While there are more than enough timeless Halloween outfits, 2024 has produced some more specific costume ideas from movies, TV and other pop culture. Each year, the most popular Halloween costumes reflect cultural trends from the year. For example, 2023 saw plenty of Barbies, Oppenheimers and some couple’s costumes based on Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. It’s a safe bet that 2024’s most popular costumes will also draw from the year’s culture. Movies like Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Inside Out 2 and Challengers could provide plenty of costume inspiration.
Fortunately, some of these costumes require relatively little effort, meaning that it isn’t too late to create a fun costume that still feels relevant and timely. Whether it’s a couple’s costume, a group costume or a solo costume, the landscape of pop culture in 2024 provides plenty of viable options for people still in need. Aside from movies and TV shows, there have also been musicians and internet memes that have colored 2024, and it’s likely to see many of these influences reflected in the most popular costumes this Halloween.
Related 10 Great Movies Set At Halloween That Absolutely Aren’t Horror Films
Even though Halloween is closely associated with the horror genre, there are a few great movies set on Halloween night that aren’t horror-related.
25 Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
The Beetlejuice Sequel Provides Plenty Of Costume Inspiration
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The original Beetlejuice movie provides plenty of workable ideas for Halloween costumes, as do many other Tim Burton movies. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice adds some more interesting outfits to draw inspiration from. While Betelgeuse’s black-and-white striped suit remains the most recognizable costume on show, Delores’ black wedding dress and Bob’s yellow suit are just as eye-catching. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice‘s array of stylish outfits means that the movie has something for everyone, and it can work as a group costume or a couples costume too. Expect to see plenty of Beetlejuice references this Halloween.
24 Galinda & Elphaba
Wicked Has Some Great Costume Potential Even Though It Hasn’t Been Released Yet
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Wicked won’t be released until November, but hype has been building for the Broadway musical adaptation all throughout 2024. It’s taken over two decades for Wicked to make its way to the big screen, but it has a strong cast with Cynthia Erivo and Ariana Grande in the two lead roles. Wicked is poised for a huge box office return, and it’s already a strong choice for a Halloween costume. Galinda and Elphaba could be a good costume for two women, and the contrast between darkness and light means that it could be 2024’s version of Wednesday Addams and Enid Sinclair. Either witch could work as a costume without the other.
23 Wallace & Gromit
Wallace And Gromit Are Returning For Another Feature-Length Movie
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Wicked isn’t the only upcoming movie that could make for a great Halloween costume. British claymation icons Wallace and Gromit are returning to the big screen in January for Wallace and Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl. A Wallace costume requires some green knitwear and a red tie, with cheese and crackers as an optional bonus. Adding Gromit could make a good costume for two people. Dedicated Wallace and Gromit fans will be excited for the return of the thieving penguin Feathers McGraw, who first appeared in The Wrong Trousers. Feathers could be a good costume for a third member of the party, but he could also be a fun bottle-shaped prop.
22 Deadpool & Wolverine
The Deadpool Variants Provide Costume Ideas For Anyone
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As the biggest superhero movie of the year, Deapool and Wolverine will inspire plenty of Halloween costumes. The two title characters are a ready-made costume idea for two, but the dozens of Deadpool variants in Deadpool and Wolverine mean that people can mix-and-match a bit more. The Deadpool Corps could be a big group costume, and Lady Deadpool seems like an obvious choice for female fans of the franchise. Even though it’s an R-rated comedy, Deadpool & Wolverine also has appeal as a family costume, with Kidpool and even Dogpool making fun additions.
21 Dr. Doom
Robert Downey Jr.’s Return To The MCU Is Reviving A Classic Villain
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Other than the success of Deadpool & Wolverine, the big MCU news from 2024 has been Robert Downey Jr.’s return to the franchise as Dr. Doom. This means that one of Marvel’s most iconic villains is back in the zeitgeist, and he would be a good choice for a Halloween costume. While the exact design of the MCU’s new Dr. Doom hasn’t been revealed yet, the comic books and older movies provide enough inspiration. The metal mask and green cape are the two most essential elements to any good Dr. Doom costume.
20 Bella Baxter
Emma Stone’s Oscar-Winning Role Is Full Of Steampunk Style
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Emma Stone won her second Oscar for her performance in Yorgos Lanthimos’ Poor Things. She plays Bella Baxter, a woman who grows up quickly after having a child’s brain transplanted into her skull. Bella is an eye-catching character from the beginning, especially because of her unique fashion. In Lanthimos’ strange steampunk world, characters tend to dress with modern sci-fi variations on old Victorian clothing trends. A good Bella Baxter costume needs a long black wig and some puffy sleeves, but Bella has many different Poor Things outfits to choose from.
