The role of cigars in literature and film

The role of cigars in literature and film

Renowned for their quality and long associated with power and money, cigars have been a strong part of popular culture for many years. From plot devices in films to being spotted between the lips of the elite, cigars have long had a place in the cultural spotlight.

While other methods of smoking, such as cigarettes, have taken a turn in popularity in recent years, with it often associated as a negative habit, cigars have retained their status on screen, and are commonly used to denote power.

We look at the role of the cigar in popular culture, and a few of the places you may have spotted these beloved smokes!

Power and Class

Cigars are often considered a high-class item. While cigarettes can be picked up at your local supermarket, to get a quality cigar you’ll be looking at visiting a dedicated cigar vendor, such as Cigar Nights. This feeling of exclusivity adds to the allure of the cigar.

With this comes a connection to power. Cigars are typically more expensive than other forms of smoking, and so in the past quality Cuban cigars would be associated with rich and powerful people.

As such, cigars have come to be used to signify power and wealth in films – which is why they are so often smoked by the likes of political figures, villains and crime bosses in the movies (and in real life!)

Cigars on Screen

From being commonplace on screen in older films to being used as a symbol of celebration or power in more modern movies, there are many great examples of cigars being shown on screen: 

• A Fistful of Dollars (1964)
• A Few Dollars More (1965)
• The Good, The Bad and The Ugly (1966)
• Scarface (1983)
• Predator (1987)
• Independence Day (1996)
• Die Another Day (2002)
• Hellboy (2004)
• The Wolverine (2013)
• Darkest Hour (2017)

Cigars in Literature

Cigars offer characters moments of contemplation, self-assurance, or silent rebellion. In American crime novels, cigars frequently appear in the hands of characters who wield power or inspire fear. Mario Puzo’s The Godfather (1969) uses cigars as props for mafia dons, figures who command authority and respect. Through cigars, Puzo heightens the image of his characters, cementing them as symbols of influence, power, and the dark allure of organised crime.

Many of the writers who made cigars iconic in literature had a personal passion for them. Mark Twain was perhaps the most famous literary cigar smoker. Known to smoke up to 20 cigars daily, Twain once joked, “I smoke in moderation—only one cigar at a time.” His characters often reflect his fondness for cigars, associating them with a sense of freedom, independence, and a bit of mischief. In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, cigars symbolise a playful defiance of norms, tying Twain’s rebellious spirit to his storytelling.

Ernest Hemingway, a lifelong devotee of Cuban cigars, frequently depicted characters with cigar habits that mirrored his rugged lifestyle. For Hemingway, cigars symbolised life’s richness, resilience, and even simplicity. In The Old Man and the Sea, the old fisherman Santiago enjoys cigars as a rare pleasure amid hardship, illustrating Hemingway’s belief in savouring life’s simple pleasures, even in adversity.

Arthur Conan Doyle also enjoyed cigars, particularly after achieving financial success with Sherlock Holmes. For Doyle, cigars signified intellectual leisure and were likely an inspiration for Holmes’s smoking habits. Although Holmes is known for his pipe, Doyle’s inclusion of cigars symbolised the cultivated taste of London’s elite, giving readers a window into Holmes’s upper-class lifestyle.

Cigars in Music Videos

Cigars have also been seen in many music videos, particularly those in the rap genre. For example, real-life cigar smoker JAY-Z is seen smoking a cigar in several of his videos, including ‘Show Me What You Got’ and ‘Big Pimpin’’. Likewise, Nas smokes a cigar throughout his video for ‘Can’t Forget About You’.

While often associated with men, there are many female cigar smokers too, including Shakira and Rihanna, who each enjoy a cigar in the music video for ‘Can’t Remember to Forget You’.

As a great example of cigars being used in popular culture to signify power, Taylor Swift ‘smokes’ a cigar while dressed as a businessman to establish dominance in her video for “The Man”.

There are plenty more examples of cigars being spotted in film, television and other forms of popular culture – is there a moment that springs to mind for you?