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Each Halloween brings trendy costumes ripped from the headlines and getups inspired by pop culture’s biggest moments, but pop culture costumes don’t just have to be whatever is trending — there are a lot of getups that work just as well this year as they will next.
But sometimes, it’s fun to commemorate the year that was with a Halloween costume — be it an outfit inspired by one of pop culture’s wacky side characters or a costume from a trending TV show or movie. Or, let’s face it, a Labubu.
That’s why our roundup of the best pop culture costumes runs the gamut. There are the trendy getups from the year that once and the outfits that will make just as much sense in 2025 as they will in 2026. Best of all, many of these options utilize regular clothes and everyday items that you can repurpose once the gourds are put away.
Elphaba and Glinda in Wicked
Elphaba and Glinda are projected to be two of the most “Pop-u-lahr” Halloween costumes this season, thanks to the upcoming Wicked: For Good premiere. So why not bring the magic of the film to your festive Hallow’s Eve gathering? These costumes are easy to find, replicate the frocks worn in the movie, and are available for under $100.
Adult Glinda Wicked Costume
$54.99+
Buy Now on walmart
Sizes are selling out quickly, so we recommend grabbing this pink Glinda dress as soon as possible to beat shipping deadlines.
Adult Elphaba Wicked Costume
$59.99
Buy Now on spirit halloween
Grab some green paint, and you’re all set to go full Wicked Witch. Just don’t forget the makeup remover for when the night ends.
Labubu Doll
If there’s one unexpected costume trend this year, it’s Labubu. These creepy, toothy little monsters have taken over pop culture — from dangling off celebrity handbags to reselling for thousands on third-party sites. Dress up as one and have your friend go as a Birkin bag; it’s an instant costume win.
Leg Avenue Halloween Costume Ears
$24.99
Buy Now On Amazon
According to Amazon, these are technically “rabbit ears,” but we can almost guarantee none will be the wiser.
Women Fuzzy Onesie One Piece
$15.99
Buy Now On Amazon
And to finish off the fit, get this furry jumpsuit. Although it isn’t the exact same shade of blue, it does the trick.
Labubu Mascot Costume
$725.00
$1,450.00
50% off
Buy Now on etsy
If you really want to go full throttle, you can even grab this Labubu costume suit on Etsy for 50% off. It might scare a few kids, but hey, isn’t that what Halloween’s about?
Lin-Manuel Miranda as Alexander Hamilton
You couldn’t scroll through TikTok lately without hearing one viral line: “Alexander, come back to sleep.” The soundbite from the original Hamilton soundtrack inspired users worldwide to film themselves sneaking out of the house dressed as young colonial boys, and the trend is still going strong. It makes for a clever, topical Halloween costume that says, “Yes, I know what the kids are up to.”
Founding Father Halloween Costume
$61.95
Buy Now On Amazon
This colonial costume is available in sizes small to extra large, and can be worn by men, women, and eager young apprentices.
Toothless from How to Train Your Dragon
The live-action version of How to Train Your Dragon was released this past June, and featured everyone’s favorite duo — Toothless and Hiccup. Slip into a one-piece Toothless jumpsuit and feel like you, too, can fly through the night (even if your wings are just polyester).
How to Train Your Dragon Toothless Adult Costume
$59.99
Buy Now on spirit halloween
The Toothless costume on Spirit Halloween is an online exclusive, so don’t expect to see it pop up in your local store. This is the only way to buy it.
Noah Wyle in The Pitt
If you’re looking for a last-minute Halloween costume, Noah Wyle as Dr. Robby in The Pitt is an easy one to pull off. The doctor typically sports a blue zippered sweatshirt, black scrubs, and a stethoscope. A weary expression helps, too.
Extra Heavyweight French Terry Zip Hoodie
$54.00
$108.00
50% off
Buy Now at gap
A basic zippered hoodie, like this one from Gap, will help complete the look, particularly worn over black scrubs.
Deluxe Costume Stethoscope
$7.99
Buy Now at spirit halloween
A stethoscope is an easy, affordable prop to add, along with gloves.
Leonardo DiCaprio in One Battle After Another
One Battle After Another is one of the most talked-about movies of the year and a “stone-cold masterpiece,” according to Rolling Stone’s David Fear. DiCaprio’s character, Pat, wears a distinctive look throughout the film of a bathrobe, oversized shades, and a beanie. Bonus points if you can find his old-school phone.
L.L. Bean Scotch Plaid Flannel Robe
$89.95
Buy Now at l.L. Bean
This robe from L.L. Bean is a close match for the one worn in the film, but won’t fall apart after just one wear.
Keegan Square Sunglasses
$15.00
Buy Now at urban outfitters
As for the sunglasses, the bigger the better.
Helly R. in Severance
Severance costumes have been a buzz since the show first premiered, and they’ll likely remain popular this year, following the release of season 2 this spring. Britt Lower’s character, Helly R, has a distinctive look that’s relatively easy to pull off.
L.L. Bean Soft Stretch Supima-Blend Tee
$49.95
Buy Now at LL Bean
A blue turtleneck is arguably Helly’s signature look throughout the second season.
Severance Keycard ID Badge
$13.99
Buy Now at etsy
Praise Kier.
Michael Jordan’s “Flu Game”
Dressing up as an athlete is easy enough since every athlete has a uniform. But if you want to make the costume a little less basic, you can recreate a specific sports moment, like Michael Jordan’s famous “flu game.” Jordan led the Bulls to a game 5 victory against the Utah Jazz while stricken with a stomach bug.
Michael Jordan Mitchell & Ness Jersey
$299.99
Buy at nba store
A Jordan jersey is pricey, but it’s the kind of thing that can be worn more than once (not just on Halloween).
