New research from Betway reveals the films and TV shows that inspire the most tattoo tributes among fans.
Tattoos are a deeply personal form of expression, and often tell the story of our lives, our passions, and our values. But it’s not just our own experiences that can inspire our body art – the media we love can also play a big role in shaping our taste in tattoos.
Whether it’s a cherished character, a quote that speaks to us, or a particularly memorable scene, there are many reasons why we might choose to get a tattoo inspired by a film or TV show. But which popular films and shows serve as the biggest inspirations for getting inked?
Research by online slots site Betway has revealed the TV shows and films that inspire the most fan tattoos, based on Google search volume and Instagram data.
The films and TV shows that inspire the most tattoos
1. Joker
With a staggering yearly global search volume averaging 1.2 million for terms like ‘Joker tattoo’ and ‘Joker inspired tattoo,’ coupled with an impressive 323,000 Instagram posts tagged #jokertattoo, Joker reigns supreme as the unrivalled champion of film-inspired ink. The film came out in 2019 and stars Joaquin Phoenix as the iconic DC supervillain, who is widely considered to be one of the greatest comic book antagonists ever created. The character has also received memorable portrayals by other talented actors throughout the years, including by Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight (2008) and Jared Leto in Suicide Squad (2016).
2. Harry Potter
Harry Potter comes in second place with over 849,000 Google searches for tattoos inspired by the franchise per year, and over 354,000 Instagram posts. From the release of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone in 2001, the franchise quickly became a global sensation, concluding a decade later in 2011 with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 which earned over $1 billion at the box office.
Even over 10 years later, Harry Potter continues to boast a huge fanbase around the world. With releases of spin offs including the Fantastic Beasts franchise, and a TV show inspired by the seven novels on the way, Harry Potter inspired tattoos are sure to be popular amongst generations to come.
3. Star Wars
Star Wars takes third place, with over 422,000 yearly searches for Star Wars tattoos – as well as the highest number of Instagram posts at almost 391,000. The popularity of body art inspired by a galaxy far, far away isn’t surprising given the franchise is the third highest-grossing of all time, earning a staggering $10.3 billion worldwide.
From detailed tributes of Han Solo’s ship, the Millennium Falcon, to realistic portraits of legendary characters like Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker and Yoda, there’s no shortage of ink inspiration to be found in this sci-fi saga.
Batman comes in fourth with over 368,000 annual Google searches tattoos inspired by the legendary comic book character followed by Spiderman in fifth. Rick and Morty is one of only three TV shows to feature in the top 10 list, alongside Dragon Ball Z and The Simpsons.
The top 10 TV shows that inspire the most tattoos
When it comes to TV shows, Rick and Morty fans are the most inked-up, with 240,000 annual searches and over 91,000 Instagram posts tagged #rickandmortytattoo. Tattoos of ‘Pickle Rick’, a fan favourite version of main character Rick Sanchez, also receive an average of 29,640 searches per month.
Japanese anime Dragon Ball Z takes second place, inspiring 150,000 searches per year for tattoos related to the show, as well as almost 82,000 Instagram posts. Although the anime first aired in 1989, it has remained hugely popular thanks to multiple adaptations and re-releases over the years.
The Simpsons comes in third place as the TV show that inspired the most tattoos with over 109,000 annual Google searches and almost 90,000 Instagram posts. Running since 1989 for 35 series, its no surprise that the iconic series has inspired thousands of fans to get inked.
Peaky Blinders comes fourth, with a higher annual search volume than Dragon Ball Z at 174,000 but fewer Instagram posts (over 46,000). Game of Thrones – one of the most successful series of all time – comes fifth with 197,000 yearly searches. Other shows to feature in the top 10 include Japanese anime, Attack on Titan, Breaking Bad, Stranger Things, The Witcher and The Office.
The top 10 films that inspire the most tattoos
Given that they feature in the overall top 10 list for screen-inspired ink, it’s no surprise that Joker, Harry Potter, Star Wars, Batman, and Spiderman rank as the top five films inspiring the most tattoo tributes among fans.
The Lord of the Rings comes in sixth, with an average of 368,000 yearly searches for tattoos dedicated to the fantasy trilogy, as well as just under 40,000 Instagram posts. Popular tattoos range from classic quotes like “Not all those who wander are lost” to iconic symbols such as the One Ring and the Tree of Gondor.
Other films featuring among the top 10 most influential for tattoos include John Wick, Black Panther, Chucky and the Avengers.
Have you ever thought about getting a tattoo inspired by your favourite TV show or film, and does our research give you inspiration for your next trip to the tattoo parlour?
Methodology & Sources
Betway analysed Google search volume and Instagram data to determine the films and TV shows that inspire the most fan tattoos.
Average monthly search volumes were recorded for ‘[title] tattoo’, ‘[title] tattoo ideas’, and ‘[title] inspired tattoo’. These were then combined to give an overall average monthly search volume for each film and TV show. Search volume for all locations was taken.
The number of Instagram posts for tattoos inspired by each film and TV show was also recorded by searching [title] + ‘tattoo’, then taking the number of posts under the relevant hashtag. Data correct as of 02/10/2023.
