Usually, the most popular Halloween costumes every year are inspired by the biggest moments and movies that happened just prior to it. With Wicked and K-pop Demon Hunters blowing up in 2025, it’s predicted that people will spot many an Elphaba, Glinda, Rumi, Mira, and Zoey trick-or-treating on the streets this October 31st.
While there’s nothing wrong with going with the popular choices, our Bored Panda team wanted you to have an option to do something unique. That’s why we compiled a list of goofy, spooky, and genius costumes you might want to take inspiration from this year. To find them, all you have to do is scroll down.
#1 Every Halloween My Fiancé And I Dress Up And Create A Movie Themed Poster With Our Cats
Image credits: ekimrt
#2 These 2 Divas With Places To Go
Image credits: dylanmarron
#3 Best Halloween Costume I Saw On The “Big Gay Halloween Cruise”
Image credits: honestmango
This year, half of adults are planning on dressing up this Halloween, with a third thinking of putting their furry companions in costume, too, per the Halloween & Costume Association. On average, an adult is going to spend roughly $60 on their spooky wardrobe this year.
According to Google Trends searches, the most popular costumes that are going to be purchased this year include the aforementioned characters of Wicked and K-pop Demon Hunters, as well as Art the Clown from Terrifier and the iconic Ghostface from Scream.
#4 Spent The Last Month Making This Biblically Accurate Angel Costume! Happy Halloween
Image credits: SadCatFriend
#5 Statue Makeup Look
Image credits: SadDegree4974
#6 Moth Interpretations For Halloween
Last year, I did an interpretation of a Rosy Maple/ Dryocampa rubicunda moth for Halloween based on a certain picture of one by using items in my wardrobe along with other thrifted or handmade items! It was so much fun to dress up that I decided to do it again this year, which I chose to interpret a Chlorhoda metamelaena moth, which is a member of the tiger moth group of the Arctiinae subfamily! I was inspired after seeing a photographer’s shots of this species (junglediamonds on Instagram!)
I included pics of last year's look as well as where mine is so far for this year! (Not sure what to flair dressing up as, so did artwork!)
For this year, I still need some yellow to add in there, which I'll try pairing a scarf or a belt I have, add the black markings to the jacket or whatever I end up using for "wings", then possibly add more layers and fluff with a cape or feathers since this moth is so fuzzy yet see-through (and depending on how the weather plays out here in Minnesota on Halloween,) then play with makeup more, and finally fade and style my hair for the look!
Always exciting to study a moth and try to capture its essence through dressing up and playing with makeup!
Image credits: Kenzie_Flick
Other hit costumes are predicted to be the Joker, Happy Gilmore, Poison Ivy, Mean Girls, Kim Possible, and a pooch from 101 Dalmatians.
When it comes to our furry friends, Gizmo from Gremlins ranks among the most favorite costumes for dogs. Some other popular choices include Jake the Dog from Adventure Time and a Ty brand dog.
#7 My Superb Halloween Costume
Image credits: MeganMissfit
#8 My Mom's Halloween Costume
Image credits: jubrili
#9 AI-Generated Human
Image credits: evbro
Of course, there are also those costumes that we see every year without exception. They always come in clutch when looking for a last-minute classic costume. For kids, these are usually Spider-Man, a princess, and a witch. Combined together these costumes adorned almost 8 million kids last year.
#10 Went As A Cow Abducted By A UFO For Halloween
Image credits: schmooples123
#11 I Turned Myself Into A Comic Book Character
I hope Steve Ditko would have liked this.
Image credits: CactusJuise
#12 Cat Lady Costume, Or A Window Into My Future?
Costume generally based on the cat lady from The Simpsons, but I was fully committed to the bit this year and even had plush cats to throw at kids who asked. My one real cat was unimpressed, however.
Image credits: terisaurus
Meanwhile, for adults, the most classic costumes remain vampire, cat, Batman, and pirate. Interestingly enough, over 5 million adults dressed as a witch last year! For their furry companions, a pumpkin, a hot dog, a bat, a ghost, and a bumblebee remain popular choices year after year.
#13 Took Home The Gold For My Audrey 2 Costume
Image credits: shotgunagreer
#14 My Home-Made Billy Bass Costume
Image credits: bridgemondo
#15 My Favorite Makeup I’ve Ever Done. One Face = Two Faces
Image credits: Acrobatic-Topic2621
So far, we’ve given you many ideas and options on who to dress as on Halloween. But if none of them appeals to you, you might prefer to come up with your own costume concept.
While this can be a great outlet for your creativity, there are some things you should keep in mind before you make your idea come to life. One of the don’ts of Halloween is cultural appropriation. Before you go have fun on the spookiest night of the year, make sure you’re not making fun of or taking advantage of a culture that isn’t your own.
#16 Cruella De Vil: Halloween Edition. I Feel Like A Discofied Cruella
Image credits: paradise_rose
#17 Homemade Tooth Fairy
I put blood, sweat, and tears into making this mask! It is the first mask I’ve ever made, and I’m pretty proud of how it turned out! Hope y’all like it!
