For decades, the mullet has been defined by its split personality: neat in the front, chaos at the back. But Oscar Isaac has revealed the cut may hold more composure than contradiction. On the Frankenstein press tour, he debuted a version that’s less late-night excess and shotgunned beers, more responsible fun—the kind of mullet that takes the trash out before cracking open a Stella Artois.
At first glance, it might pass for a regular short cut. But then you clock the length grazing his collar. It’s a mullet, undeniably, but one that knows restraint. Isaac’s version may be smaller in scale but it’s more grown-up. It’s a haircut that reframes the punchline as polish, respectable in silhouette but still rebellious in spirit.
After the scrappy DIY mullets of quarantine, the haircut is evolving into something a little calmer. The appeal lies in the low stakes: a way to play with shape and energy without going too rogue. As TJ Hunt, barber at Time Shoreditch, puts it: “The mullet has gained its fair share of ridicule. But it has stood the test of time and rightfully earned its stripes as a classic hairstyle. It’s a statement look, which isn’t for everyone, but nobody can deny its cool, rebellious nature.”
And it isn’t just the Dune star. Harry Styles has a gentle flick of one. Jacob Elordi has gone soft-focus with his (he’s paired it with some solid mutton chops, too). Brad Pitt’s shaggy iterations and Pedro Pascal’s relaxed length both point to the same shift: the mullet as a credible option for men who want something playful but still seemingly put-together.
Maybe that’s the genius of it: in Oscar Isaac’s hands, the world’s most chaotic cut has now become… reliable. There is still a party in the back, but one where you’re serving a nice steak rather than pulling keg stands. Seasoned with a serving of salt and pepper, this mullet has learned to be enjoyed responsibly.
This was originally published in British GQ.
