Films About Tattoos
Tattoos have long been a powerful form of self-expression, storytelling, and culture. They often symbolize personal journeys, identities, and societal issues. Films centered around tattoos explore these themes, delving into the lives of characters who bear ink on their skin—each tattoo telling a story of its own. These films range from dramas and documentaries to thrillers and comedies, highlighting the significance of tattoos in various contexts, from artistry and rebellion to love and loss.
Here’s a list of notable films that focus on tattoos:
“Tattoo”, 2002
Director: Robert Schwentke
This thriller revolves around a disturbed artist who becomes obsessed with a model after tattooing her. As his obsession deepens, he resorts to increasingly dangerous measures to possess her.
Starring: August Diehl, Christian Redl, Nadeshda Brennicke, Johan Leysen, Fatih Cevikkollu, Monica Bleibtreu, Ilknur Bahadir, Joe Bausch, Florian Panzner, Jasmin Schwiers, Gustav-Peter Wöhler, Ingo Naujoks, Reinhardt Firchow, Wanda Perdelwitz, Sybille J. Schedwill, Andreas Häfner, Lutz Lansemann, Nils Brunkhorst, Christiane Scheda, Thomas Pohn, Karsten Dahlem, Vicky Berendsen, Torben Liebrecht, Minoru Nakanishi, Lorelei Mahoney;
Production year: 2002;
Genre: horror, thriller, drama, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 108 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,3;
More information about the film “Tattoo” on the website imdb.com
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”, 2011
Director: David Fincher
A gripping mystery thriller based on Stieg Larsson's novel, this film follows journalist Mikael Blomkvist and hacker Lisbeth Salander as they investigate a decades-old disappearance linked to dark family secrets. Salander’s iconic dragon tattoo symbolizes her fierce independence and troubled past.
Starring: Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer, Stellan Skarsgård, Steven Berkoff, Robin Wright, Yorick van Wageningen, Joely Richardson, Geraldine James, Goran Višnjić, Donald Sumpter, Ulf Friberg, Bengt C.W. Carlsson, Tony Way, Per Myrberg, Josefin Asplund, Eva Fritjofson, Moa Garpendal, Maia Hansson Bergqvist, Sarah Appelberg, Julian Sands, Anna Björk, Gustav Hammarsten, Simon Reithner, David Dencik, Marcus Johansson, Mathilda von Essen, Mathias Palmér, Martin Jarvis, Inga Landgré, Reza Dehban, Anders Berg, Mats Andersson, Anders Jansson, Jürgen Klein, Kalle Josephson, Sandra Andreis, Arly Jover, Pierre Sjö Östergren, Tess Panzer, Neil Duncan, Alan Dale, Julia Rose, Peter Carlberg, Jan Abramson, Lena Strömdahl, Matthew Wolf, Anne-Li Norberg, Leo Bill, Marco Albrecht;
Production year: 2011;
Genre: detective, thriller, drama, crime;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 158 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7,8;
More information about the film “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” on the website imdb.com
“Miami Ink”, 2005
Director: Jonathan Wyche, David Roma, Marvin Blunte
While not a traditional film, this reality TV series showcases the lives and art of tattoo artists in Miami. It highlights the stories behind the tattoos they create, exploring the emotional connections people have with their ink.
Starring: Katherine von Drachenberg, Ami James, Darren Brass, Yojiro Harada, Chris Nunez, Chris Garver, Tim Hendricks, Baby Dre, Mike Diamond, Corey Miller, Lloyd Banks, Johnny Messner, Mark Zupan, Sunny Garcia, Anthony Bourdain, Harold Hunter, Michele Lepe, Michael Markiewicz, Ivy Supersonic, George Maniatakos, Mike Lavallee, Marklen Kennedy, Dirk Vermin, Christopher Gould, Shawn W Knight;
Production year: 2005;
Genre: documentary, unknown genre;
Rating: IMDB: 6,6;
“Ink”, 2009
Director: Jamin Winans
This fantasy thriller tells the story of a father who must save his daughter from a creature known as Ink. The film features tattoos that serve as symbols of power and transformation in a visually striking narrative.