Vicks DayQuil & NyQuil
$19.97
Buy On Amazon
According to The Last Dance, Jordan’s “flu” was more likely severe food poisoning, so Dayquil wouldn’t have been much help. But don’t let pedantry ruin a good costume.
John Lennon
A costume that’s easy to pull off is John Lennon, thanks to the rock and roll icon’s signature round eyewear and long hair that he sported late in the Beatles’ career and after their breakup. You can keep it out of Harry Potter territory by adding Lennon’s famous “New York City” t-shirt.
Vintage Round Metal Sunglasses
$11.99
Buy Now On Amazon
A pair of round glasses is key to the look.
Light Brown Wig Long
$15.99
$19.99
20% off
Buy Now On Amazon
A long-hair wig is the best way to get Lennon’s 70’s look.
New York Men’s Ringer Tee
$21.99
Buy Now On Amazon
John Lennon sported a sleeveless version of a very similar t-shirt in one of his most iconic photos.
Elton John
Elton John has sported many looks over the years, but few are as iconic and instantly recognizable as his sequined Dodgers uniform. You can buy a ready-made version online, and cap it off with a pair of oversized sunglasses.
Baseball Uniform Full Set
$55.99
$68.99
19% off
Buy Now On Amazon
This costume includes a cap and belt and comes in a range of sizes.
Oversize Square Glitter Sunglasses
$7.99
Buy Now On Amazon
A pair of oversized sunglasses helps finish the look.
Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley in Alien
If you have unlimited time and resources, you could dress up as a Xenomorph from theAlienfranchise, but Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley might be a little easier. A gray jumpsuit is key to the look, as is a head of curly hair. If you don’t want to carry a prop gun, you can bring Jonesy the cat along instead.
Klossus Long Sleeve Coverall
$43.98
Buy Now On Amazon
This coverall features similar angled zips found on Ripley’s uniform. For those with a smaller frame, Dickies makes a similar style for women.
USCSS Nostromo Iron On Patches Set
$19.95
Buy Now On Amazon
This set of patches includes the USCSS Nostromo logo featured on Ripley’s uniform.
Aurora Ginger Cat
$9.99
Buy Now On Amazon
This ginger cat is a similar color to Jones, the other sole survivor of the USCSS Nostromo.
Thelma & Louise
Looking for an easy pop culture couples’ costume? Thelma & Louise is not only iconic and recognizable, but the individual components work outside of Halloween — anyone can pull off a pair of light blue Levi’s, not just Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon on the lam.
Levi’s Ribcage Jeans
$51.75
$98.00
47% off
Buy On Amazon
A pair of vintage jeans will look best, or you can buy new, such as these light-wash high-waisted jeans from Levi’s. Add a western belt and a bandana to complete the look.
Free People New Frontier Western Bootie
$69.97
Buy at nordstrom
A pair of white cowboy boots, a white tank top, and a bandana complete the Louise look, while Thelma wears a sleeveless black band t-shirt and large square sunglasses.
Robert Pattinson as Edward in Twilight
Despite the film’s lack of narrative subtlety, the costumes from Twilight are fairly subdued. After all, these vampires don’t wear giant black cloaks. You can pull off Edward’s look with a gray peacoat, glitter makeup, and artfully tousled hair. A red apple makes for a cheap, convenient prop.
Marc New York Wool Blend Peacoat
$89.97
Buy at nordstrom rack
A gray peacoat similar to this one is what Edward wears through much of the first Twilight movie.
Unicorn Snot Face & Body Glitter Gel
$14.99
$15.99
6% off
Buy Now On Amazon
“This is the skin of a killer, Bella!”
Uma Thurman as Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction
Dressing up as Uma Thurman as Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction is as easy as it is timeless, and the same could be said for most of the characters in the film. An oversized white dress shirt, black pants, and a bob wig are all you need. Bonus points for the bloody nose.
OneDor Costume Bob Wig
$15.29
$16.99
10% off
Buy On Amazon
A jet-black bob wig is an essential component of the look.
Everlane Oxford Shirt
$74
$88
16% off
Buy at everlane
A roomy white button-down, like this one from Everlane, completes the look and can be worn for plenty of other occasions.
Kyle MacLachlan as Dale Cooper in Twin Peaks
The ’90s supernatural drama remains an enduring icon (and The Return is criminally underrated). Kyle MacLachlan’s Dale Cooper is a relatively easy costume to pull off that’s sure to be a hit with TV fans. A trench coat, white shirt, and black tie are the basics, but every good costume is about accessorizing. Add Cooper’s tape recorder and a cup of coffee (preferably a damn fine one).
Quince Long Trench Coat
$129.90
Buy at quince
Quince makes an affordable take on a trench coat that’s similar to the one from the show.
Twin Peaks Sheriff’s Department Mug
$15.95
Buy at paramount
This Twin Peaks mug comes from Paramount’s gift shop, which has tons of great Twin Peaks merch.
Freddie Mercury at Live Aid 1985
Queen at Live Aid in 1985 remains one of the band’s most enduring performances, and Freddie Mercury’s on-stage outfit is iconic despite how simple it is. You may already have most of what you need to pull it off — the core components are simply a white tank and light-wash jeans. Studded accessories and a mustache (real or fake) complete the look.
Calvin Klein White Tank Top (4-Pack)
$49.50
Buy at nordstrom
Calvin Klein’s white tanks are available in a pack of three.
Good Fella Black Moustache
$4.20
Buy Now On Amazon
Designed for a gangster costume, this mustache would also work well for a Freddie Mercury costume.
