Editing Patrick Bateman (section)

{{Short description|Protagonist from American Psycho}}
{{for|the extended play|Patrick Bateman (EP){{!}}''Patrick Bateman'' (EP)}}
{{Use American English|date=December 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2022}}
{{Infobox character
| name = Patrick Bateman
| image = [[File:American-psycho-patrick-bateman.jpg|frameless]]
| caption = [[Christian Bale]] as Patrick Bateman in ''[[American Psycho (film)|American Psycho]]'' (2000)
| first = ''[[The Rules of Attraction]]'' (1987)
| last = ''[[Lunar Park]]'' (2005)
| creator = [[Bret Easton Ellis]]
| portrayer = {{plainlist|
* [[Christian Bale]] <br>(''[[American Psycho (film)|American Psycho]]'') 
* Dechen Thurman<br>(''[[Bret Easton Ellis#Filmography|This Is Not an Exit]]'')
* Michael Kremko<br>(''[[American Psycho 2]]'')
* [[Casper Van Dien]]<br>(''[[The Rules of Attraction (film)|The Rules of Attraction]]'', deleted scene)
* [[Matt Smith (actor)|Matt Smith]] and [[Benjamin Walker (actor)|Benjamin Walker]]<br>(''[[American Psycho (musical)|American Psycho: The Musical]]'')
* [[Casey Cott]] <br>(as [[Kevin Keller (character)|Kevin Keller]] in ''[[Chapter One Hundred and Twelve: American Psychos|Riverdale: American Psychos]]''<ref name="riverdaleinamericanpsycho">{{cite web|url=https://www.tvfanatic.com/riverdale-season-6-episode-17-review-chapter-one-hundred-and-twe/|title=Riverdale Season 6 Episode 17 Review: Chapter One Hundred And Twelve: American Psychos|last=Carreiro|first=Justin|work=TV Fanatic|date=June 13, 2022|access-date=June 13, 2022}}</ref>) 
}}
| aliases = Pat Bateman<br>Marcus Halberstam (Marcus Halberstram)<br>Paul Owen (Paul Allen)
| gender = Male
| occupation = [[Investment banking|Investment banker]]
| title = [[Vice President]]
| family = [[The Rules of Attraction#Sean Bateman|Sean Bateman]] (younger brother)
| nationality = [[United States|American]]
| lbl21 = Education
| data21 = [[Phillips Exeter Academy]]<br>[[Harvard College]]<br>[[Harvard Business School]]
}}
'''Patrick Bateman''' is a fictional character created by novelist [[Bret Easton Ellis]]. He is the [[villain protagonist]] and [[unreliable narrator]] of Ellis's 1991 novel ''[[American Psycho]]'' and is played by [[Christian Bale]] in [[American Psycho (film)|the 2000 film adaptation of the same name.]] Bateman is a wealthy and [[Economic materialism|materialistic]] [[yuppie]] and Wall Street [[investment banking|investment banker]] who, supposedly, leads a secret life as a [[serial killer]]. He has also appeared in other Ellis novels and their film and theatrical adaptations.

While initially gaining attention upon the novel's release, Bateman's influence expanded among [[Gen Z]]. The film's [[cult following]] among young viewers propelled Bateman into the realm of a [[cultural icon]].<ref name="Villalba">{{Cite web |last=Villalba |first=Juanjo |date=2023-01-11 |title=Why are Gen Z men obsessed with Patrick Bateman from 'American Psycho'? |url=https://english.elpais.com/culture/2023-01-11/why-are-gen-z-men-obsessed-with-the-main-character-of-american-psycho.html |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=EL PAÍS English |language=en-us}}</ref><ref name="Trudon">{{Cite web |last=Trudon |first=Taylor |date=2023-05-05 |title=Christian Bale, Gen-Z Heartthrob |url=https://www.thecut.com/2023/05/why-gen-z-loves-christian-bale.html |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=The Cut |language=en-us}}</ref><ref name="GQ">{{Cite web |date=2022-11-07 |title=Sigma grindset: TikTok's toxic worshipping of Patrick Bateman is another sign young men are lost |url=https://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/lifestyle/article/sigma-grindset-tiktok-trend-2022 |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=British GQ|first=Ruchira|last=Sharma |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Das |first=Amrita |date=2022-12-24 |title=What does sigma mean on TikTok? Viral Patrick Bateman trend explored |url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/what-sigma-mean-tiktok-viral-patrick-bateman-trend-explored |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=www.sportskeeda.com |language=en-us}}</ref> The rise of [[internet culture]] and social media platforms has propelled Bateman's character into the realm of [[Memetics|memetic]] culture. [[Internet meme|Memes]] featuring Bateman's memorable quotes, facial expressions, and famous scenes have proliferated across various online communities, further cementing his status as a cultural touchstone.<ref name="Examiner">{{Cite web|first=Robert |last=Schmad |date=2021-07-08 |title=What's attracting young men to Patrick Bateman? |url=https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/whats-attracting-young-men-to-patrick-bateman |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=Washington Examiner |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Ustaer">{{Cite web |last=Ustaer |first=Feyyaz |date=2023-03-16 |title=The Reason Gen-Z Embraces Patrick Bateman And The Sigma Male |url=https://theredcarpet.net/why-gen-z-embraces-patrick-bateman-and-the-sigma-male/ |access-date=2023-07-05 |website=The Red Carpet |language=en-US}}</ref> Bateman has been cited as an ideal representation of a "[[sigma male]]", both through memes and unironic discussion.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hoghaug |first=James |date=2022-09-13 |title=Sigma or Killer? The Truth Behind American Psycho's Patrick Bateman |url=https://www.cbr.com/patrick-bateman-sigma-status-explained-american-psycho/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-04-28 |title=The Rise of the 'Sigma Male', a New Kind of Toxic Masculinity |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/sigma-male-toxic-masculinity/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=VICE |language=en-US}}</ref>