat worn by Teddy Flood (James Marsden).

Explore our cowboy and western hats here
Curious to learn more? Read our blogs:

• Does the color of a cowboy hat have meaning?
• Conquering the Wild West: The Evolution of the Cowboy Hat

Other Iconic Hats in Film History

Beyond fedoras and cowboy hats, many other styles have left their mark on cinema:

• Charlie Chaplin’s bowler hat, inseparable from his character and a symbol of silent film. Discover the difference between a bowler hat and a derby hat.

     Discover the difference between a derby and a bowler hat here

• The pork pie hat worn by Heisenberg in Breaking Bad

• Zorro’s bolero hat

• Sherlock Holmes’ deerstalker

• The Mad Hatter’s top hat
  Discover the origin of the expression and the rish history of the top hat

• The Homburg, as seen in The Godfather and famously worn by Winston Churchill

• Crocodile Dundee’s leather outback hat, similar to the Outback Crocodile

• The classic black fedora seen in The Blacklist, classic gangster films, and film noir cinema

Why Do These Hats Leave Such a Mark?

In cinema, a hat does more than complete an outfit—it defines a character. It becomes instantly recognizable, conveys personality, and shapes the visual language of a film or series. A great hat creates a memorable silhouette before a single word is spoken. These iconic hats are more often then not fedoras.

The Hat: More Than an Accessory

At Henri Henri, a Montreal hatter founded in 1932, we know that every hat tells a story—whether inspired by cinematic legends or modern trends. These iconic pieces continue to influence today’s fashion and remind us that headwear remains an essential element of personal style.

From Indiana Jones’ fedora to the elegance of Borsalino, the iconic caps of Peaky Blinders, the western hats revived by Yellowstone, and many more—each has left an indelible mark on cinema and popular culture.

Discover yours today at henrihenri.ca
Did we miss an iconic hat worthy of mention? Leave us a comment!

Explore our other blog articles here
Celebrity fan? Discover the famous figures who have visited Henri Henri here