Here at GQ we talk a lot about the importance of the right watch for the right man at the right time. And you only need to look at the painstaking efforts made in movies to match timepieces to character—and the appalling results when they are misaligned—to confirm the importance of such.

Watches on-screen are more than just clues for tapped-in watch guys. Even for the most casual of watch fans, it’s easy to gravitate towards a sparkling piece of eye candy when it’s flashed on our screens. After all, nothing is accidental when it comes to getting the perfect shot. So when you see a watch, best believe you were supposed to.

Consider the case of James Bond. His watch in the first ever Dr. No was a Rolex ‘Submariner’ on a striped canvas strap. This appeared at a time when NATO straps were largely only the preserve of soldiers, changing the way collectors perceived a band style once thought of as too casual. And it was proof that a lot of thought went into watches on film long before marketers and brands discovered the power of product-placement and brand alignment.

Sean Connery’s wrist watch, in a movie of this vintage, spoke of Bond’s style and personality – the non-OEM (in-house) strap says that he’s an individual; the military reference delivering a glimpse of the classic Bond pedigree. That it was a Rolex, meanwhile, only confirmed his requirement for the best of everything.

A more recent and cautionary tale came into view with Argo, where Ben Affleck sported a Rolex ‘Deepsea Sea-Dweller’. Problem being that the film was set in 1980 and the Deepsea Sea-Dweller was introduced in 2008. But it’s a great watch, so we’re happy to let it slide. 

Here, from the classic in American Psycho, to special editions, released only for the movie, here are the most iconic watches ever featured on-screen. 

Image credits: Lionsgate, Rolex

American Psycho - Rolex Datejust Two-Tone

Even though Christian Bale plays a psychotic murderer in American Psycho, the Patrick Batemen he plays does have some style. The watch chosen was the embodiment of the American stockbroker at the time, and arguably still today, the Rolex Datejust, with its tapestry dial and jubilee bracelet, collectors refer to this watch as the ‘American Psycho Rolex’ still, in a macabre twist.

Image credits: Sony Pictures, Omega

Casino Royale - Omega Seamaster Professional 300M 

Only Daniel Craig’s James Bond could pull off a dive watch with a sharp tuxedo. Of course, when you’re undercover, multiple watches probably aren’t at the top of your packing list. But nevertheless, this iconic watch was worn during the famous gambling scene. The dial even matches Craig’s eyes.

Image credits: Paramount Pictures, Porsche

Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick - Porsche Design Chronograph One

Despite actually being designed for motor racing, rather than flying fighter jets, the Porsche Design Chronograph One is the watch of choice for Tom Cruise’s Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. Regardless of its intended use, the all-black, sleek design is no-frills and stealthy.

Image credits: Paramount Pictures, Rolex

Wolf of Wall Street - Rolex Cosmograph Daytona

When the money starts rolling in for Jordan Belfort and his team, spending gets a little… discretionary, shall we say. We all know the scene when Belfort’s father calls out DiCaprio and Jonah Hill for their expenses. And to solidify Hill’s character’s newfound wealth, he was kitted out in a shiny, yellow-gold Rolex Daytona. The embodiment of extravagant excess that Wall Street was built on. Classy.

Image credits: Netflix, Tag Heuer

The Gray Man - Tag Heuer Carrera

Ryan Gosling and Tag Heuer, it’s a partnership for the ages. In his spy movie, the Gos wore one of his favourite models. Although he’s more inclined to wear it these days for red carpet affairs, it looked like it handled itself pretty well for undercover missions.

Image credits: Universal Pictures, Omega

Apollo 13 - Omega Speedmaster

There was never a watch more adept to supporting Tom Hanks’s Jim Lovell through a failing space mission than Omega’s Speedmaster—after all, the timepiece was worn by the actual Apollo 11 astronauts during their history-making moon landing, and has subsequently been part of several further moon landings since, so Hanks’s brandishing of the iconic watch only made sense.

Image credits: Sony Pictures, Citizen

Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood - Vintage Citizen 8110A Automatic Bullhead

Brad Pitt’s effortlessly cool Cliff Booth has a snazzy watch to match. Designed by Japanese watchmaker Citizen, this vintage number swaps the traditional band for a wraparound leather one that the watch sits flush in. One that will sit tight during the harshest stunts.

Image credits: 20th Century Studios, Cartier

Die Hard - Cartier Tank

Originally, Alan Rickman’s Hans Gruber was supposed to be clad in military garb fit for an international criminal. But, Rickman himself suggested to the director a change in garb would add to his distinguished villain, and it worked. And of course, he needed a classy watch to go with the business look, and he chose well.