19 Longlegs
Nicolas Cage’s Serial Killer Character Is One Of 2024’s Horror Icons
Longlegs has been one of the biggest horror hits of 2024, making over $100 million at the box office with a budget of less than $10 million. Nicolas Cage’s supernatural serial killer provides a great Halloween costume for horror fans. All that’s needed is a shaggy white wig and some pale makeup. For a creepy couples costume, one partner could dress as Lee Harker, the FBI agent trying to put an end to the demonic killings. This is even simpler, since the only vital accessories are a white blouse and a lanyard to mimic her FBI credentials.
18 Art The Clown
The Terrifier Franchise Keeps Growing
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Terrifier 3‘s box office returns already look outstanding, which builds on the success of the previous two movies. The Terrifier franchise proves that there is still a big audience for low-budget slashers. With Art the Clown, the franchise has also created one of the most recognizable horror characters of recent years. Any Art the Clown costume is sure to be, well, terrifying. Fans of the franchise might opt for his Santa Claus outfit from Terrifier 3, which subverts jolly old Saint Nick and turns him into a bloodthirsty killer. Art the Clown would be the kind of costume that allows people to go all-out.
17 Raygun
Raygun Stole The Spotlight From Some Of The World’s Greatest Athletes
In summer 2024, the eyes of the world turned towards Paris for the Olympic Games. While the games offered one of the greatest Men’s 100m finals of all time, some incredible achievements from the U.S. gymnastics team and even a death-defying stunt from Tom Cruise, the breaking proved to be one of the most eye-catching events. Australian competitor Raygun confused the world with her unorthodox moves and her irrepressible sense of swagger. The good thing about a Raygun costume is that it suits any gender. The bad thing is that people will ask to see some breakdancing moves.
16 Yusuf Dikeç
The Turkish Shooter Provided Another Olympic Highlight
Raygun wasn’t the only competitor the internet latched on to at the Olympic Games. Turkish sport shooter Yusuf Dikeç also won hearts all over the world with his no-nonsense approach. While most Olympic shooters use an array of high-tech gear to improve their aim, Dikeç stood out in Paris for his nonchalant style. Many people commented that Dikeç has the appearance of a contract killer. With one hand in his pocket, he simply pointed and shot, and he ended up taking home a silver medal. For a fun Olympic-themed couple’s costume, one partner could dress as Kim Ye-ji the South Korean shooter who also went viral.
15 Moo Deng
Moo Deng Makes A Good Halloween Costume For The Terminally Online
Most internet memes have a short half-life, which means that big moments from early in the year seem outdated by the time Halloween comes around. At the time, it seemed as though the absurd Glasgow Willy Wonka Experience was perfect fodder for a Halloween costume, but it could be too late to dress as a depressed Oompa-Loompa. Moo Deng is the new queen of the internet. The rambunctious pygmy hippo has earned legions of followers, and a live-stream has been set up to monitor her antics from all over the world. Not all Moo Deng costumes need to be as detailed as Bowen Yang’s on Saturday Night Live. A simple pair of hippo ears will do the trick.
14 Joker & Harley Quinn
Harley Quinn Has Been A Popular Halloween Costume For Years
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Joker: Folie à Deux brings together two comic book characters who have already been used as Halloween costumes for years. The latest iteration may not be doing as well as anticipated with critics or audiences, but the aesthetic still makes a perfect couple’s costume. While the Margot Robbie version of Harley Quinn and the Heath Ledger version of the Joker have been done to death, Lady Gaga and Joaquin Phoenix’s characters have their own style. The key to this couple’s costume is heavy makeup and slicked-back hair. 1970s-era clothing would also help.
13 Feyd-Rautha
Dune Has A Few Costume Ideas
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Fans of Dune have a few options for a Halloween costume. One of the Fremen could be the default option, with layers of sand-colored fabrics draped over each other. Florence Pugh’s Princess Irulan offers a more difficult but more glamorous alternative, with her signature chain mail headpiece. However, the standout character in Dune: Part Two is Austin Butler’s Feyd-Rautha. This is a full-commitment costume that could require a bald cap. Bonus points for figuring out a way to mimic the character’s black teeth. Dune: Prophecy is coming in November, and the TV spinoff is set to introduce more of Frank Herbert’s iconic characters.
