It’s been 25 years since American Psycho, both the novel by Bret Easton Ellis and the film adaptation directed by Mary Harron, first left a chilling imprint on popular culture. In that quarter-century, the character of Patrick Bateman, portrayed by Christian Bale, has become synonymous with the darker, more cynical elements of 1980s Wall Street, materialism, and the underlying discontentment of modern life. Yet, beyond the suits, the luxury, and the violence, one element of Bateman’s character has perhaps lingered longest in the public imagination: his morning routine.

 

In the opening scene of the film, Bateman’s meticulous grooming regimen—a perfect mirror of his desire for control and perfection—acts as an introduction to his character. He spends several minutes applying expensive products to his skin, working through a series of exercises designed to “correct” imperfections. These ritualistic acts are the calm before the storm, establishing a rhythm of control that sharply contrasts with the chaos he creates later in the day.

What was once an unsettling moment in a deeply unsettling film has now, through repeated pop culture references, social media memes, and parody, become something much more normalized. In fact, Bateman’s disturbing morning routine has become emblematic of a culture obsessed with self-image, control, and superficiality.

The Morning Routine as Metaphor: The 1980s, Capitalism, and Identity

To fully appreciate the normalization of Bateman’s routine, it’s essential to understand its significance in the context of the 1980s—a decade of excess, greed, and materialism. Patrick Bateman, as a character, embodies the excesses of capitalism, a product of the hyper-competitive, hyper-consumerist world of New York City during the Reagan era. His daily grooming rituals represent the anxiety and obsession with appearance that permeated the culture at the time.

In the opening scene of American Psycho, Bateman’s preoccupation with his skin, body, and image is revealed through his dialogue and meticulous routine. As he applies face masks, scrubs, and cleansers, Bateman speaks about his commitment to maintaining his skin, his diet, and his body—phrasing it almost as a form of self-love or self-care. However, these acts of care are suffused with a sense of control and narcissism, which undermines their supposed benevolence. Bateman’s self-care is not an act of self-love in the traditional sense but an attempt to create a polished exterior in a world that increasingly values surface over substance.

This careful crafting of an ideal physical self mirrors the materialistic environment Bateman inhabits. The 1980s were defined by an obsession with status, wealth, and the outward appearance of success. Bateman, an investment banker who spends his days securing deals and indulging in luxury, is an avatar of these values—values that, despite their outward gloss, hide a deep emptiness beneath. His morning routine, therefore, functions as a metaphor for the superficiality of the era, a commentary on how the external is often prioritized over the internal.

The Unsettling Nature of Bateman’s Routine

Bateman’s morning routine, viewed from a contemporary lens, is not merely obsessive—it’s downright disturbing. The deliberate, methodical nature of his actions, his physical perfectionism, and his desensitized commentary on his routine make it clear that there is something inherently off about him. At first glance, it may appear as though Bateman is simply a man obsessed with grooming. But as the scene progresses, the more sinister undercurrents begin to emerge.

In a series of voice-over monologues, Bateman describes his facial products with cold, clinical precision: “I’ve been using this skin-care product for over a year now, and it’s worked wonders.” This is not a moment of self-empowerment, but rather a mechanical adherence to an idealized self-image. Bateman’s routine is more than just about physical appearance; it’s about the imposition of control over his environment and, more importantly, over himself. Each movement in the routine is a reaction to his inner chaos—a way of coping with the discomfort and disorientation that comes from being trapped in a world that values nothing but image.

What sets Bateman’s routine apart from conventional self-care rituals is the complete absence of joy or genuine self-care. This is not a person taking a moment to connect with themselves or feel good about their appearance. Instead, it’s an exercise in maintaining a super unique, unblemished exterior while internal turmoil brews beneath. His routine is not just about appearance; it is about identity—a desire to craft an ideal version of himself in the eyes of others, to maintain control over a world that, for Bateman, is anything but controllable.

The unsettling nature of Bateman’s morning routine is compounded by the fact that it is juxtaposed with his later actions in the film. Bateman’s obsession with cleanliness and perfection stands in stark contrast to the graphic violence he later inflicts on his victims. His carefully curated appearance becomes a form of deception—an attempt to mask the underlying chaos of his psyche.

The Normalization of Bateman’s Routine in 2025

Over the years, Bateman’s morning routine has become something of a cultural touchstone—referenced in internet memes, parodies, and pop culture commentary. What was once unsettling has, through repetition, become almost… normal. In 2025, it’s easy to see how the normalization of Bateman’s routine has come to mirror a broader cultural shift.

In today’s social media-driven world, where curated perfection is often celebrated, Bateman’s obsessive morning ritual doesn’t seem out of place. With the rise of influencers and wellness culture, many have adopted routines that resemble Bateman’s, though usually without the underlying violence. From expensive face masks to meticulously planned fitness regimens, these routines serve as a reflection of our own preoccupation with self-image and perfection.

What’s troubling is that Bateman’s extreme commitment to his physical appearance now seems almost quaint in comparison to the hyper-commodified wellness culture that has emerged. The obsession with external appearance has only grown, and routines that once felt excessive or troubling are now considered part of mainstream self-care.

The language that accompanies Bateman’s routine is also eerily prescient. Words like cleanse, detox, and purify are now commonplace in beauty and wellness marketing, terms that once seemed associated with cultish behavior now widely accepted as part of daily life. “It’s important to eliminate toxins,” Bateman says in his narration, a sentiment that could easily come from a contemporary self-help guru. The line between Bateman’s disturbing devotion to his routine and the wellness industry’s push for perfection has blurred, making his behavior feel more normalized.

In many ways, Bateman’s obsessive self-care ritual foreshadowed the rise of today’s self-optimization culture, in which individuals feel compelled to constantly improve themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. We live in a time when an increasing number of people share their daily routines and self-care practices on platforms like Instagram and YouTube. These routines, while generally less extreme than Bateman’s, often maintain the same focus on controlling one’s appearance and adhering to a set of prescribed rituals.

The Price of Perfection: The Cost of Normalizing Bateman’s Routine

While Bateman’s routine may seem harmless or even aspirational to some in the context of modern self-care practices, it is important to recognize the dangers in normalizing such extreme behaviors. Bateman’s obsession with his physical appearance is a symptom of a deeper, more pervasive cultural issue: the prioritization of the external over the internal, the idea that who we are is defined by what we present to the world rather than who we truly are.

The normalization of Bateman’s morning ritual raises uncomfortable questions about our current obsession with perfectionism and self-optimization. How far are we willing to go to achieve an idealized version of ourselves? At what point does the pursuit of perfection begin to overshadow our ability to connect with others on a human level? Bateman’s routine serves as a metaphor for the toxic extremes of perfectionism, showing that striving for flawlessness often comes at the cost of authenticity and mental well-being.

Moreover, Bateman’s ritual reveals the dehumanizing effects of consumer culture. In the pursuit of perfection, Bateman loses his sense of self; his grooming becomes a mask, a way to hide his true nature from the world. This constant need to maintain an idealized image reflects a society in which appearance has become more important than substance, and self-worth is often tied to external validation.

The Enduring Power of Bateman’s Morning Routine

Patrick Bateman’s unsettling morning routine, once an unnerving and memorable scene in American Psycho, has now become an unsettling reflection of the present-day culture. As we look back on the legacy of Bateman, we can see how his obsessive quest for perfection mirrors the wider trends that have taken hold of contemporary society—trends that normalize excessive self-care rituals, superficiality, and the prioritization of appearance over substance.

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