Starring: Chris Kelly, Quinn Hunchar, Jessica Duffy, Jennifer Batter, Jeremy Make, Eme Ikwuakor, Shelby Malone, Shannan Steele, Steef Sealy, Steven Brown, Shauna Earp, Marty Lindsey, Jeffrey Richardson, Troy Garner, Maiz Lucero, Jason Coviello, Megan Heffernan, Scott Ward, Brad Newman, Kent Randell, Steve Wilkins, Kathy Cagney, LeighAnn Gould, David Alan Hays, Tyler Giallanza, Jenna Hawkins, Greg C. Vanbuskirk, Jodi Visser, Robin Snover, Russel Hunchar, Ginger Playford, Melissa Lacome, Kayla Bergholz, Heath C. Heine, Paul Blomquist, Cooper Sclar, Erika Rochelle Taylor, Jen Fiskum, T. David Rutherford, Nancy Fromhart, Raymond Andrew Bailey, Lorin Ball, Ashlee-Rose Barnett, Mark Bechtel, Adam Bradley, Lisa Briles, Jeremy Cabanaw, Emily Campbell, Nicole Campbell, Christie Cass;
Production year: 2009;
Genre: science fiction, fantasy, action, drama;
Duration: 107 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,8;
More information about the film “Ink” on the website imdb.com
“Tattooed Love”, 2015
Director: Alejandro Antonio, Alberto Portillo
A romantic drama about a tattoo artist who falls in love with a woman who wants to get a tattoo representing her deceased father. The film explores themes of love, loss, and the personal significance of body art.
Starring: Emeraude Toubia, Edy Ganem, Angélica María, Catherine Toribio, Laura Flannery, Brett Justin Koppel, Redfoo, Martin D. Dew, Marlon Moreno, Iman Crosson, Monica Cho, Deanna Pak, Isabel Ferrer, Alejandro Antonio, Stina Lundberg, Chiquis Marin Rivera, Phil Pritchard, Deon Sams, Alex Angarita, Anthony Wanzer, Jason Kakebeen, John Deonarine, Kelton Edwards, Carolina Brasil, Johana Hernandez, Pavle Kujundzic, Cameron Cross;
Production year: 2015;
Genre: action, drama;
Rating: IMDB: 7;
More information about the film “Tattooed Love” on the website imdb.com
“The Machine”, 2013
Director: Caradog W. James
In this sci-fi thriller, a scientist creates a synthetic being with a human-like appearance and tattoos that symbolize her internal struggles. The film raises questions about identity, humanity, and the meaning behind body art.
Starring: Toby Stephens, Caity Lotz, Denis Lawson, Sam Hazeldine, Pooneh Hajimohammadi, John-Paul MacLeod, Helen Griffin, Siwan Morris, Nicola Reynolds, Jade Croot, Jonathan Byrne, Alan Low, Sule Rimi, Joshua Higgott, Giles Thomas, Cornelius Garrett, Sam Ellis, Richard Shackley, Daniel Llewelyn-Williams, Dafydd Emyr, Ben McGregor, Clark Fisher, Gareth Jones, Paul James, Simon Winkler, Lee Paul Atkinson, Lee Nicholas Harris, Stuart Matthews, John Stylianou;
Production year: 2013;
Genre: science fiction, action, thriller, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 90 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6;
“The Tattooist”, 2007
Director: Peter Burger
This horror film follows a tattoo artist who gets caught up in a supernatural world when he unwittingly tattoos a Maori symbol that leads to a curse. It explores cultural appropriation and the consequences of misusing sacred art.
