Best Cigar Smoking Moments in Movies

While it is now increasingly uncommon to see depictions of smoking on-screen, back in the golden age of Hollywood, it was rarer to see a movie where the main characters weren’t smoking! Cigars have long been associated with wealth and power, so to see them on the big screen instantly makes the character’s status recognisable. Cigar culture has been integral to some films, adding drama and sophistication to the films that include them. We take a look at some of the top movies featuring awesome cigar scenes, that are best enjoyed with a cigar of your own in hand!  

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966) 

One of the coolest cigar-smoking characters on screen, Clint Eastwood starred as The Man With No Name in the iconic Spaghetti Western trilogy that included A Fistful of Dollars, For a Few Dollars More and The Good, The Bad and The Ugly. Often seen with a skinny cigar between his lips, The Man With No Name exuded mystery and power, enhanced by his smoke. One of the most iconic scenes in the trilogy is the ‘Mexican Standoff’ in The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. Eastwood’s character spends the duration of this tense scene with a cigar resting in his mouth, and it doesn’t even drop as he shoots the films’ antagonist! While Eastwood himself does not smoke cigars, this role has led him to become an iconic face for cigars.  

Scarface (1983) 

One of Pacino’s most iconic roles, the acclaimed mob crime drama Scarface follows Tony Montana’s rise to the top of the drug world. From Cuban refugee to drug kingpin, Montana develops a taste for the finer things in life, and cigars are very much included in this. There are many incredible scenes featuring cigars in Scarface, with Tony Montana frequently depicted puffing away on a stogie. Not straying from his roots, Cuban cigars appear to be Tony’s go-to throughout the film. Cigars are undoubtedly used as a sign of status in Scarface, with theses smokes a great way of representing his growing power and dominance.  

Hellboy (2004) 

Based on the graphic novel of the same name, Hellboy is about a demon summoned to Earth by the Nazis, who is instead taken in by Allies and raised to be a superhero. With a focus on fighting the paranormal, Hellboy’s beastly appearance is rarely questioned. The character of Hellboy is often seen with a short and stout cigar, which he is taught how to properly light in this scene.  

Independence Day (1996) 

Starring Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum as a dynamic duo saving the world from an alien attack, Independence Day features plenty of cigars throughout the film, as well as aliens! Will Smith’s character Captain Hiller always has a stogie to hand, ready to light up at moments of celebration. One of the best cigar moments in the films comes when Hiller takes down an alien craft and marks the victory with a Bering Imperial cigar. At the end of the film, Hiller and David each smoke a cigar in celebration of their impending victory; we think they deserved it, considering they saved the world!  

The Wolverine (2013) 

Hugh Jackman has portrayed the clawed comic-book mutant a total of nine times, with the 2013 movie The Wolverine being one of his solo films as the character. The Wolverine is often spotted with a cigar in hand, and as Jackman is partial to a cigar in real life too, we don’t think he minds having to smoke on screen! In this incredible cigar smoking scene, we see The Wolverine take down a group of baddies with a big explosion, before using the flames to ignite his cigar!  

Can you think of any other incredible moments in films involving cigars?