There are so many recognizable movie characters in film and television, and each is distinguished by a variety of features. Some are known for their unique personalities: think of Jack Sparrow (Pirates of the Caribbean), Jules Winnfield (Pulp Fiction), the Joker (Batman), Lisbeth Salander (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo), and many more. But there are also characters that are made even more recognizable by certain props we associate with them. It’s hard to imagine The Hunger Games‘ Katniss Everdeen without her bow and arrow, The Wizard of Oz‘s Dorothy without her ruby slippers, or Star Wars‘s jedis without their lightsabers, and the list goes on.
Glasses are a very useful tool for a film’s crew, and costume designers often use them as a means of defining a character’s personality with just their looks. Think of Maverick’s (Tom Cruise) Ray-Ban Aviators in Top Gun and how much they tell us so about the character, or the specific look Harry Potter’s round glasses give the young hero in the beloved franchise. You, too, can find plenty of glasses online that can help you shape your personality the way you want, whether you’re trying to make a fashion statement or boost your confidence as well as your vision.
If you’re looking for inspiration, we made a list of 5 iconic movie characters that are instantly recognizable because of their glasses! Find them all below in no particular order!
1. Miranda Priestly
The Devil Wears Prada
The Devil Wears Prada‘s Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) is mostly known for her iconic remarks, but the queen of passive aggressiveness also happens to sport a series of very stylish glasses. The film’ is about ‘s protagonist is actually Andy Sachs (Anne Hathaway), a young aspiring journalist who somehow manages to land a job at “Runway” magazine – an opportunity most fashion lovers would only dream to have – after getting rejected by more news-based outlets. But as Miranda’s intern, she soon finds out that there’s something to be learned at Runway too, and it’s not just basic fashion styles. With two fantastically written central characters, The Devil Wears Prada gives a thought-provoking look at identity that’s also, at the same time, an immensely entertaining ride.
As the fashion guru that she is, Miranda wears many different glasses in the movie. The ones you might remember the most are the oversized, cat-eye sunglasses she wears in the elevator, which you can see on the left, in the picture above. These gorgeous shades have gold rims and ombré lenses, and work both as a glamorous accessory and as a shield that protects her from the world while making her presence even more imposing. But just as iconic are her minimalist reading glasses, which are the opposite of flashy: thin-framed and with clear lenses, these simple shapes usually accompany Miranda’s iconic “That’s all” – a phrase she utters to her employees while giving them a very specific, judgemental look that these glasses make possible.
The Devil Wears Prada‘s costume designer is the legendary Patricia Field, and the movie features eyewear from Prada, Gucci, Versace, Paul Smith, and more. The sequel will see Meryl Streep in gorgeous Jimmy Choo shades and Emily Blunt’s character Emily in oval Dior glasses, with Stanley Tucci’s Nigel wearing Tom Ford once again.
2. Carl Fredricksen
Up
Ah, Pixar’s Up, one of the most heartwrenching movies ever made. This seemingly harmless animated film sees a 78-year-old widower attach balloons to his house to fulfill a lifelong dream he used to have with his wife: going to South America. But Carl happens to put his plan in motion at the worst possible time, as he accidentally brings an 8-year-old “Wilderness Explorer” named Russell with him. As the old, disillusioned man and the eager, enthusiastic child embark on this adventure – soon joined by a giant bird named Kevin and an adorable talking dog (Dug) with a short attention span – they eventually end up finding something else that they didn’t know they needed.
It’s no secret that Pixar excels at storytelling and characterization, and Up is considered by many one of the studio’s best movies: it’s no. 1 in our own top 10. Part of what makes Pixar so great is its attention to detail, and what they’ve done with Carl’s character development is truly extraordinary. Audiences have grown so attached to this grumpy animated character that a spin-off animated series Dug Days landed on Disney Plus a few years ago and immediately captured viewers too. Carl’s glasses are the prop that define him, having remained pretty much identical as he grew up, despite his different attitude to life. What matters, here, is the square shape, which reflect a rigid personality that struggles to think outside the box – at least, until Russell shows up.
