Though vaping hasn’t reached the same ubiquity as traditional smoking in media, it’s appearing more frequently on our screens. Here, we spotlight three iconic vaping scenes that might be overlooked by people!
The Earliest Cinematic Vaping Scene - ‘ The Tourist’
The first portrayal of vaping on the big screen appeared in The Tourist, starring Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie. In a memorable scene, Depp’s character explains to Jolie, “Oh, do you mind me smoking? It’s not a real cigarette, look! It delivers the same amount of nicotine, but the smoke is just water vapor!”.
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Consider when the movie was released when the concept of vaping was largely unfamiliar to the public. The portrait and explanation of the vaping scene were meaningful and forward-thinking. Even though it only made the act into the limelight for a while, it also started the era of vaping appearing in mainstream cinema.
The First Paid Vape Product Placement - ‘ Cymbeline’
In Cymbeline, Milla Jovovich plays the leading female character who is seen using an e-cigarette. This scene is reported to have been sponsored by a Canadian e-cigarette company, marking the first instance of a vape brand paying for product placement in a film. This moment was significant as it was the first time a vaping product was legally promoted by a tobacco company on the big screen.
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This milestone not only paved the way for more companies to integrate their products into mainstream media but also marked a shift in how vaping was marketed and perceived. Notably, this scene was the first to feature a female character vaping, as earlier portrayals had predominantly focused on male characters.
The First Controversial Vaping Scene - ‘ House of Cards’
The first controversial vaping scene in TV history appeared in the acclaimed series House of Cards, where Kevin Spacey’s character, Frank Underwood, responds to his wife’s request to quit smoking by turning to vaping. He famously states, “No, I’m not. It’s vapor. You should try it. It’s addiction without the consequences.”
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This line sparked heated debates, as it portrayed vaping as a safer alternative to traditional smoking—a claim that some people strongly agreed with, while others did not. However, this scene undeniably reflected the growing societal popularity of vaping. It marked a turning point in how e-cigarettes were perceived, from being an unknown novelty to a cultural phenomenon, highlighting the evolving attitudes toward vaping in modern life.
Here, we’ve gathered three iconic vaping scenes, from the earliest big-screen appearance to the first paid product placement, and the first highly controversial TV moment. It will be interesting to see how film and television continue to depict vaping in future media!