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Every week at SiftPop.com, we challenge our writers to choose what they think is the best movie under a certain topic related to a recent release. So this week, with the release of Death on the Nile and Hercule Poirot’s glorious mustache, we’re counting down our favorite movies featuring amazing facial hair! Let us know @SiftPop what your ranking is!

One of my favorite legends about Abraham Lincoln is that just prior to the 1860 election, he was advised by an 11-year-old girl to grow a beard. From there, one of the most iconic beards of the presidency was born, which was brought to life in the 2012 film Lincoln, where actor Daniel Day-Lewis more than brought his A game with both his acting and fashion skills. For an actor known to disappear into a role, this one really felt like we went back in time and got a glimpse at the sixteenth president, some of the most pivotal moments in American history, and one of the most iconic beards of the day, especially in a time where there were some truly magnificent pieces of facial hair (Google Ambrose Burnside. I’ll wait… see what I mean?). Stephen Spielberg managed to create what, in my opinion, is one of his all-time best movies with one of the world’s best actors in a way few people could manage. If somehow you haven’t seen this movie, and the glorious beard, go see it now. (Joseph Davis)

As I am sure you already know, having facial hair on a character in a movie is never going to be a bad thing. And as this list will show, there is no shortage of truly iconic facial hair in some pretty outstanding movies. The addition of facial hair, though, can do different things for your character. It can merely be an extension of the wardrobe, a signature part of a character’s look, or even develop into a whole character unto itself. I believe Tom Hanks’ facial hair in Cast Away is an example of that last one. We all know Cast Away is a good movie, maybe among the best solo survival films of all time. It’s the type of film where it almost entirely rests on Tom Hanks’ performance, and he crushes it out of the park. I feel like his physical transformation can be easily forgotten in the legacy of the movie, and his facial hair is a huge part of the transformation. His overall look, hair included, is a perfect encapsulation of his experience on the island. He becomes a different man. This isn’t just having a beard for the sake of having a beard; that beard tells a story all on it’s own. It’s a perfect example of how a visual medium can get across so much more than words ever could. Obviously, if you haven’t seen Cast Away, go watch it. It’s a certified classic. (Nashua Doll)

Could anyone ever have what it takes to be a helicopter-flying, spirit-chugging, flame-thrower-wielding hero ready to prevent the apocalypse? The correct answer is probably out of reach of any normal human. However, MacReady is no normal human. In 1982 John Carptenter’s classic The Thing proved that there was one person who could be all of those things and more, as Kurt Russel flew into the scene half drunk, rocking a bomber jacket, 10 gallon hat, and the most glorious beard that has ever bearded and cemented himself as the legendary hero MacReady. Never before has someone looked so calm and collected upon finding an alien spaceship than this wooly mammoth, who alongside Keith David and Wilford Brimley, introduced us to the proper way to test for alien pathogens. No matter how hard I’ve tried, my five o’clock shadow will never match the power of MacReady. So the best I can do is rewatch The Thing over and over again! (Matt Lawson)

Politics 101: Selecting a ruler. Do you want, in charge of your planet that is at the center of galactic travel and one of the main economic power houses of the Empire A) a big ol’ roly-poly boy that has about 0% body hair, some significantly impeded mobility, if not for the gigantic mechanical doohickey strapped to his back, and a serious case of anger management issues; or B) Oscar Isaac’s beard? You don’t even need to look at the man’s actual qualifications as Duke. One look at Leto’s majestic facial hair should inspire such confidence and trust in this man that your initial impression of him at all times is, “Yes, run this planet! I don’t even care that your son looks entirely incapable of emotional expression, much less grow peach fuzz!” Dune does a great many things right in the visual department, but even with the scale of its dunes, its sand worms, and its interstellar travel ships, its crowning achievement and the single biggest “wow”-inducing visual is without a doubt that orientation-defying beard. (Chris Bakker)