Image credits: Cinema Center Films, Tag Heuer

Le Mans - Tag Heuer Monaco

Not only does the Heuer Monaco brandish the same blue, white and red colourway as the Le Mans team racing suit, the timepiece’s carbon black calfskin leather wrist strap’s resemblance to a racetrack asphalt made it an obvious addition to McQueen’s costuming. What other watch would get Michael Delaney through the “Grand Prix of Endurance and Efficiency” than the groundbreakingly efficient chronograph?

Image credits: Universal Pictures. Omega

Scarface - Omega La Magique

There’s no shortage of decadence in Scarface, and the watch Tony Montana wears is a lowkey collector’s gem. It’s a demure, and very rare, Omega La Magique, perfect for keeping the time, and seeing when your drugs will arrive. Or whatever else a drug kingpin needs the time for.

Image credits: A24 Pictures, Rolex

Uncut Gems - Rolex Day Date

Howard Ratner (played by Adam Sandler) certainly has an interesting way of living his life. The scummy gambling addict jeweller wears one hell of a watch during the film—most of the time. The most iconic, and representative of his sleazy character, is the iced-out Rolex Day-Date. Similar to the one pictured above, it’s got a blood-red dial, and diamonds on almost every inch of it.

Image credits: Hamilton

Blue Hawaii - Hamilton Ventura

Wherever you stand on Elvis Presley’s ability to act, at least his watch game didn’t miss during his foray into the movie industry. Presley wore an iconic piece of watch design, the Hamilton Ventura, that embodies the ’50s, Mid Century Modern aesthetic. Hamilton’s watches also appeared in the Men In Black franchise decades later, showing the timelessness of its design.

Image credits: Warner Bros., Casio

American Sniper - Casio ‘G-Shock DW-660’

This has nothing to do with promo and everything to do with a prop master making a call on the kind of watch a real-life sniper would choose for combat—precise, reliable and robust. Not to mention digital and quartz-powered, to resist the raucous jolting of a weapon tightly held in a gunman’s grasp. Mechanical watches would not take too kindly to that kind of treatment.

Image credits: Netflix, Rolex

Marriage Story - Rolex Oyster Perpetual

Adam Driver actually wore his own watch during this film, a very simple, very classy Rolex with a shiny blue dial. Exactly the watch a moderately successful playwright would wear.

Image credits: 20th Century Studios, Rolex

Gone Girl - Rolex GMT Master II

There’s something inherently ‘correct’ about Ben Affleck’s confused, and confusing, character in Gone Girl, wearing a dressed-down Rolex ‘Pepsi’ (after the blue and red bezel) GMT Master II. It has him acting his wage as a writer of some sort, and this reminds us that at one point, he could afford a Rolex. Plus, it atones for that infamous continuity error in Argo.

Image credits: Sony Pictures, Hamilton

Money Monster - Omega Speedmaster Professional 18k Gold

George Clooney plays the flamboyant financial expert Lee Gates in this film, dishing out endorsements to his watchers. So of course, he’s got a pretty flash watch to back up his claims. Solid gold ought to do the trick.

Image credits: Paramount Pictures, Tissot

Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation - Tissot ‘T-Touch Expert Solar’

The world’s first solar powered touch screen watch, the Tissot ‘T-Touch Expert Solar’ provides a seriously techy bang for your buck with an altimeter (showing your altitude reading), compass and meteorological functions. All, of course, are very well suited to the MI franchise, where these things might have some bearing on living through the movie.

Image credits: Zoetrope Studios, Seiko

Apocalypse Now - Seiko 6105

There’s nothing more off putting than an anachronistic accessory in a period-specific film. So when it came to outfitting Captain Willard in the 1979 war film, Apocalypse Now, wardrobe looked to Seiko’s 6105 watch. Said to be a popular choice for troops during the Vietnam war due to their availability at post exchances on army bases, the iconic model was said to have weathered war so well that it made it back to the US on the wrists of returning soldiers.

Image credits: Universal Pictures, Casio

Back To The Future 2 – Casio ‘CA-53W’

If there was anything more quintessentially 80s than a DMC Delorean or high-top Nike’s, it was the Casio CA-53W watch, perhaps more commonly referred to as the calculator watch. What better to slip on the wrist of time-travelling Marty McFly than a watch ahead of its time?

Image credits: Warner Bros. Jaeger-LeCoultre

Batman Begins – Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso

When it comes to striking the balance between unsuspecting and sleek, Jaeger-LeCoultre’s Reverso Grande Taille is unparalleled, and in turn, the obvious choice for the caped crusader. Perhaps it was the model’s flippable face—a nod to Bruce Wayne’s dual persona—or the watchmaker’s Batman heritage, but Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso ensured its appearance in all three of Christian Bale’s films, even creating a custom piece for the character featuring the bat symbol for The Dark Knight Rises.