For those with attentive eyes, sneakers never play a walk-on part in Hollywood’s blockbusters. Indeed, these movies often lead to fashion trends, proposing new options for women’s and men’s high end sneakers; some of which are simply timeless. From cross- country running to alien fighting, here are some influential pop culture icons and their sneakers of choice.

Batman in Training Sneakers

Anne Hathaway’s Catwoman may have used fashionable, custom-made high boots to walk over her enemies, but Batman preferred the good old training sneakers. Truth be told, Tim Burton’s sneaker-walking Batman (1989) bears little resemblance to Nolan’s versions, where every piece of his outfit seems to have military purposes. In Tim Burton’s vision, The Dark Knight would fight crime in bulky training sneakers.

Run, Forrest, Run!

Forrest Gump (1994) is one of Tom Hanks’ most memorable movies. Arguably, he would collapse midway through his run if not for his classic running shoes. While Forrest Gump

tells his story sitting on a park bench in the 1980s, his memoirs go back to the 50s. At this point, saying that he spent most of his time running across the country doesn’t count as a spoiler. The reconstruction of the period’s fashion and clothing is impeccable, bringing this timeless classic back into the racing tracks and, of course, the spotlight.

Sigourney Weaver and The Alien Stompers

“Aliens” (1986) is one of those movies that mark an entire generation. The famous “Alien Stomper” model was initially designed for the movie, with no commercial intentions.

However, the movie has become so successful in pop culture that this model is now everywhere. The original version is a basketball-like shoe with a high-top and velcro straps, though mid-top options were later released. The shoe has become such an integral part of the movie’s identity that it was also used for the movie’s 40th anniversary in 2019.

Rolling with Marty McFly in Back to the Future

Few movies can evoke 1980s vibes like Back to the Future (and Aliens, of course). In fact, a similar phenomenon happened in Part II of Michael J. Fox’s adventures. Like the Alien Stompers, McFly’s self-lacing shoes premiered as a movie prop. Created by Tinker Hatfield (one of the most influential names in the fashion industry), the model was brought to life in 2011. Yes, it has an internal energy system that activates as soon as users put their feet in it, with flickering lights and whatnot.

Going Casual with Beatrix Kiddo (and Bruce Lee)

Umma Thurman’s character in Kill Bill shows that one doesn’t need fancy shoes to throw deadly kicks. In the unforgettable scene where she faces the Crazy 88 in a yellow-and-black jumpsuit (and blood in her eyes), the sneaker of choice is the same minimalistic shoes used by Bruce Lee in Game of Death. It has thin soles and a low cut, and it’s famous for its second-skin feel. The same trainers were designed for the Tokyo Olympic Games, brought back by Quentin Tarantino.