The Dude abides, right? When you think of The Big Lebowski, there are plenty of elements that make it such a memorable experience. At the heart of it, these characters are some of the strangest and most interesting crew of characters that exist in film. The casting is perfect and the writing is impeccable. But those character designs just make them pop. Jeff Bridges brings the Dude to life with his endless charisma and overall spacey stoner vibe. His comfy and unique ensembles are iconic on their own (which may or may not have come from Bridges’ own closet). But what really ties The Dude together? That hair. The big shaggy lump of hair on his head paired with his iconic goatee make for one specific and memorable character on screen. This zany Preston Sturges-esque noir is plenty of fun thanks to these perfectly rendered characters. Along with The Dude’s perfect goatee, Walter’s John Milius inspired beard, and The Stranger’s pitch perfect Sam Elliott mustache are fantastic as well. Even if The Big Lebowski wasn’t a pitch perfect comedy, it would still be worth it for all the great facial hair. (Shane Conto)

There exists no greater saga of cinematic facial hair this century than that of Henry Cavill’s mustache grown for Mission: Impossible – Fallout. Having just finished the film Nomis, in which Cavill has long hair and a beard, the actor made the stylistic choice to keep the mustache for Fallout, and after discussing the look with director Christopher McQuarrie, they agreed that the mustache worked. Best known at the time for his role as the clean-shaven, Last Son of Krypton, the whiskers give Cavill’s character, August Walker, a gruff exterior, that of a blunt instrument. The look helps define him as a man whose reputation precedes him: a gun-happy, kill-as-many-people-as-necessary-to-get-the-job-done operative, in stark contrast to Tom Cruise’s clean-cut character, Ethan Hunt, who will only resort to killing if he’s exhausted every other means in his improvisational bag of tricks. Agent Walker’s mustache would grow on to be so integral to Cavill’s portrayal of the character that he was contractually obligated not to shave it for the entirety of production. As fate would have it, massive Justice League reshoots would coincide with Mission: Impossible – Fallout’s production schedule, and rather than allow a blade anywhere near the uncredited upper lip star of the film, the rival studio behind Justice League had to resort to desperate measures, spending millions of dollars to digitally remove Cavill’s mustachioed Superman from every frame of his reshoots, achieving mixed to disastrous results, ultimately leaving that film follically challenged. Mission: Impossible – Fallout has everything we’ve come to love about the franchise — increasingly crazy action set pieces, convoluted plot machinations, and an example of what happens when an unstoppable force (Cavill’s character) embraces an immovable object (Cavill’s mustache) to great effect. (Jonathan Fedee)

I feel that in every Wes Anderson movie, there are always multiple characters that sport strange, quirky, and absolutely fascinating facial hair, and the case is certainly evident in his 2014 classic, The Grand Budeapest Hotel. The perfect mix between style and substance, this film is just a joy to watch as a result of its meticulous filmmaking, excellent storytelling, and of course, the stunning stylistic detail. Part of this one in particular is how the larger-than-life character, M. Gustave, who actually feel like they could live in our world, is slightly adjusted to fit the creative. Now I could go on and on about this, but really the crux of it is, if you like Anderson, you’ll love this movie, as you let yourself be wrapped up in the defining look and feel that is sure to accompany any of Anderson. (Alice-Ginevra Micheli)

As Charlie Chaplin rose to prominence in the 1920s with the increasing popularity of his indelible “tramp” character, he was blissfully unaware of the fact that a key feature of his signature look — a simple toothbrush mustache — would forever invite comparisons between Chaplin and one of the most evil men to have walked the earth: Adolf Hitler. Growing understandably fearful of Hitler’s rise to power, Chaplin decided to use this similarity in appearance to his advantage. In 1940, Chaplin released his first talking picture, The Great Dictator. Chaplin took on a dual role as both a nameless Jewish barber and a flamboyant, Hitler-esque dictator named Hynkel. For a man who had only ever written, directed, and starred in silent films, Chaplin hit the ground running with this top-notch satire and inspired takedown of dictatorships from the early days of the WWII era. The introduction of spoken dialogue is used to full effect when Chaplin hilariously mocks Hitler’s animated speaking style, though scenes like the one in which Hynkel gracefully bounces a balloon in the shape of a globe serve as a loving wink to fans of Chaplin’s silent comedy career. Chaplin’s choice to openly mock one of the most dangerous men alive at the height of his power is the most stunning act of bravery ever put to film. As a huge fan of Chaplin’s filmography, I firmly believe The Great Dictator to be his finest work. (Foster Harlfinger)

