Unlock the Hidden Cinematic Gems That Capture Giorgio Armani’s Untold Legacy—You Won’t Believe #4!

Is there ever gonna be another Giorgio Armani? I’ll tell you straight up—no chance. This guy wasn’t just putting men in suits; he was crafting armor that defined an era and set the gold standard for style that even the most avant-garde designers can’t shake off. Every man deep down, whether they admit it or not, harbors that quiet dream to slip into an Armani suit and own the room. It’s not about the label slapped on the inside—it’s about the way those strong shoulders and that sleek, draped V-shape command respect without uttering a single word. Armani’s empire wasn’t built overnight; it thrived in the heart of America’s glitziest stages and became the uniform of our biggest stars. But here’s the kicker—an Armani suit doesn’t fully come to life in still photographs or Instagram posts. You gotta see it in motion, where the fabric flows, dances, and tells a story. Lucky for us, Mr. Armani’s fingerprints are all over some legendary films—from Scorsese’s gritty classics like Casino and Goodfellas to Nolan’s suave Batman trilogy. So, if you wanna pay homage the right way, dust off your Armani threads this weekend — but better yet, clear out a day for an Armani movie marathon, and witness firsthand how this maestro dressed some of the most iconic characters ever to hit the silver screen. LEARN MORE

There’s never going to be another Giorgio Armani. Time will ultimately tell, but I think he’s one of the most influential people men’s fashion has ever seen and will ever see. I think every man deep down just wants to wear an Armani suit. Even as men’s fashion gets more conceptual, that strong shoulder and flatteringly draped V shape will never go out of style. Mr. Armani’s empire thrived in America, and the brand became synonymous with our stars.

Sure, you can spend today looking up those old red-carpet pictures and posting them to Instagram, but an Armani suit is all about the way it drapes, moves, and flows. That, dear reader, can be observed only with the moving image. Thankfully, Mr. Armani has a catalog of credits, official and otherwise. He did costumes for the Scorsese movies I grew up on, like Casino, Goodfellas, and The Wolf of Wall Street. In Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies, he created the suits for Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne. In Inglourious Basterds, Brad Pitt’s Lieutenant Aldo Raine dons an Armani-designed tux and a nonexistent Italian accent when posing as a famous Italian stuntman.

To honor Mr. Armani, yes, wear your Armani suit this weekend; smoke ’em if you got ’em. But I think the best thing to do is clear out one of your days and go on an Armani movie binge. To get you started, here’s a list of Esquire’s favorite picks in which he had a proper credit, made clothes, or was heavily involved in the process of outfitting a cast member.

1. The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012)

Starting with the second of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy, Armani was the suit maker for Christian Bale’s Bruce Wayne.

2. Goodfellas (1990)

Releasing the same year as Martin Scorsese’s documentary on Armani’s process—Made in Milan, which is available on YouTube these days—Goodfellas kicked off a fruitful partnership between the pair.

3. Casino (1995)

In Casino, Robert De Niro’s Ace Rothstein wears an absurd amount of suits, something like 70 outfits. A good chunk of them are from Armani.

4. The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)

Jordan Belfort’s rise to wealth happens as Wall Street has already become obsessed with Armani suits. Though the contrast collars Leonard DiCaprio sports later in the film aren’t every guy’s cup of tea, the one pictured above is the epitome of the era’s Armani look.

5. American Gigolo (1980)

Armani’s first Hollywood credit, American Gigolo—specifically Richard Gere as Julian Kaye—helped cement the designer’s vision in the American consciousness.

6. Inglourious Basterds (2009)

A small Armani cameo but a big one. The brand created a tuxedo for Lieutenant Aldo Raine’s plot to group-assassinate Nazi officers. He’s posing as a famous Italian stuntman, so the big lapels and padded shoulders would give him away as a man of means. Though the accent gives him away as obviously not Italian.

7. The Social Network (2010)

To stay true to the taste of Sean Parker, Facebook’s first president, Justin Timberlake is outfitted in Armani suits throughout the movie.

8. The Untouchables (1987)

To close out the list, we’ve got Brian de Palma’s Chicago mob classic. It’s period-correct tailoring, but coincidentally a lot of what was popular in the 1930s—big shoulders, lower gorge on the lapel—became staples of Armani’s practice.