by Art Hemler
After all, this All-American eyewear company is among the industry’s trailblazers, as illustrated by the recent release of the Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses. Aside from featuring wearable designs with a built-in camera, microphone, and speakers, the newest iteration of the tech-enhanced eyewear incorporates Meta’s artificial intelligence for real-time responses.
But beyond impacting technology and eyewear, Ray-Ban is also influential in film and the broader popular culture. As a classic American brand that has been here since 1937, the timeless appeal of Ray-Ban sunglasses — now available via online retailer Sunglass Hut — remains embedded in the long history of Hollywood. From the signature shape of the Aviator to the ever-flattering Original Wayfarer, these iconic frames have helped characters in the following movies solidify their style and story through eyewear.
Golden Age: Rebel Without a Cause (1955)
With how effortlessly cool a character can look with a pair of Ray-Ban shades, there’s no doubt the eyewear first found its prominence in action movies. A decade after the Aviators were popularised among civilians looking to emulate military fashion, the Ray-Ban Wayfarer became a trademark of suave style after James Dean was seen wearing a pair in the 1955 Western romance, Rebel Without a Cause. Simply put, the Wayfarer’s classic frame shape was able to capture the youthful, rebellious spirit of Dean’s character, Jim.
’80s Blockbuster: Top Gun (1986)
Although Ray-Ban sunglasses slightly dipped in popularity throughout the ‘70s, the flashy ‘80s would see renewed interest in the classic eyewear. A significant part of the brand’s renaissance can be attributed to Tom Cruise, who rocked a pair of Aviators for his role as a fighter pilot in the hit military movie Top Gun (1986) — staying true to the Aviator’s roots as eyewear specially designed for the U.S. Army. When Tom Cruise reprised his role in the sequel Top Gun: Maverick in 2022, the Ray-Ban Aviator RB3025 frames were put back on the map, with sales going up since the film’s release.
Modern Teen Comedy: Easy A (2010)
Fast-forward to the 2010s, and Ray-Ban sunglasses are still symbolic of popular culture beyond top celebrities and musicians donning their respective pairs of bold, black shades. For instance, Emma Stone’s character, Olive Penderghast, wore a pair of the Original Wayfarer RB2140 in one of the most memorable moments in the teen comedy movie Easy A. Olive paired the bold Wayfarer with an equally striking corset, representing her transformation from a smart yet invisible student to someone with an infamous reputation.
21st Century Cinema: The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)
Lastly, Ray-Ban’s enduring legacy would showcase itself in one of the 21st century’s most critically acclaimed films, The Wolf of Wall Street directed by Martin Scorsese. As the film depicts the rise and fall of a young Wall Street stockbroker named Jordan Belfort, the Ray-Ban sunglasses appear twice as a symbol of his newfound wealth and power. Played by Leonardo DiCaprio, Jordan was seen wearing the light havana and brown pair of Boyfriend RB4147 in a scene with his wife, as well as the Wayfarer 2140 in black, in a later scene where he gets confronted on a yacht.
In essence, having characters from various points of film history wear various Ray-Ban frame styles not only showcases the sunglasses’ versatility in every genre and theme but, more importantly, reinforces Ray-Ban’s place in film and popular culture as a legacy eyewear brand.