That flattened down afro combined with patchy facial hair and horseshoe goatee would look terrible on anyone other than the preeminent badass, Jules Winnfield. So out of fear of being struck down with great vengeance and furious anger, I am compelled to discuss 1994’s Palm D’or winning Pulp Fiction, all because of the iconic aesthetic of Samuel L. Jackson. By now we are all aware of this film’s legendary and classic status. Director Quentin Tarantino is responsible for reigniting Hollywood in the 90s as many tried (but failed) to replicate the badassery and his non-linear storytelling composition. If you are of the youthful persuasion and have this on your watch list, ensure you get to it now because you will be upset at not having seen it sooner. After all, the sooner you see Pulp Fiction, the sooner you can see it again. (Adam Ritchie)

I mean, let’s get real here, there are no movie beards more important and impressive than Gandalf’s in The Lord of the Rings movies. Without it, does he save the Battle of Helm’s Deep? Or fight the Balrog? I think not. Remember, it began with the forging of the great beards. None were given to the Elves, cleanest, smoothest faces of all beings. Many were given to the Dwarf-Lords, great miners and craftsmen of beard oils. And some, some were gifted to the race of Men, who above all else desire follicle prowess. For within these beards was bound the strength and the will to govern the awe of audiences, and dominate other film beards. But they were all of them deceived, for another beard was grown… Deep in the land of the Shire, under the shading freest puffing away on a pipe, the Grey Wizard Gandalf forged a master beard, and into this beard he poured his love, his magic, and his will to dominate all beards. One beard to rule them all, one beard to find them. One beard to bring them all and in the darkness braid them. (Heath Lynch)

X-Men: Days of Future Past

So were the X-Men fighting in the past or in the future? Either way, Days of Future Past, brought back the original crew from 2000s X-Men, joining their younger selves from First Class (2011) as they fight to keep the world (human and mutant) alive in the past and the future. Older Professor X (Patrick Stewart) and Magneto (Ian McKellen) send Wolverine (Hugh Jackman) back to the past, 1973 to be exact, and there was a slight change in his look from the future. His hair is a little bit longer and shaped to represent the animal wolverine, as his signature beard is darkened with fewer gray hairs and is a bit thinner. While Wolverine has the look and the threads of the times (big collars and bell bottoms), Days of Future Past was one of the best entries for the X-Men series and the first X-Men film to be nominated for an Oscar for visual effects. The fifth mainline installment helps us forget what a disaster X-Men: The Last Stand was. It helped wrap up the original X-Men’s storyline nicely because the movie’s ending was what we deserved. Also, I always get nostalgic hearing the main titles from the original film for the opening credits. The one thing missing: Rogue, but we got lucky with the Rogue Cut DVD in 2015. (Chantal Ashford)

Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan

Is Borat’s facial hair the first thing you think of when you think of the name Borat? Possibly, to be honest. Alongside the famous “mankini” and sense of humor you either love or hate, Borat was the film that made Sacha Baron Cohen famous famous. I know he had some success before this, but I still remember back in 2006, when this movie came out, what a shift it caused as it was something new, daring, and biting. That satire is something that (alongside the famous facial hair) will never get old, because it comes from a clever place. No matter what joke or scene is on the screen, there is always something deeper going on, and it’s only up to you, whether you want to enjoy it or not. As for me, I admire anybody who can challenge and push boundaries of comedy, as I am a firm believer that nothing is off limits in comedy, especially when it comes to biting satire such as Borat. Will people be offended? Yes. But is he doing it just for the sake of it or just to be edgy? I would argue no, there is always a deeper commentary on a variety of issues. That is why Borat was well ahead of its time and also what separates him from thousands of others who try to do the same schtick, but mostly fail. He won’t be forgotten any time soon. And yes, part of it is that sexy facial hair. (Luke Burian)

Avengers: Infinity War

The Star Spangled Man isn’t known for having facial hair; Steve Rogers in fact is clean shaven nearly all the time. The after effects of Captain America: Civil War leave Rogers and his comrades on the run from the U.N. In Avengers: Infinity War, due to the inability to rest and doing some secret avenging along the way, Rogers now dawns a full beard. This abundance of facial hair, coupled with his tattered Captain America uniform, gives Rogers a far more grizzled and hardened look. His initial appearance with this new look is iconic — with Wanda and Vision beaten and battered, a dark silhouette can be seen behind the moving train. Proxima Midnight tosses her spear like weapon towards the shadowed figure with the individual intercepting it with ease. What steps out of the shadows is the living legend Rogers with a fierce look on his face. Rogers with a beard brings the internal toughness to the surface with this grittier appearance. (Joe Vargas)

