How Vaping Is Portrayed in Hollywood and Why More Vaping Depictions Need to Happen

There was a time—not too long ago—when lighting up a cigarette on screen instantly made a character feel cooler, darker, or more mysterious. Old-school Hollywood glamorized smoking in a way that helped shape cultural trends for decades. But times change. Now that vaping is such a huge part of real-life culture, where’s the love for the Hollywood vape?

Today, we’re diving into how vape culture shows up on screen, what that says about us, and why it’s time for Hollywood vapes to get a little more screen time—without promoting or glamorizing it, just keeping it real. 

Vaping in Movies and TV

As vaping has exploded in popularity, it’s only natural that it would show up in TV shows and movies. Art imitates life, right? Take Jordan Peele’s Nope (2022), for example. Keke Palmer’s character casually vapes throughout the film. It’s not her whole personality, and it’s not there for shock value—just a small piece of who she is. No overthinking it.

Then there’s Mare of Easttown, where Kate Winslet’s character—an overworked, emotionally wrecked detective—vapes regularly. In her case, the vape plays a more symbolic role, linked to addiction and stress. While a bit heavier, it still reflects the reality that people vape for all kinds of reasons, including emotional escape.

Rewind to 2014’s 99 Homes, where a villainous real estate agent (played by Michael Shannon) puffs on an early e-cig model to emphasize his slick, calculating vibe. It was subtle but effective—his vape wasn’t just a prop; it was part of his vibe.

And let’s not forget Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery, where a young model vaping added a touch of glam. Sure, it wasn’t a central plot point, but it was still another example of Hollywood vapes sneaking into the frame.

What’s clear is this: vaping is showing up more and more, but it still lags behind smoking when it comes to screen time.

Why It’s Important to Show Vaping in Pop Culture

We’re not saying Hollywood should start pushing vape culture. But when 80% of the 2022 Best Picture nominees featured tobacco use, and vaping—something millions of adults use every day—barely gets any attention, it feels like a weird gap.

Vaping isn’t going anywhere. It’s become a real part of how adults socialize, relax, or get through a stressful day. So whether it's glam, gritty, or just casual background behavior, seeing people vape on screen feels more authentic to how people live today. It’s not about glorifying it—it’s about reflecting reality.

Final Puff

Vaping is part of the modern adult experience. It can show up in thrillers, dramas, comedies, and everything in between, just like cigarettes always have. Ignoring it doesn’t make it disappear—it just makes pop culture feel a little less real. Hollywood doesn’t need to champion vape culture, but it should at least acknowledge it as part of the world we live in.

Oh, and speaking of where vape culture does shine—music festivals. Don’t miss these festival-friendly reads:
👉 Tips to Vape When Going to Coachella Music Festival
👉 The Best Disposable Vapes to Take to Coachella
👉 The Best Disposable Vape Devices for Music Festivals

Because while Hollywood catches up, the rest of us are already living the vape life.