3. Clark Kent
Superman
So many actors have portrayed this iconic superhero, from movie star Christopher Reeve in the 70s and 80s to Henry Cavill in the 2010s and 2020s, George Reeves and Tom Welling in various TV shows, and of course, David Corenswet in James Gunn’s Superman (2025). Throughout all these years, the question has remained the same: how is it possible that all it took for Superman to hide his identity was a pair of simple, thin, black-rimmed glasses with clear lenses? While James Gunn’s recent movie does provide an explanation, the most important aspect to consider is the look that these eyeglasses give young journalist Clark Kent. What matters, here, is for Clark Kent to look like the opposite of his larger than life, heroic alter-ego: Clark needs to be perceived as someone who’s harmless, mild-mannered, and even quite clumsy, at times, which means that he couldn’t possibly be secretly a superhero.
Throughout the years, Clark Kent’s glasses have retained most basic traits, but they’ve been slightly different. In 1978, Christopher Reeve wore generic oversized lenses that weren’t really identifiable by a specific brand, as they just needed to serve a specific purpose. This changed in later years: for example, Henry Cavill wore custom-made Tom Davies frames in Batman v Superman, and most recently, David Corenswet looked very stylish in Oliver Peoples’ “Nilos” black eyeglasses. Whether or not they would truly hide someone’s identity in real life, one thing is for sure: as a fashion statement, we absolutely approve.
4. Tony Stark
Avengers: Infinity War
Tony Stark (Rober Downey Jr.), a.k.a. Iron Man, has appeares in ten Marvel Cinematic Universe movies, and his glasses have evolved together with the character. In Iron Man (2008), audiences got to know him as a weapons company owner who realizes how dangerous his work is when he’s kidnapped by terrorists, and who decides to start fighting crime instead. Before this change of heart, when he was simply an immature, privileged billionaire, he wore Ray-Bans.
In later movies, we’ll see him wear the more refined “Initium All-In” (Iron Man 2), the thicker “Matsuda M3023” (Iron Man 3), the casual “Sant Marti Silhouette” (Spider-Man: Homecoming), until finally landing on his most recognizable look: that achieved by the a custom version of the “DITA Flight 006,” with light blue lenses, worn in Avengers: Infinity War.
Also known as the E.D.I.T.H. glasses, these spectacular lenses give Tony a futuristic look that foreshadow two very specific, life-altering trips he will take in Infinity War and Endgame. As well as making him stand out as the tech genius that he is, they are also a symbol of his powers as Iron Man, as they contain an advanced AI system that provide him with a series of tools that help him face his many enemies. These shades are so symbolic in the movie that a key moment in Spider-Man: Far From Home takes place when Tom Holland’s Spider-Man, to whom Tony used to be a mentor/father figure, starts wearing them in his absence, effectively inheriting the hero’s legacy. Not many can pull off this look, but if you’re one of those people, we say, why not?
5. Bob Ferguson
One Battle After Another
Paul Thomas Anderson’s Golden Globe-winning movie One Battle After Another has been captivating viewers ever since its release, mid-2025, with the tale of an ex-revolutionary who’s dragged into that world again when an old enemy of his missing wife comes after him and his daugther, Willa (Chase Infiniti). This sets father and daughter off on two very different, absurd journeys where they will come across a series of improbable yet highly fascinating characters… Until chaos unfolds.
As protagonist Bob Ferguson, Leonardo DiCaprio delivers another tour-de-force of a performance that once again highlight his skills as an actor. The movie excels on all levels: the acting is incredible from everyone, the production design is accurate and absorbing, the writing is superb, and the camerawork, editing, and sound design are, quite simply, flawless. But there’s another aspect that shouldn’t go overlooked, and that is the costume design, from the Oscar-winning Colleen Atwood.
When it comes to the look of Bob Ferguson, Atwood’s choices are spot-on: Bob has just left his house in a hurry, and having lived as a recluse for several years, it would make sense for him to be wearing a robe that has seen better days. But his sunglasses, which Bob picks up at a supermarket to disguise himself but eventually come to define his entire personality, are the brilliant touch the character needed. These black eyeglasses are massive and completely hide the character’s eyes, yet they still manage to look quite stylish due to their retro, rectangular design, reminiscent of the “Ferguson” style from Paul Smith. Together with the worn out robe, this creates a fascinating contrast that really defines Bob as a character.
The five movies listed above all give us characters that are immediately recognizable because of their glasses, which aren’t just a fashion statement but also a means of showing, not telling us about their personalities and quirks. For more examples, think of Neo, Trinity and Morpheus in The Matrix, Audrey Hepburn’s Holly in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Agent K/J in Men in Black, and Sex and the City‘s Aviators. Happy watching!