These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (2024)

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (1)

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Who among us has not fantasized about jumping into the screen and playing out your fave movie? I challenge you, fellow movie lovers, to make this dream a reality and pick one of these iconic movie character costumes this Halloween. Will you snag a Barbie Halloween costume to honor the never-ending Barbenheimmer era, or go goth with a Wednesday Halloween costume? To avoid too much anguish, I have gathered the 63 most iconic movie character costumes to choose from. You’re welcome!

Now, before you pick a costume, remember this: The key to pulling off a movie character costume for Halloween is choosing an iconic outfit from a popular movie that you like and that you can easily recreate, whether by picking up an already existing costume or DIY-ing it. Think more Cruella de Vil (super identifiable, can be as easy as buying a wig) and less random niche movie character who doesn't have a standout look or recognizable aesthetic. Got it? Good. Now you're ready to read on for some movie character Halloween costume inspo.

1

Romy and Michele from Romy and Michele's High School Reunion

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (3)

This Halloween, party like it's 1997 and you and your BFF are desperate to make a good impression at your 10-year high school reunion! All you and your bestie need is a bright, metallic blue and pink minidress with high heels.

SHOP MINIDRESS

2

Gogo and The Bride from Kill Bill

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (4)

Kill Bill gave the world some of the most recognizable Halloween costumes. Case in point: that yellow bodysuit is basically synonymous with Uma Thurman's protagonist. And it's relatively easy to recreate, just take a note from Machine Gun Kelly and get a yellow tracksuit, spray some fake blood on it, grab your katana and you're good to go. And if you have a friend/S.O., have them pull a Megan Fox and dress as Gogo the assassin.

SHOP TRACKSUIT

3

Tashi from Challengers

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (5)

Want 2024 movie character inspo? As Tashi, Zendaya wore many memorable outfits in Challengers, and you can def get away with putting on your best tenniscore outfit and calling it a day. But if you really want to nail a Challengers look, the best way is to get your hands on that iconic "I Told Ya" shirt.

SHOP T-SHIRT

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4

Carrie Bradshaw from Sex and the City

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (6)

Carrie Bradshaw has worn many iconic outfits over the years on Sex and the City and ...And Just Like That, but her most well-known movie outfit has got to be her elaborate wedding gown from the 2008 Sex and the City film. Obviously, buying an extravagant wedding dress just for Halloween is a bit of a stretch, but the real accessory to focus on is the blue feather adornment on the veil.

SHOP FEATHER HEADBAND

5

Emma Baxter from Poor Things

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (7)

Big shoulders are back, baby! Emma Stone's character in Poor Things is always sporting giant, puffy shoulders, but this three-piece outfit is probably her most well-known. Just be warned: you might get a little chilly in those yellow short shorts!

SHOP COSTUME

6

Barbie from Barbie

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (8)

Will everyone be Barbie (again) this year for Halloween? Maybe. But there soooo many iconic 'fits to choose from, including ALL of Margot Robbie's iconic press tour looks and costumes in the film. Just grab every pink item you own and rock it.

SHOP COWGIRL FIT

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7

Mia from The Princess Diaries

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (9)

All I'm saying is that Camila Cabello killed this look last Halloween, and so can you. All you need is a strapless white dress, oval sunnies, your dad's old headphones from the '90s, and, of course, a tiara.

SHOP SUNGLASSES

8

Jenna Rink from 13 Going on 30

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (10)

Let's be real—when you first saw this dress on screen, you either hated it or had to have it. (Ariana Grande had to have it so badly, she wore the dress on a regular episode of The Voice, not even as a costume!) This Halloween, let's all agree to file this colorful ensemble under: not a want, but a need.

SHOP DRESS

9

Queen of Hearts from Alice in Wonderland

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (11)

Queen coming through, and she's not afraid to steal hearts. The Queen of Hearts can be portrayed in so many different ways, but as long as you have wear a crown high on your head and stick to the deck of cards theme, people will have no problem knowing who you are.