12 Oz Cobb & Sofia Falcone
The Penguin Is One Of The Hottest Shows On TV At The Moment
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Even while Joker: Folie à Deux is bombing at the box office, another Batman villain is in one of the biggest shows on TV. Colin Farrell’s Penguin first appeared alongside Robert Pattinson in 2022’s The Batman, and he now has his own TV series on HBO. Farrell is a joy to watch, but Cristin Milioti is just as captivating as Sofia Falcone, the serial killer with plans to control Gotham City’s criminal underworld. The Penguin is releasing one episode per week, so there won’t be many more timely costumes than Oz Cobb and Sofia Falcone. Fans could opt for Sofia’s Arkham Asylum jumpsuit.
11 The Bear
The Bear Offers Some Great Low-Effort Costumes
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After its third season, The Bear has continued to develop its reputation as one of the best shows on TV. Most of the characters in The Bear can be used as inspiration for Halloween costumes, and they don’t require much effort either. To look like one of Carmy’s kitchen staff, all that’s needed is a white T-shirt and a blue apron. Arm tattoos and curly hair can add some Carmy-specific flair to the costume, while a bandanna worn on the head can do the same for Sydney. The characters in The Bear can work as a group costume, but the essentials of the costume can also work for just one person.
10 Only Murders In The Building
OMITB’s Three Main Characters Have Striking Signature Looks
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Season 4 of Only Murders in the Building, which is still ongoing, catches up with Charles, Oliver and Mabel as a Hollywood studio swoops in to make a movie about the case from the show’s first season. This gives them the chance to return to their most iconic outfits for a photoshoot. Charles’ pork pie hat, Oliver’s striking purple coat and Mabel’s fuzzy yellow jacket could be the building blocks of a great Halloween costume for a group of three.Only Murders in the Building offers some more obscure options too, for the show’s more dedicated fans. An eye patch and a Christmas jumper could create a low-effort couple’s costume as two of the “Westies” in the Arconia.
9 Sabrina Carpenter
Sabrina Carpenter Has Had Some Of 2024’s Biggest Music Videos
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Halloween 2023 saw plenty of couples dressing up as Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce. This costume will probably be popular again in 2024, but this year has seen the meteoric rise of a few other pop stars. Sabrina Carpenter’s music videos offer plenty of inspiration for Halloween costumes, from her beachwear in “Espresso” to her fuzzy pink coat alongside Barry Keoghan in “Please Please Please”. The music video for “Taste,” which also stars Jenna Ortega, provides the blueprint for a perfect costume for two friends or lovers. It also has a splash of blood which suits the Halloween season.
8 Chappell Roan
Chappell Roan’s Short Career Has Produced Some Memorable Outfits Already
Very few pop stars have exploded as quickly as Chappell Roan in recent years. While her melodic pop anthems have given her millions of fans, her drag-inspired fashion is also central to her appeal. During a relatively short career, Roan has already had some unforgettable outfits. Whether she is on-stage as the VMAs in a suit of armor, performing her Tiny Desk Concert with a wig full of cigarette butts or wearing a blue sequined military-style costume in her “Hot to Go” music video, Roan always leaves an impression. For a group costume, each person could choose one of Roan’s many looks.
7 Oasis
The Reunion Tour Has Thrust Oasis Back Into The Zeitgeist
News of Oasis reuniting for a live tour caused a minor media sensation in Britain in September. Few bands have ever represented British pop culture quite like Oasis, and they’re certainly the nation’s favorite band since The Beatles. As it happens, the Gallagher brothers would also make a fun Halloween costume for two people. Their iconic hairstyles should be paired with parka jackets, bucket hats and circular sunglasses for the complete look. If there’s karaoke at the Halloween party, hands should remain firmly clasped behind the back while singing.
6 Cowboy Carter
Beyoncé’s Latest Album Comes With A Whole New Aesthetic
Image via Max
Cowboy costumes are a Halloween staple, but there’s still room for some fun variations. In 2023, there were plenty of cowboys and cowgirls modeled after Margot Robbie in Barbie, and 2024 could be the year of Cowboy Carter. Beyoncé’s eighth studio album provides her own spin on the country music genre. Her aesthetic echoes the way that she combines traditions of country music with her own personality. A good Cowboy Carter costume might have a sash and a white hobbyhorse, but the most important elements are the white hat and the long, flowing wig. Levi’s jeans could be a nice added touch.