The Hottest Hats From Australian Movies And Beyond

Any costume designer will tell you that a great hat can be an essential part of creating a memorable character. Some of the most iconic characters in movie history have worn a unique headpiece that sets them apart from the rest. A character can go down in history when paired with the right hat, just look at Sherlock Holmes or the Blues Brothers. Perhaps all you need to stand out for the crown is your own signature head gear? Lets explore some of the best movie hats of from Australian cinema and beyond, and look at how you can create the look yourself with Akubra hats:

Indiana Jones and The Raiders of The Lost Ark (1981)

I thought we would start off with a real classic. The second Harrison Ford walked onto the big screen in the iconic opening moments of The Raiders of the Lost Ark, he cut a powerful silhouette against the mountainous Malaysian jungle in his stylish fedora and leather bomber jacket. Less than 10 minutes later we were watching Indy dodging flying ancient arrows and narrowly escaping a giant rolling boulder all while keeping his composure, and his hat, firmly in place. And that was it. We were hooked. Indiana Jones has become one of the most famous and instantly recognisable characters in movie history, and it’s all due to that hat. Can you imagine Indy single handedly undermining Nazi intelligence in his leather jacket and, say, a trucker cap? No, I didn’t think so.

Get the look:  The Akubra Adventurer is a fedora produced in the style of the classic Indiana Jones Fedora. This is an incredibly stylish hat looks great on both men and women, and can be worn on all your adventure wether they be in far away foreign lands or your backyard urban jungles.

Casablanca (1942)

In the famous airport scene in Casablanca, Humphrey Bogart delivers in two minutes some of the most iconic movie lines of all time. Dressed in his trench coat and classic fedora, Bogart tells a misty eyed Ingrid Bergman “We’ll always have Paris”. This particular outfit would go down in history to be what Bogart is most remembered in, despite starring in more than 80 movies. We cant say for sure if this is entirely due to his exquisite fedora, but it cannot be argued that it’s a legendary hat.

Get the look: The Stylemaster is Akubra’s best selling fedora, and for good reason. This hat lives up to its name, exuding the charm of a bygone era with elegance and authority. Passing up on adding the Sylemaster to your hat collection is something you could live to regret. Maybe not today, maybe not tomorrow, but soon and for the rest of your life. In a wide range of colours to match your existing wardrobe, the Stylemaster will have you saying “Here’s looking at you, kid” in no time.

Mystery Road (2013)

Aaron Pederson stars as brooding Indigenous detective Jay Swan in this critically acclaimed Australian western crime movie. Pederson’s character is a one-man line of defence in his outback town, battling crooked cops and local drug dealers in his rather stunning customised white cowboy hat. The oversized hat renders Officer Swan as instantly recognisable character in the films sequel, “Goldstone” and television series that followed the hit movie.

Get the look: The hat Jay Swan wears in Mystery Road bears a striking resemblance to the Bronco, a member of Akubra’s family of Western Hats. Available in stunning Quartz colour with an almost identical band, the Bronco delivers Australian Western style with a twist. The only thing missing is the black pattern the appears on Jay Swan’s hat. If you really wanted to, you could add in your own with a sharpie, but we recon the Bronco is perfect just as it is.

The Man From Snowy River (1982)

Not many Australians will forget the feels we all got when we first watched Tom Burlinson battling for his honour against a ranch-load of unjust, brawny station hands who blame him for the loss of a prized horse, winning the hand of the station owners daughter, played by Sigrid Thornton, in the process. The films location, in the stunning High Country reigion of Victoria was as much of a main character of the film as were the young lovers, as the magic of this indescribably beautiful area of Australia amplified the romance of this epic exponentially. This was the film that made us all want to run away to the High Country and become a stockman, and some of us probably did.

Get the look: The Man From Snowy River is one of the most iconic films in Australian history and Akubra have commemorated this with the Snowy River hat, modelled after Burlinson’s khaki green hat with the braided leather band. The hat band itself has become a bit more refined over time but the Snowy River still has all of the elements that make it the epitome of a true Australian style western hat.

The Quick And The Dead (1995)

In this dark, modern Western, a mysterious young woman, bad ass cowgirl “The Lady” played by Sharon Stone, rides into the lawless town of Redemption to settle an old score that has haunted her since she was a child. She becomes swept up in a deadly quick-draw tournament and, in order to win her revenge, must compete in a contest in which gunslingers from all over put their lives on the line for fame and fortune. The Lady wins the contest in epic style, killing the man who killed her father, proving that a cowgirl can hold her own in a mans world.

