In the new movie Allied, Brad Pitt plays a WWII-era spy who gets romantically entangled with another mysterious operative, played by Marion Cotillard. The Robert Zemeckis-directed movie came out on Friday to mixed reviews, but one thing everyone could agree on was that both Pitt and Cotillard looked flawless, evoking old-school Hollywood glamour with their handsome period garb and throwback hairdos. For Pitt, his perfectly coiffed, heavy-on-the-product cut was the latest incarnation of one of the most famous heads of hair in the world, that over a more than two-decade career, has taken many forms to various degrees of success. Here, we look back on some of Pitt's more memorable movie haircuts, from best to worst.
1. As Lt. Aldo "The Apache" Raine in Inglorious Basterds
Pitt does two things effortlessly in this Quentin Tarantino-directed picture: kill Nazis and rock a disconnected pompadour.
2. As Jesse James in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Pitt stars as the legendary outlaw Jesse James, who was guilty of, among other things, having perfect hair.
3. As Don "Wardaddy" Collier in Fury
This action movie might be set during WWII, but Pitt’s bald high fade would be acceptable at any craft cocktail den in the country.
4. As Tristan Ludlow in Legends of the Fall
The movie that put Pitt—and his hair—on the map.
5. As Mr. O'Brien in The Tree of Life
Another fade for Pitt. This is what we’d imagine Lt. Aldo Raine’s haircut to be if he'd settled down after the war and started a family.
6. As Tyler Durden in Fight Club
The first rule of Fight Club is acknowledging how terrific Pitt’s hair in it is.
7. As Detective Mills in Se7en
What’s in the box? Some dope hair paste, obv.
8. As Max Vatan in Allied
Pitt returns to the second World War for yet another lesson in the power and the beauty of good pomade.
9. As Louis in Interview With a Vampire
If Pitt never made it in Hollywood, he could have had a dynamite career as a romance novel cover model.
10. As Joe Black in Meet Joe Black
More like meet Brad Blond.
11. As Billy Beane in Moneyball
Pitt wears a visor for much of the movie, but every now and then it comes off to reveal a mane of very sensible, very lustrous hair.
12. As Detective Frank Harris in Cool World
Pitt goes full pompadour in one of his earliest roles, in this cartoon-IRL mashup.
13. As Gerry Lane in World War Z
There’s something about the length of Pitt’s hair here that is more unnerving than the zombie apocalypse he confronts in the film.
14. As Jackie in Killing Them Softly
Pitt's legendary hairline is on full display with this 'do, along with some meaty sideburns. Still, it's a little too heavy on the gel.
15. As Jerry Welbach in The Mexican
Pitt as SoCal surfer bro.
16. As Rusty Ryan in Ocean's Eleven
Frosted tips aren't cool now, and they weren't cool then.
17. As Rory Devaney in The Devil's Own
Not even Pitt can make a mullet work, although he comes closer than anyone in human history.
18. As Richard in Babel
Tragedy befalls Pitt and Cate Blanchett during a vacation in the Moroccan desert, and not even his helmet of hair can protect them.
19. As Achilles in Troy
Pitt bulked up significantly to play the legendary warrior whose Achilles heel was actually a propensity for greasy hair.
20. As Chad Feldheimer in Burn After Reading
Leave it to the Coen brothers to give Pitt the most comically bad haircut of Brad Pitt's career.
21. As Rusty Ryan in Ocean's Twelve
Special mention goes to Pitt's return as Rusty Ryan. When you have hair like his, shaving it all off is a felony.
