Facial hair can change someone’s appearance so drastically that you might not even recognize them. A mustache, a beard, ot a go-tee, can be the difference between knowing an actor and not having a clue as to who they are. It sounds dramatic, we know, but when an actor adds something you’re not used to, especially if they’re usually clean-shaven, it can be a shocking addition to their face.
Facial hair can dictate how they act as a character; they might base their personality around the stache or beard. It sounds funny, but it’s true. There have been many iconic characters that don extreme-looking mustaches, and in this list, we discuss the top 10. Let’s get into it.
10The Princess Bride (1987) - Manny Patinkin as Inigo Montoya
The Princess Brideis one of those movies that you might have watched as a kid, and it has stuck with you ever since. It’s a classic fantasy romance that has something for everyone, and one of the best characters is Inigo Montoya.The Princess Bridefollows two lovers, Westley and Buttercup, who have been separated and long to return to each other.This movie has several quotable lines, but one of the best comes from Inigo Montoya, when he says, “My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die.”
Why Inigo Montoya Has a Great Mustache
Since Inigo is a musketeer of sorts, it only makes sense that he has some pretty epic facial hair. Inigo’s mustache isn’t bushy or over-the-top, and it certainly doesn’t need to be. Perhaps it’s what you expect from a man who wields a sword and is out to avenge his father; a mustache that’s just memorable enough. Just because Inigo’s mustache doesn’t match the volume of other entries on this list, doesn’t mean it’s less iconic. We love the mustache because we love the character!
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9Tombstone (1993) - Kurt Russell as Wyatt Earp
In such a stacked cast that makes upTombstone, there were a few great mustaches that appeared inTombstone, but Wyatt Earp’s (Kurt Russell) takes the cake.Tombstoneis an iconic Western filmthat has everything you could possibly need in a movie like this; gun-slinging cowboys, dramatic zoom-ins, and insane shoot-outs. Wyatt Earp is looking to settle down after years of peacekeeping, but when he heads to the town of Tombstone, he realizes that he can’t hang up his badge just yet.
Why Wyatt Earp’s Mustache Makes the List
First of all, the mustaches in this movie are truly something to note, as not only Russell gets a sweet stache but also Val Kilmer, Sam Elliot and Bill Paxton. What a line-up! Wyatt Earp’s is the one that gets the spotlight in this list because of the sheer volume of it as well as the curl. This mustache provides more of a structure to Russell’s character as a cowboy who’s not afraid to whip his gun out. It’s a bit ridiculous, but also incredibly perfect for this western film.
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8Gangs of New York (2002) - Daniel Day-Lewis as Bill the Butcher
Gangs of New Yorkwas based on the novel of the same name by Herbert Asbury, and this Scorsese masterpiece was being prepared for twenty years before it was given to audiences. It follows New York in the mid-1800s when two rival gangs reach a boiling point, and Bill “The Butcher” Cutting comes out the victor. Years pass, and a man, Amsterdam (Leonardo DiCaprio), seeks revenge for his father that Billy killed, and the two become involved in a very strange relationship of sorts.
Gangs of New York
Why it Belongs Here
With a name like Bill “The Butcher” Cutting, you have to assume that he’s going to be a bad person, and honestly, that might be an understatement.Gangs of New Yorkhas a lot of great qualities, butDaniel-Day Lewistruly takes on a character that you can’t see yourself rooting for throughout the film. This meticulously styled mustache is perfectly shaped, with the ends thinning out, so they can perfectly curl up in an overly ominous way. If you picture him with any other type of mustache, or clean-shaven, the influence of his evil ways wouldn’t have the same effect.
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Related:10 Actors Who Played Movie Villains with Mustaches
7Up in Smoke (1978) - Cheech Marin as Pedro de Pacas
In this comedy film that features the iconic duo of Cheech and Chong, it establishes itself in the stoner genre and has become a cult classic after all these years.Up in Smokeis the first film that the two star in, even though they had a well-established comedy routine before it. Anthony Stoner is a burnout who’s on the verge of being sent to military school, heads out on his own and meets Pedro de Pacas. The two quickly become friends and fall into a hole of trouble and unbelievable stories.
What Makes it a Great Mustache?
Cheech and Chong are such a great pair, and for several decades they’ve pushed out great movies and comedy specials. Pedro (Cheech Marin) has a great mustache in this film, and it doesn’t resemble any of the other entries on this list. It’s in its own category of thickness but also not an overwhelming volume, which is perfect for his laid-back character. As the movie progresses, the two have more near-death experiences than you could imagine, and consume so many drugs that it would kill the average person.Up in Smokeis a classic stoner movie, and Pedro’s mustache makes it that much better.
6The Lorax (2012) - Danny DeVito as The Lorax
The only animated and non-human entry on this list belongs to the Lorax. If you may believe it,The Loraxis now a banned book because of its stance on protecting the environment, which is truly bizarre but sadly true. The Lorax follows a tale that explores what happens when a man chops all the trees down in one area, and profits from them. When trees start to fall, a being named The Lorax appears, and his mustache is almost as big as him.
Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax
Twelve-year-old Ted (Zac Efron) lives in a place virtually devoid of nature; no flowers or trees grow in the town of Thneedville. Ted would very much like to win the heart of Audrey (Taylor Swift), the girl of his dreams, but to do this, he must find that which she most desires: a Truffula tree. To get it, Ted delves into the story of the Lorax (Danny DeVito), once the gruff guardian of the forest, and the Once-ler (Ed Helms), who let greed overtake his respect for nature.
Why The Lorax Makes the List
When the Lorax is first summoned, the one feature that you might notice right away is his mustache. It’s huge, yellow, and honestly, very soft-looking. We can assume that his mustache is made of fur like the rest of him, but it looks far more silky than anything else. Voiced byDanny DeVito,The Loraxteaches an important lesson when it comes to protecting the Earth, and especially the trees.
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5Hook (1991) - Dustin Hoffman as Captain Hook
Long before the many live-action re-tellings ofPeter Panand his enemy Hook, the original animated version captivated its audiences. The concept of a magical island for Lost Boys to live freely was new and great. The action of the villain known as Captain Hook was the perfect addition to this tale. One of the best live-action movies revolving around this magical place,and there have been a lot,isHook.
Why Captain Hook Makes the List
Dustin Hoffmanportrays the iconic Hook,and his perfectly shaped mustache won’t have to do much convincing as to why it’s so great. Since the original animated version, Hook has always had a memorable mustache. Certain villains need that extra characteristic to highlight their evil qualities even more. Dustin Hoffman is so great as Hook because the transformation he went through was fantastic, so that, physically, it looks nothing like Hoffman. Of course, other qualities that go into his character, such as his huge wig, could throw the audience off, but the mustache really brings it all together.
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4Gone with the Wind (1939) - Clark Gable as Rhett Butler
Gone with the Windis considered one of the best films in history, even though it has racist undertones and false depictions of Black people.It’s regarded as a classic, and if you don’t know the basis of the movie, it’s much more intense than you might think. Scarlett O’Hara is a woman who lives on a plantation and finds herself in love with a man who doesn’t feel the same way, but catches the attention of a man named Rhett Butler. It’s a classic love-triangle that might be surprising for the year of 1939.
Why His Mustache Is Epic
Rhett’s mustache is similar to Inigo Montoya’s in the volume sense, since it’s a pencil mustache and quite thin. Rhett Butler is a rich man who’s quite sure of himself and suave, so this type of facial hair makes so much sense for his character. His style doesn’t change throughout the film, with his hair slicked back, and his mustache neatly trimmed, and it’s a great look. The film community has a deep love forGone With the Wind, and Rhett Butler is regarded as the best role thatClark Gabletook on.
3Duck Soup (1933) Groucho Marx as Rufus T. Firefly
In this classic black-and-white comedy,Duck Soupis a product of the Marx brothers, a comedy group that managed to make some of the most well-known films to date. Rufus T. Firefly is appointed to become the leader of Freedonia, a financially struggling nation that needs someone who isn’t Rufus to take over. While this is happening, Chicolini and Pinky try to dig up dirt on Rufus in order to take him down as leader.
Why Rufus T. Firefly Makes the List
Duck Soupis famous for many things, but possibly one of the biggest things that people remember from this movie is Firefly’s mustache. His eyebrows are also something to note because, wow, they’re huge, and the mustache plays right into that. It’s like his upper lip doesn’t even exist because of the furry caterpillar taking up the space under his nose. It’s a mess of a musical comedy that is quite chaotic, but there’s something genuine about this film.
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Related:Every Marx Brothers Movie, Ranked
2Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004) - Will Ferrell as Ron Burgundy
In this satire-comedy film that’s mostly raunchy humor, it focuses on the ’70s and the love for Action News. Will Ferrell takes on the role of Ron Burgundy, a famous news anchor who works at a station with a group of his childhood friends. When a newcomer arrives, the group feels threatened because not only are they new, but also because she’s a woman. Veronica Corningstone is an esteemed reporter but gets mixed up in Ron’s nonsense before it blows up into an all-out rivalry.
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
What Makes it Great
Ron Burgundy is one ofWill Ferrell’s most notable roles, and it’s genuinely because of the mustache. TheAnchormanfranchise delves deep into the craze that came out of Action News in the 1970s, and the make-up department really did great for the characters. Ron Burgundy is sleazy and just creepy enough that this type of mustache works really well and sells the personality Ferrell is selling.
1The Big Lebowski (1998) - Sam Elliot as The Stranger
In this well-known comedy, a series of mishaps take place and result in one of the bestcult classics that’s beloved by so many people.The Big Lebowskifollows a burnout named Jeffrey “The Dude” Lebowski and how he’s attacked for having the same name as a millionaire. From there, The Dude is wrapped up in circumstances that involve the real Lebowski, and one event after the other is hard to believe. This film has a myriad of eccentric characters, and one of the most notable is “The Stranger”, portrayed bySam Elliott.
Why It’s the Best Mustache on This List
Sam Elliott, in this film, has the most iconic handlebar mustache in film history. The fact that it’s completely gray is one thing, but also the fact that it’s not thin at all, really makes it even better. The Stranger is one of Elliot’s more notable roles in his film history, with the way he speaks and interacts with The Dude. His mustache is the first thing you notice when it comes to his character, and really, what else should you look at?
