Top 10 Shades Wearing Characters in Movies and TV

After finding a pair of mysterious sunglasses that expose a secret alien plot, drifter John Nada goes on a crusade to inform the world of their mental slavery. Sporting the mystifying sunglasses as a way to view the aliens in their true form, Nada’s shade style wasn’t only functional, but also made him look pretty damn bad-ass at the same time. Decades later, this sci-fi horror flick remains memorable not only for the quirkiness of its plot, but also for the way its hero rocked his signature shades.

This quiet and mild-mannered hit man delivered an unforgettable look with his signature circular sunglasses in this Luc Besson thriller. Actor Jean Reno managed to pull off the look with ease; the soft-edged frames hid his loneliness while providing a subtle “bulls-eye” symbolism that was both intimidating and sophisticated. The murderer for hire and his young sidekick are the perfect combination of strength and weakness, with Mathilda making being a hitman hip without sacrificing the realities of the profession’s darker side.

While Tom Cruise is no stranger to wearing shades – see his breakthrough role in the rom-com “Risky Business” – it’s the Ray-Ban Aviators he wore as Maverick in the action drama “Top Gun” that’s ascended the ranks of them all. While he never wore them while soaring through the air, there’s no denying the sunglasses embodied the definition of cool ‘80s confidence and machismo while he was off the runway. While Ray-Ban experienced a jump in sales, the shades also created an iconic look that we still associate with the film to this day.

Steve McQueen didn’t need a pair of shades to make him the coolest mutha f*cka in the room, but by golly if they didn’t help in this 1968 crime film. As the millionaire mastermind behind a bank robbery arranged out of boredom, Thomas Crown manages to pull off the crime with ease - and all while sporting a pair of awesome sunglasses and smooth style that not even an extra 2 million could buy.

Blade is a half vampire hybrid, which means he doesn’t actually need his shades to protect himself from the sunlight. So these sunglasses are all for the sake of looking like a total bad ass. And we’re not complaining! Whether he is slaying his enemies with powerful martial arts maneuvers or just delivering plot-driven dialogue, Blade’s signature Oakleys are an essential accessory to maintain his tough exterior that he sports everywhere he goes… he even wears them in the dark. How’s that for a style commitment?!

You know ‘em. You love ‘em. This suit-wearing duo remains one of the most well-recognized shades-wearing characters of all time. From rocking out with James Brown in a church to embarking on a “mission from God” to save their childhood orphanage and evading the police on a car chase under the cover of night, these music-loving brothers never take off their sunglasses or their cool demeanor – taking us all on a rockin’ journey of comedic hilarity in the process.

While most of the characters on this countdown sported sunglasses for the sake of fashion, this Florida detective used his shades for dramatic effect. As probably the most amazing crime solver Miami has ever seen, Horatio Caine embodies the too-cool-for-school detective persona to a T with his often-imitated tendency of taking off and putting on his ‘Shades of Justice’ to coincide with both dramatic pauses and musical cues. His Silhouette Titan Minimal Art Model frames have become almost as infamous as his character, giving him both confidence and a clever way to beat the Miami heat.

While shades-wearing characters were plentiful in this sci-fi action flick, Morpheus outshone as the leader of a gang of rebels on a mission to free his fellow humans from the Matrix. As both mentor and teacher to reluctant hero Neo, the Nebuchadnezzar captain’s iconic look of frame-less sunglasses was so much the epitome of cool confidence and utterly unique style that there were few who didn’t want to sport a pair of their very own.

It wasn’t only Arnold Schwarzenegger’s muscles that made him an intimidating foe in this sci-fi action movie. The sunglasses he sports throughout “The Terminator” add to the cold robotic nature of his cyborg mentality. By eliminating any shred of human emotion through lack of eye contact, his threatening appearance when rocking these shades became a signature look he would continue to sport throughout the franchise.

Before we reveal our #1 spot, here are some honorable mentions:
- Scott Summers / Cyclops
“X-Men” franchise (2000-)
- Dolores ‘Lolita’ Haze
“Lolita” (1962)
- Holly Golightly / Lula Mae Barnes
“Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1961)
- SFPD Homicide Inspector Harry Callahan
“Dirty Harry” franchise (1971-83)
- Sonny Crockett
“Miami Vice” (1984-89)

Armed with cunning wit, playful sarcasm, and lightning-fast instincts, Agent J is the coolest MIB this secret agency has ever seen. With his feisty personality being the perfect complement to partner Agent K’s sterile straight-man demeanor, he made their trademark sunglasses more than just a necessary fashion accessory to protect them from having their memories erased; instead, he rocked them with such style they’re now iconic. They’ve also helped him and his fellow Man in Black continue to intimidate extra-terrestrials throughout the universe as well as ensured the comic sci-fi franchise a place in pop culture history.

Do you agree with our list? Which shades-wearing characters do you think are awesome? For more entertaining top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.