Let’s be real for a second. Every November, like clockwork, a specific magazine cover drops and half the internet loses its collective mind while the other half asks, "Wait, him?" It’s a bizarre American tradition. We’ve been doing this since 1985. The Sexiest Man Alive list isn't just a collection of handsome faces; it’s basically a time capsule of what Hollywood wanted us to thirst over at any given moment.
If you think it’s just about who has the best abs, you’re kinda missing the point. It’s about the "vibe." It's about who had a massive movie that summer or who managed to stay likable while playing a spy or a superhero.
Take the most recent winner, Jonathan Bailey. He took the crown for 2025. Honestly, it makes sense. Between Bridgerton and Wicked, the man has been everywhere. But he’s also the first openly gay man to be the primary titleholder, which feels like a pretty big shift for a franchise that, for a long time, was very... traditional.
How the Sexiest Man Alive List Actually Works
You’d think there’s some scientific formula involving jawline angles and pectoral symmetry. There isn't. It’s way more subjective—and strategic—than that.
The editors at People basically look at who is "having a moment." They check social media, they look at box office numbers, and—this is the part most people forget—they see who is actually willing to do the interview. You can’t be the Sexiest Man Alive if you refuse to pose for the cover. It's a job.
The "Consent" Factor
Some actors hate it. They think it’s embarrassing. Others, like John Krasinski (the 2024 winner), lean into the joke. When he won, he joked that his wife, Emily Blunt, was going to wallpaper their house with the cover. That’s the "sexy" sweet spot: being incredibly hot but acting like you have no idea why anyone noticed.
The Multi-Winners Club
It's a very short list. Only four men have managed to win twice:
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- Brad Pitt (1995 and 2000)
- George Clooney (1997 and 2006)
- Johnny Depp (2003 and 2009)
- Richard Gere (1993 and 1999)
Actually, 1993 was weird because they didn't even name a man; they named Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford the "Sexiest Couple Alive." People were so annoyed that the magazine basically had to go back later and retroactively fix the timeline.
The Evolution of "Sexy" Through the Decades
The 80s were a different time. The very first winner was Mel Gibson in 1985. He was 29. Back then, "sexy" meant rugged, blue-eyed action stars. Then you had Sean Connery winning in 1989 at 59 years old. He’s still the oldest guy to ever take the top spot. It was a statement: age is cool.
Then the 90s hit, and it became about the "pretty boy" transition. Tom Cruise in 1990. Patrick Swayze in 1991. By the time Denzel Washington won in 1996, he broke a massive barrier as the first Black man to be given the title. It took eleven years to get there. Eleven.
Breaking the Mold
In the 2010s and 2020s, the list started reflecting a broader world. We got David Beckham (2015), showing that athletes could play in the same league as movie stars. Then Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in 2016. By the time John Legend won in 2019 and Michael B. Jordan in 2020, the criteria had clearly shifted from "just a movie star" to "someone who actually does stuff for the world."
Michael B. Jordan’s win was heavily tied to his activism. It wasn't just about his role in Black Panther; it was about him using his production company to push for inclusion riders.
The Winners Most People Forgot
Everyone remembers Chris Evans (2022) or Paul Rudd (2021) because the Marvel machine is impossible to ignore. But if you look back at the early 2000s, some names feel like a fever dream.
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Ben Affleck won in 2002. This was peak "Bennifer" era. The media was obsessed with him and Jennifer Lopez, so of course he was the pick. Or Harrison Ford in 1998. He was 56 and still outshining guys half his age.
There was even a year where they didn't pick anyone at all. 1994. They just... skipped it. Decades later, the editors admitted that if they had picked someone, it probably would have been Keanu Reeves for Speed. They eventually gave him a "retroactive" title, but it's still a weird quirk in the history of the Sexiest Man Alive list.
Why We Still Care (Or Why We Pretend Not To)
It's easy to call the list superficial. Because it is. But it’s also a weirdly accurate barometer of fame. If you’re on that list, you’ve officially "arrived."
- The Humility Trait: Most winners spend their entire interview saying they don't deserve it. Patrick Dempsey (2023) said he was "the bridesmaid" for years before finally getting the call at 57.
- The Friend Factor: These guys usually get bullied by their famous friends. When Paul Rudd won, his Marvel co-stars basically spent a month roasting him in group chats.
- The Dog Rule: For some reason, lately, the winners love to pose with their dogs. Jonathan Bailey did it with his dog, Benson. It’s a tactic. It makes the "Sexiest Man" feel approachable. Like a guy you could actually grab a coffee with.
The Full Timeline: 40 Years of Winners
If you want to see how the "standard" has changed, just look at the progression.
1985: Mel Gibson
1986: Mark Harmon
1987: Harry Hamlin
1988: John F. Kennedy Jr. (The only non-entertainer to ever win)
1989: Sean Connery
1990: Tom Cruise
1991: Patrick Swayze
1992: Nick Nolte
1993: Richard Gere & Cindy Crawford (Sexiest Couple)
1994: (Skipped)
1995: Brad Pitt
1996: Denzel Washington
1997: George Clooney
1998: Harrison Ford
1999: Richard Gere
2000: Brad Pitt
2001: Pierce Brosnan
2002: Ben Affleck
2003: Johnny Depp
2004: Jude Law
2005: Matthew McConaughey
2006: George Clooney
2007: Matt Damon
2008: Hugh Jackman
2009: Johnny Depp
2010: Ryan Reynolds
2011: Bradley Cooper
2012: Channing Tatum
2013: Adam Levine
2014: Chris Hemsworth
2015: David Beckham
2016: Dwayne Johnson
2017: Blake Shelton (This one caused a massive internet fight)
2018: Idris Elba
2019: John Legend
2020: Michael B. Jordan
2021: Paul Rudd
2022: Chris Evans
2023: Patrick Dempsey
2024: John Krasinski
2025: Jonathan Bailey
Is the List Losing Its Power?
Some people think so. In the age of TikTok and viral stars, a magazine cover doesn't have the same monopoly on "sexy" it used to. We have "Internet Boyfriends" now. People like Pedro Pascal or Jeremy Allen White dominate the conversation for months without needing a formal title.
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But People has been smart. They've started including "Reader's Choice" categories and social media polls to stay relevant. They know that if they just picked another 40-year-old white guy named Chris every year, people would stop clicking.
The inclusion of Jonathan Bailey in 2025 is a clear sign the brand is trying to evolve. It’s no longer just about who looks good in a suit; it’s about who represents the current culture.
What to Expect Next
If you’re looking to "spot" the next winner, watch the movie release calendars. Whoever is starring in the biggest blockbuster of 2026—and happens to be a genuinely nice guy who does his own stunts and loves his mom—is probably already on the shortlist.
To stay ahead of the curve on pop culture trends:
- Follow the major film festival circuits (Cannes, Sundance) to see which actors are gaining "prestige" heat.
- Watch the late-night circuit; Jimmy Fallon’s show is almost always where the reveal happens.
- Pay attention to the "nice guy" narratives. The Sexiest Man Alive list almost never picks a "bad boy" anymore. They want guys who do the dishes and support charities.
The list is a game. And as long as we keep debating it at Thanksgiving dinner, People is going to keep playing it.