Get the look: A bad-ass cowgirl needs herself a bad-ass hat. Almost identical to Stone’s sexy headgear in The Quick And The Dead, even down to the black and white horse hair braided hatband, the black Akubra Rough Rider is a serious hat for serious cowboys and girls alike. The Rough Rider is consistently one of Akubra’s best selling western hats, because this look never becomes outdated. For an authentic Australian western look, this is the hat you want.

The Untouchables (1987)

Set in the prohibition era of 1930’s Chicago, The Untouchables is a literal feast for the eyes for most hat lovers. However, in an endless sea of fedoras, trilby’s and slouch hats, theres one hat that has always stood out among the crowd, the dashing Panama Hat. Robert De Niro is iconic in his role as notorious mobster Al Capone, who at the time ruled the streets as the boss of organised crime gang the Chicago Outfit. Capone was known for his penchant for Panama’s and in The Untouchables, the iconic headpiece ensures De Niro’s presence captivates as the most significant and stylish gangster on the screen.

Get the look: The Akubra Balmoral is a truly stylish Panama style hat. Made from an organic close weave hemp braid, the hat remains simple yet sophisticated in its style and is finished with a with a bonded leather band around the crown. A perfect hat for summer, the Panama looks as at home with a tropical shirt as it does with a formal suit. For a touch of true elevated mobster aesthetic, you cant go past a Balmoral, all you need is a Cigar and a Martini to match.

Crocodile Dundee (1986)

Thats not a knife, THIS is a knife! When Aussie icon Paul Hogan first donned his teeth adorned Akubra I doubt he ever could have imagined just how much of a international sensation Crocodile Dundee would become. So successful, in fact, that the film remains, to this day, the top earning Australian film at the box office. The world fell in love with the croc wrestling, knife bearing, hard case larrikin Mick Dundee. It's no doubt, that Crocodile Dundee is one of the most recognisable movie characters of all time, due in no small part to one of the most recognisable hats of all time.

Get the look: Akubra makes a special dedication to the exceptional Mr Dundee with The Croc hat. A crocodile skin hatband with six crocodile teeth adorns this classically Australian shaped hat. Bought by collectors and Crocodile Dundee enthusiasts worldwide, this is a great addition to any Aussie hat collection.

The Great Gatsby (2013)

Directed by celebrated Australian director Baz Luhrmann, The Great Gatsby is a glittering narrative of the morality, or lack of, required to achieve the all-American dream of success in the post-war world of 1930’s New York. As with all Luhrmann films, the attention to detail in the costuming on The Great Gatsby is exquisite. In one of the films more memorable scenes, Gatsby, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, drives his yellow convertible to New York City like an absolute madman wearing a striking straw boater, which was a common choice of recreational hat for wealthy men at the time.

Get the look: One of Akubra’s most stunning hats in the summer collection is the Byron, a modern style straw boater with attractive detailing around the crown. Worn by both men and women, the Byron will give a touch of old world charm to any summers day. Finished with an attractive leather band, this hat will take you from the beach to the golf course to a day at the races in perfect style.

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (1966)

The Good, The Bad, And The Ugly is arguably the most famous spaghetti western of all time. The image of legendary actor Clint Eastwood from the iconic graveyard duel scene has transcended generations and has become probably Eastwoods most memorable movie look ever. In it, he sports a Mexican style blanket poncho and a a short brimmed Spanish riding style hat, a cigar hanging from his lip and an intense, steely glaze. Three outlaws eye each other for what feel like a lifetime of suspense before Blondie, Eastwood’s character, draws his gun in a flash and shoots the ‘baddie’ dead. Eastwoods performance in The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly gives new meaning to the saying “cool, calm and collected”, as he remains an ice cold tough guy the entirety of this classic film.

Get the look: Although the style of the Akubra Squatter is similar to a Spanish riding hat, the history of this hat is entirely Australian. A ‘squatter’ was a term used for early Australian sheep farmers, and the style is often referred to as the original Akubra hat. With its round crown and shorter brim, it is a dead ringer for Clint Eastwoods hat in The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, aside form perhaps the more elegant ribbon band.

Find your signature hat and create your own legendary look with Akubra by checking out the full range here.