Kill Bill

Among the whirling martial arts and expert sword fighting, one has to take a moment to admire the marvelous white, flowing beard of Pai Mei, Beatrix Kiddo’s mentor and teacher. The first time I saw the Kill Bill films, I imagined having a beard like this, and how intelligent and wise I could look while stroking it. It’s tentative across the two films whether the Bride will have her revenge, or what fate will meet the titular Bill, but one thing is for absolute certain: Pai Mei would not be nearly as effective, intimidating, or awesome without his magnificent master’s beard. (Rowan Wood)

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

He may be the worst pirate you’ve ever heard of, but you have heard of him! Most likely because of his epic facial hair. Pirates of the Caribbean’s Captain Jack Sparrow’s beard braids are the staple of an already handsome face. Sure, he’s a pirate living in a time when hygiene was not exactly common practice, so the odds of smelling him before you see him are great. But with the downright sexy fur muzzle that is Jack Sparrow’s double braided face foliage, how can you resist his charm? Just imagine how it must feel to be lying on a beach, stranded with nothing but a bottle of rum and those delightful twin braided flavor savers at the tip of his chin. He may not need hair products to keep them in place, but just imagine him letting you twirl your fingers around them for hours as the sun slowly sets on the beautiful Caribbean Sea. All I’m saying is if I had Jack’s compass which points to what you want most, it would be pointed straight at his glorious chin garden. (Nick Ferro)

The Hangover

Alan’s facial hair in The Hangover has the perfect look of the loser that is too lazy to sort out anything in his life, even shaving, while simultaneously being a really good looking beard. He’s such a loser that even a little girl flips him off. Clearly he’s set up early on as the third wheel of the group; literally the only reason he’s at their bachelor party is because he’s the bride’s brother. Then when he drugs them to try and give them the best night ever, it backfires massively! The Hangover essentially takes the basic setup of Dude Where’s My Car (the only good idea that film had) and gives us a much more assuming set of situations that have resulted from the characters not being able to remember the night before. There’s a tiger in their bathroom, a baby, and they can’t find the groom-to-be. The humor doesn’t exactly have you falling out of your chair, but there are enough amusing moments and lines throughout, mainly by Alan (Zack Galifianakis), that you will be smiling pretty much the whole time. Stu is the only one of the main characters to be given a clear arc with the relationship he’s in at the start. I just love the idea of waking up hungover to discover that, not only are you married to Heather Graham, but she’s also okay with that! This is also a rare case where the end credits give you a bit more story. Don’t bother with the sequels though. (John Tillyard)

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore: “He wore half-moon glasses, had a long, crooked nose, and flowing silver hair, beard, and mustache.” Dumbledore’s legendary beard makes him instantly recognizable among Harry Potter characters, along with Harry’s scar and the Weasley family’s red hair. Even before you learned of his legendary wizarding skills and his love and dedication for Hogwarts, you heard about Dumbledore’s beard. In Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Dumbledore gets a chance to show some of his wizarding skills with an amazing duel with Voldemort. Dumbledore is essential to the entire Harry Potter franchise but this is the movie (and book) where Harry truly becomes an adult and needs Dumbledore’s guidance more than ever. The Order is the Phoenix is both a personal favorite book and movie. Nothing beats the scene at the end at the Ministry of Magic. What I liked about Harry Potter is that there were stakes, and you didn’t feel confident that people were safe. Throughout the entire series, people were at risk constantly. It helped withstand the test of time and something I know I’m looking forward to reading with my kids one day. (Mike Hilty)

Tombstone

When it comes to movie facial hair, I mustache you a question: why settle for quantity or quality when you can have both? Welcome to Tombstone. The more heralded of the dueling Wyatt Earp biopics focuses on the famous marshal’s attempt to ditch the law enforcement life and strike it rich in the titular Arizona town. There are few movies I can quote better than this one, and it’s as iconic for its glorious facial hair as it is Val Kilmer’s Doc Holliday performance. You can probably count on one hand the male faces not adorned with some sort of facial hair. Whether law dogs or Cowboys, badge- or sash-wearer. Even Billy Bob Thorton in a brief cameo is almost unrecognizable under his bushy beard. Of the multitude of mustachioed mugs, Kurt Russell’s Wyatt Earp and (as per usual) Sam Elliot’s Virgil are particularly impressive, even more impressive than Holliday’s gambling luck. You’re a daisy if you can find a more impressive collection of facial hair, but “you’re no daisy. You’re no daisy at all.” (Jake Bourgeois)

