From Satire to Style: How ‘American Psycho’ Became a Cultural Trendsetter

In 2000, Canadian filmmaker Mary Harron brought to the screen Bret Easton Ellis’s 1991 novel “American Psycho,” featuring Patrick Bateman, a ruthless 27-year-old Wall Street banker portrayed by Christian Bale. Bateman’s life revolves around exclusive nightclubs, flaunting luxury credit cards, and committing brutal murders with a chainsaw. Originally crafted as a dark satire targeting excess and vanity—highlighted by his obsessive skincare routine and greed—many of Bateman’s traits have since seeped into mainstream American culture, now often celebrated without irony.

Italian director Luca Guadagnino is currently collaborating with screenwriter Scott Z. Burns on a fresh adaptation of Ellis’s novel. Following the announcement of Guadagnino’s involvement last October, actor Patrick Schwarzenegger expressed interest in the role, though Austin Butler is considered a strong contender.

The influence of Bateman’s aesthetic was evident on the fall 2025 fashion runways. At Saint Laurent, creative director Anthony Vaccarello showcased menswear featuring bold, broad shoulders. Meanwhile, Haider Ackermann’s debut collection for Tom Ford included double-breasted jackets for both men and women, complemented by black driving gloves—an accessory closely associated with Bateman’s style.

In Ellis’s novel, Bateman favors the musky Paul Sebastian PS Fine Cologne. Earlier this year, Swedish perfumer Johan Bergelin of 19-69 teamed up with Ellis to launch a fragrance named American Psycho. The scent is warm and spicy, blending notes of bergamot, sage, sandalwood, vetiver, and amber.

Dorsia, the fictional Manhattan restaurant that famously refuses Bateman a reservation, was a satirical nod to the elite dining scene of its era. Inspired by this, New York beverage director Natasha Van Duser and her husband Carlo Olcese brought the concept to life during the pandemic lockdowns. In February, they opened Bateman’s, an East Village bar offering innovative twists on classic cocktails such as the lychee martini dubbed the Mean Girl.

If Patrick Bateman existed today, would he be trading cryptocurrencies or sharing his meticulous grooming routine on TikTok? While he might fit more comfortably in the tech industry than banking, he would undoubtedly embrace the cologne-soaked fusion of conspicuous consumption and patriarchal values that many young adults refer to as “boom boom culture.”