SHOP CROWN

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10

Lara Croft from Lara Croft: Tomb Raider

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (12)

Angelina Jolie a-t-e in Tomb Raider, and so will you when you strap on your garter pocket utility belt. Dust off those combat boots we were all obsessed with in the 2010s, and don't be afraid to paint on some battle scars while you're at it.

SHOP UTILITY BELT AND TANK TOP

11

Lydia Deetz from Beetlejuice

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (13)

What could be more fun than dressing as the OG ~goth grrl~ for Halloween, complete with an eye-catching red wedding gown?

SHOP DRESS

12

Isis from Bring It On

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (14)

Say it with us now: "Brr! It's cold in here. There must be some Clovers in the atmosphere." Just sayin, the Clovers green cheer uniform is far superior to the Toros' boring red-and-black unis.

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13

Gracie Hart from Miss Congeniality

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (15)

If you have a pink dress with a high slit and combat boots, then you just need a crown, sash, and leg holster to become Gracie from Miss Congeniality.

SHOP TIARA

14

Tinker Bell from Peter Pan

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (16)

Tinker Bell is a classic and super cute option if you want to feel a little bit of extra magic this Halloween. Fairy glitter not included.

SHOP WINGS

15

Alabama Whitman from True Romance

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (17)

To channel Alabama Whitman from True Romance, you just need a red dress, leopard-print jacket, and some shades.

SHOP JACKET

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16

Dionne Davenport from Clueless

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (18)

Yeah, Cher's yellow plaid ensemble is undeniably chic, but can we talk about Dionne's first 'fit from the movie for a sec?

SHOP SKIRT

17

Elvira Hanco*ck from Scarface

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (19)

For a fun throwback, dress up as the v chic Elvira Hanco*ck from 1983's Scarface, complete with a long satin dress, bobbed wig, and heeled sandals.

SHOP DRESS

18

Juno MacGuff from Juno

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (20)

Juno's mismatched 'fit made us wanna try wearing a skirt over jeans (plus, this is the perfect Halloween costume to wear if you're expecting a lil bb).

SHOP HOODIE

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19

Nina Sayers from Black Swan

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (21)

The swan costume Natalie Portman wears in her final performance is so on point(e)—the crown, the eye makeup, the tutu—that it's no wonder this look became the one featured on movie posters.

SHOP CORSET

20

Margot Tenenbaum from The Royal Tenenbaums

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (22)

Margot's style in The Royal Tenenbaums is still iconic even nearly 20 years after the movie was released. From the fur coat to the Hermès Birkin bag and the single barrette, she has such a signature look.

SHOP COAT

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (23)

Olivia Truffaut-Wong

Editor

Olivia Truffaut-Wong is an editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers beauty, entertainment, and lifestyle. She loves finding and testing the best skincare products to recommend, like the best tinted sunscreens, and is always researching the best cat accessories for her fur baby. She has over 10 years of experience as an entertainment and culture writer and editor, and her work has been featured in The Cut, Refinery29, Teen Vogue, Polygon, Bustle, and more.

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (24)

Chaise Sanders

Associate Editor

Chaise Sanders is an Associate Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she covers anything from lifestyle and beauty to entertainment and style. Wanna upgrade your skincare game? She's got you covered with the best facial cleansing brushes. Or maybe you're in need of a new true crime show to binge? Got that covered too! Prior to joining the Cosmo team, Chaise was an editor at Country Living (also part of the Hearst fam) where she interviewed celebs like Dolly Parton, LeAnn Rimes and even Martha Stewart. Now, as one of the Big Apple's newest residents, there's a good chance that you can catch her checking out an Insta-worthy cafe or spending way to much $$$ in vintage stores.

These Iconic Movie Character Costumes Will Make You the Star of Halloween (2024)

FAQs

What can you infer about costumes on Halloween? ›

Some psychologists have suggested that our choice of costume can reflect our personalities. For example, expressing our dark side is one of the factors that have been suggested as an explanation for our choice of Halloween costume.