The Hateful Eight

When making a list of Best Ever Movies Featuring Amazing Facial Hair, Quentin Tarantino movies have to fill that list, and none more so than The Hateful Eight. The movie is a masterclass in filmmaking throughout — the story largely takes place in Minnie’s Haberdashery and it’s mostly a bunch of men sitting around discussing life, as they are stuck here because of a blizzard. The film boasts a stacked cast in Samuel L Jackson, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kurt Russell, Demián Bichir, Walton Goggins, Tim Roth, Michael Madson, Bruce Dern, and many others. Everyone has some excellent facial hair. It’s almost like Tarantino told everyone to grow epic mustaches. This dialogue-heavy film tells the story like you are ready for a book, and feels like a stage play being told on the big screen. The Hateful Eight is a Tarantino movie you don’t want to miss, and believe me, there’s still a lot of action and gore that make this movie great. (Austen Terry)

The Greatest Showman

Say what you will about The Greatest Showman and the man under the top hat, but the music is amazing and the message about family and being true to yourself make it one to check out. My daughter watched The Greatest Showman in December, and one of the first things she noticed was Lettie, the bearded lady. She noticed that she looked different and asked, “Why were they laughing at her?” I told her that just because someone looks different doesn’t mean we should treat them any different. Lettie is the oddity at Barnum’s circus that not only embodied being true and okay with yourself, but standing up and standing out. Her anthem, “This Is Me,” is a beautiful song about the power that an individual can have over their own agency. All of this wouldn’t be possible without Lettie’s courage, her own self-acceptance, and ultimately her beard. (Mike Hilty)

13 Hours

Directed by Michael Bay and based on the true events of the September 11, 2012, Islamic militants attack the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi. This is a film I’ve been a champion of for years, and which I believe is over looked just because it was directed by Bay. Take his name off of this, slap on Clint Eastwood, and it would have been raking in the Oscars. One aspect of the cast was John Krasinski, fresh out of The Office, directly into war. Wanting to be taken as a more serious actor, he debuted a new look for this film: The Krasinski Beard. He went from humble office boy to a man. It is truly an all-timer, as it gives him that squared off jaw without having to resort to plastic surgery. Seriously, it was a game changer. Can you imagine him in A Quiet Place sans beard? I can’t. It’s his serious mode, and it’s no joke. Without this, we would have no Jack Ryan as we know on Amazon. For you Office fans, you can look at this as a sequel where Jim and Roy enlist together. Do yourself a huge favor and check out 13 Hours. (Frank Kemp)

Murder on the Orient Express

The movie that inspired this list, Murder on the Orient Express is a fun, engaging, and star-studded murder mystery based off the Agatha Christie novel of the same name. Kenneth Branagh’s rendition of the famous detective Hercule (not Hercules) Poirot sports an incredible mustache — one that may or may not actually be possible to grow. But its plausibility is the least of my worries because it looks so great and I’m convinced it’s necessary to his ability to solve complicated mysteries. Having never read or seen any previous Christie works or adaptations, this version works great for a newcomer. It mixes in themes of revenge, grief, money, and morality, and its ultimate resolution is satisfying, if easy to spot on a second watch. But most of all, 2017’s Murder on the Orient Express works because of that mustache which, I forgot to mention, is covered by a face guard as Poirot sleeps! That’s how you know it’s next level epic. (Robert Bouffard)

Also See: Hook (Captain Hook), Hunger Games (Seneca Crane), Shakespeare in Love (Ned Alleyn), An American Pickle (Herschel Greenbaum), A Dangerous Method (Freud), The Green Knight (Gawain), This Is Spinal Tap (Derek Smalls), The Wizard of Oz (The Wizard), The Lost City of Z (Henry Costin), and The Last Duel (King Charles)

If you’re interested in contributing to Best Ever Challenges or other entertainment-related articles for SiftPop, DM us on Twitter @SiftPop or email us at writersroom@siftpop.com!