Starring: Jason Behr, Mia Blake, David Fane, Robbie Magasiva, Ian Vincent, Caroline Cheong, Nathaniel Lees, Michael Hurst, John Bach, Matailiili Denzel Tuimaunga, Glen Jackson, Edmund Paongo, Fasitua Amosa, Lauren Jackson, Alison Bruce, Allison Strickett, Pip Hall, Dean Sacred, Chen Bangzhi, Misa Tupou, Seiloga Sita, Gerald Chew, Aleni Tufuga, Stuart Devenie, Justine Semei-Barton, Isabella Galluzzo, Matthew Ridge, Timothy Balme, Jarred Blakiston, Helene Wong, Trevor Sai Louie, Pete Smith, Vela Manusaute, Tovey Lemusa, Peni Tuala, Sijie Chan, Lim Yu-Beng, Andy Wong, Roy Levy, Lex Ross, Robert Savage, Mema Maeli, Samuel Wheeler;
Production year: 2007;
Genre: horror, thriller, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 92 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 5,1;
More information about the film “The Tattooist” on the website imdb.com
“Skin”, 2018
Director: Guy Nattiv
Based on a true story, this drama follows the life of a man with swastika tattoos who seeks redemption after leaving a white supremacist group. The film delves into themes of transformation, identity, and the power of tattoos to signify change.
Starring: Jamie Bell, Danielle Macdonald, Daniel Henshall, Bill Camp, Louisa Krause, Zoe Colletti, Kylie Rogers, Colbi Gannett, Mike Colter, Vera Farmiga, Mary Stuart Masterson, Russell Posner, Jenna Leigh Green, Sean Cullen, Jaime Ray Newman, Portia, Scott Thomas, Ari Barkan, Justin L. Wilson, Michael Villar, Rob Giumarra, Maliq Johnson, Rob Figueroa, Joanna Herrington, Samantha Jones, Walid Chaya, Steven Vacnin, Cecil Blutcher, Tyler Williamson, Vin Craig, Reid Dalland, Joseph Anthony Davis, Brian Donahue, Dave Dyshuk, Jim Ford, Daryle Lamont Jenkins, Adline Jennings, Talha Khan, Rob LaColla Jr., Adam Link, Ann Lucente, Jackson Norton, Steven Patrick O'Connor, Thomas Racek, Kortnee Rumph, Bettina Skye, Bryon Widner;
Production year: 2018;
Genre: drama, melodrama, crime, biography;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 118 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 6,8;
“Body of Lies”, 2008
Director: Ridley Scott
Although primarily a spy thriller, this film features a subplot involving a tattoo that signifies loyalty and betrayal in the world of espionage, highlighting the complex meanings that tattoos can hold in various cultures.
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Russell Crowe, Mark Strong, Golshifteh Farahani, Oscar Isaac, Ali Suliman, Alon Abutbul, Vince Colosimo, Simon McBurney, Mehdi Nebbou, Michael Gaston, Kais Nashif, Jameel Khoury, Lubna Azabal, Ghali Benlafkih, Youssef Srondy, Ali El Khalil, Giannina Facio, Chase Edmunds, Morgan A. Vick, Michael Stuhlbarg, Sherif Eltayeb, David Ganly, Bijan Daneshmand, Houda Zbit, Omar Berdouni, Richard De Mayo, Clara Khoury, Abdu Rahim Kashmir, Sami Samir, Xanthe Elbrick, Ali Alvi, Vedant Gokhale, Ran Nikfam, Al Twanmo, Ellie K. Wang, Allen Lidkey, Drif Said, Zakaria Atifi, William Meredith, Howard W. Overshown, Kathy K. Brady, Quentin Mare, Matt Gulbranson, Jill Wolsey, Annabelle Wallis, Michael H. Alban, Tex Allen, Omar Benbrahim, J. Matthew Miller;
Production year: 2008;
Genre: action, thriller, drama;
MPAA rating: r;
Duration: 128 min.;
Rating: IMDB: 7;
More information about the film “Body of Lies” on the website imdb.com
These films illustrate the multifaceted nature of tattoos, exploring their impact on identity, relationships, and personal narratives across various genres.
In conclusion, films about tattoos have emerged as a fascinating genre that explores the complexity and significance of body art. These films not only showcase the artistic beauty of tattoos but also delve into the personal stories and motivations behind them. From character-driven dramas to thrilling crime narratives, these movies offer a unique perspective on the human experience and the power of self-expression. Whether it's examining the tattoo culture, challenging societal norms, or simply celebrating the individuality of its characters, films about tattoos have undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the cinematic landscape. So, whether you're a tattoo enthusiast or simply curious about this captivating art form, these films are sure to leave a lasting impression.
