10 Famous Movie Characters You Didn't Know Were Based On Real People

It was revealed in a 2010 interview with author Bret Easton Ellis that the titular psychopath from his novel American Psycho was based, at least in part, on his own hatred of consumerist culture and the tension he felt within himself for chasing after the yuppie version of the "American dream" for so many years.

But when it came time to portray the Huey Lewis-loving madman on the big screen, Christian Bale decided to model his performance on the one and only Tom Cruise.

Director Mary Harron recalls discussing the "Martian-like" aspects of Bateman's personality with Bale, specifically how the socially inept head case analyzed other people's interactions like a pod person, trying to figure out how "normal" humans behave.

According to Bale, that trait was very apparent in Tom Cruise, who he'd just seen being interviewed by David Letterman. There was a "very intense friendliness with nothing behind the eyes", which fell in in line perfectly with the vibe Bale wanted to create for the character.

So the next time you watch Patrick Bateman rambling on about Ed Gein or chasing down a half-naked woman with a chainsaw, try not to envision Tom Cruise jumping all over Oprah's couch.