Why do people dress up as characters for Halloween? ›

It may have originally been a tradition whereby people impersonated the Aos Sí, or the souls of the dead, and received offerings on their behalf. Impersonating these beings, or wearing a disguise, was also believed to protect oneself from them.

What's the most popular Halloween costume of all time? ›

The Most Popular Halloween Costumes of All Time
  • Star Wars: Star Wars is always popular! ...
  • Policeman/Firefighter: Real-life superheroes likefirefighters and policemen have always been well-loved costume options for both kids and adults.
  • Witch: You don't need any hocus pocus to create a witch costume!

What can a costume tell us about a character? ›

Costumes may consist of clothes and accessories, but they play a multifaceted role in character development and storytelling. Among other things, costumes show social status, reflect internal struggles, reveals good vs evil characters and more.

How does costume affect the character? ›

Costume informs the audience about a character, their social position, personality, and contributes to the creation of the world of a play. For many actors, putting on their costume is an important part of getting into character before going on stage. It can affect their posture and how they move.

What do costumes represent on Halloween? ›

In fact, the origins of Halloween began over 2,000 years ago with the Celts celebrating the pagan holiday known as Samhain, which marks the beginning of winter. This time of year was believed to be when the veil between the dead and the living was the thinnest and people would wear disguises to ward off spirits.

What is one reason we dress up on Halloween? ›

Halloween's origins can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival known as Samhain, which was held on November 1 in contemporary calendars. It was believed that on that day, the souls of the dead returned to their homes, so people dressed in costumes and lit bonfires to ward off spirits.

What is the psychology of Halloween costumes? ›

Furthermore, dressing up can be a therapeutic tool, allowing individuals to confront and process complex emotions in a safe environment. By embodying a character, one can explore feelings of vulnerability, strength, sadness, or joy without the direct implications these emotions might have in their real lives.

What makes a Halloween costume offensive? ›

Body-shaming and objectifying costumes

Think about it this way: If you wouldn't say it to a friend's face, don't wear it as a Halloween costume. Outfits that make fun of people's size, objectify human beings or otherwise make light of a person's lived experience are all inappropriate.

What is the most bought item on Halloween? ›

Costumes, Masks, and Accessories

Staples of everyone's Halloween repertoire, costumes and masks are the biggest expense of each household's budget. Accessories (like fake weapons, blood, or others) are next, followed by decorations and candy.

What is the best selling Halloween costume this year? ›

This year, though, the most popular costumes might look a little different. Barbie, Spider-Man and Wednesday Addams (from “The Addams Family”) are among the most searched costumes ideas in the US this year, according to Google Trends' Frightgeist, which analyzes the most-searched costume ideas across the country.

What is the most popular animal Halloween costume? ›

Any person who visits a pet store in October will realize there are plenty of options when it comes to pet costumes. But many pet parents do have favorites. According to the NRF, a pumpkin is the most popular pet costume in the U.S., with an estimated 11 percent of pet owners dressing their pets in these costumes.

Are there any illegal Halloween costumes? ›

Don't dress like a nun or a priest

If you live in the American state of Alabama you can't dress like a priest on Halloween or any other day. According to Alabama law, you may be arrested or fined if you dress up as a priest, rabbi, pastor, or any other member of the clergy of any religion.

What is inappropriate for Halloween? ›

Watch out for costumes that represent cultures that your child doesn't identify with, as well as controversial figures like Confederate soldiers or serial killers. Costumes that stereotype prisoners, unhoused people or any other marginalized people aren't cool either.

How many Halloween costumes are wasted? ›

How many Halloween costumes are thrown away each year? 7 million costumes are thrown out each year in the UK alone according to the Hubbub study. The US has a population 5 times bigger than the UK, so estimates for how many Halloween costumes are thrown away in the US are around 35 million. A truly scary amount.

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