Halloween is the perfect excuse morph into your favorite movie star. A celebrity costume is way more fun than a run-of-the-mill witch or ghost getup, and knowing you’ve got a costume everyone hasn’t seen a dozen times feels great. Whether you want to bring a classic movie character to life, explore the “fashions” of the 80s, or get in touch with your inner superhero, we’ve got you covered with these memorable costume ideas.
The 70s and 80s
These two decades are a goldmine for costume ideas. Here are three to get you started:
Sloth from The Goonies
Who doesn’t love The Goonies? Nearly every character from this movie would make a decent costume, but Sloth is by far the best. Accessorize your look with a pint of Rocky Road ice cream, and practice yelling “Hey you guys!” to complete the effect.
Jack Burton from Big Trouble in Little China
John Carpenter’s Big Trouble in Little China is a fantastic movie in its own right, but Jack Burton’s hair puts it right over the top. If you’ve ever wanted to be Kurt Russell for a day or just explore what life might be like with a sun-kissed mullet, this is the costume for you.
Anyone or everyone from Ghostbusters
Looking for a good group costume? This is it. You and three friends can have a blast busting ghosts all night long. If more want to join the party, there’s always room for a Keymaster, a Gatekeeper, and a Stay-Puff Marshmallow Man.
The 90s and Beyond
Plenty of great movie characters have cropped up in recent years, too. It’s hard to choose, but here are a couple of sure crowd pleasers:
Borat
Whether you brave the over-the-shoulder thong or go for a more covered-up look, Borat is always funny. Spend ten minutes practicing a vaguely Eastern-European accent, and you’ll be cracking people up all night long.
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World
The main character would be great on his own, but this movie has enough costume ideas for you and your friends. Ramona Flowers is an awesome character for ladies who like to kick a little butt, and any of her evil exes would be a blast to inhabit for a night. Get the whole gang together, and have fun practicing your fake martial-arts moves all over town.
Halloween only comes once a year, so live it up. Your costume can be as elaborate or as simple as you want, but it should be memorable. Movies are full of under-the-radar characters just waiting to be turned into costumes, so get creative and make your costume this year the best ever!