Image credits: yosistakrista
#18 Tony Hawk Dressed As Larry David For Halloween
Image credits: WinglyBap
“Taking someone else’s culture for your own amusement is never ok, a point that becomes especially relevant around the Halloween period. Every year costumes are bought and sold that often trivialise minority groups in an attempt to give the general public ‘exotic’ garments for an evening.
By wearing culturally significant objects, you dehumanise minority groups and set aside the deep relationships that come with things like traditional tattoos, objects, and clothing,” Roar News explains.
#19 Corpse Bride Costume
Image credits: moltencherub
#20 My Take On A Biblically Accurate Angel
Image credits: Consistent-Mouse2482
#21 My Edward Scissorhands, From Last Year
Image credits: planetyeji
A thing like this often happens with Native American traditional dress. The Smithsonian National Museum of the Native American Indian has even issued a statement saying that “dressing up as a Native American is never appropriate” and that “traditional clothing, or regalia, is an important and lively aspect of Native cultures.” Keeping this in mind, let’s be respectful of cultures on Halloween and beyond.
#22 Our 6th Year Making Our Halloween Costumes. The Kids Loved Them! Tell Us What You Think
Image credits: AlarmedHyena
#23 My Pennywise Costume
Image credits: ricey125
#24 Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice: Our Barbara & Adam Maitland Costumes
Masks were purchased from an artist. We created the rest of the costume elements.
Image credits: Accomplished_Fig9606
Similarly, try to avoid making fun of traumatic and sensitive events and topics with your costume. Serial killers are one of those. With popular culture bringing a lot of attention to them, it might seem like a good choice to dress up as, let’s say, Jeffrey Dahmer or Ed Gein.
However, that is widely considered inappropriate, as it’s not only insensitive to their victims and their families but also glorifies violence and taking someone’s life from them.
#25 I Was My Dog
Image credits: Clean-Penalty6045
#26 For The 90’s Nickelodeon Kids. Our DIY Oblina & Krumm Costumes
Image credits: Illustrious_Juice525
#27 My King Ghidorah Costume , Happy Halloween!
Image credits: Rexxaroo
Other topics/events that we shouldn’t make fun of on Halloween include the COVID-19 pandemic, anything involving blackface, transphobia, and mental health issues, to name a few. Remember—while remaining respectful to other people, we can make Halloween enjoyable for everyone.
#28 Got To Debut My Witch Queen Of Angmar Costume Tonight (Helm And Flail Were 3D Printed)
Image credits: rumpus_ruffled
#29 My Rosy Maple Moth Costume In All Its Glory. 2,075 Sewing Pins & Sequins Later My Headpiece Finally Came Together!
Image credits: littleghosttco
#30 I Work At An Accounting Firm And My Team Had A Little Halloween Lunch Today. I Came As A "Net Prophet". I'm Crying. I Won A Prize
Image credits: chakipu
#31 My 13-Year-Old Niece Made This Entirely On Her Own! Happy Halloween
She just turned 13 last month but has been artistic and crafty since Day 1. She decided to make this Halloween costume based from 5 Nights at Freddy’s, and I think she did such an amazing job!! So proud of this kid and can’t wait to see some of the stuff she’s working on for ComicCon!
Image credits: FullyRisenPhoenix
#32 I Am Baby Moo Deng!
Image credits: RudeEsthetician
#33 Worked So Hard On This I Wore It Twice, This Year I Won Multiple Awards
I’ve seen this done a lot but here’s my version. I make my costume every year but she’s truly been my pride and joy, and the enjoyment other people got was so touching. I won three contests including the grand prize two night hotel stay at a costume ball and last night I wore her at Disneyland where I was awarded cast favorite among thousands of amazing costumes. I’m sad I’ll have to retire her, but I do see bringing her out again in my future. I’ve really enjoyed seeing other people’s costumes, thank you for keeping the Halloween spirit alive! Hope everyone had a wonderful spooky season, I’m already counting the days until next year.
Image credits: deedee__cupcake
#34 "Mars Attacks! Ack! Ack! Ack"
Martian Girl - Mars Attacks - 1996 film directed by Tim Burton.
Image credits: Fobanana_
#35 Is The Bob Ross Costume Played Out??
Image credits: Large-Tip-262
#36 My 2024 Halloween Creation - Coraline’s Other Mother
Image credits: Intelligent_Pear6575
#37 Wife(Middle) And Her Sisters
Image credits: wickit
#38 My Best Work
I’ve come close, but I haven’t been able to top this costume in my opinion. In 2014 I made myself a shrimp tempura roll out of cardboard, painted craft foam (shrimp/ cucumber/ crab/ avocado), packing peanuts (rice), pom poms (tobiko), and felt (nori). Bonus accessory: wasabi/ ginger headband LOL.
The best part is that I used biodegradable packing peanuts, then walked around San Francisco in it. By the end of the night they all shriveled up in the mist.
Image credits: E40plants
#39 My Girl Agreed To Be The Shark From My Favorite Movie
Image credits: empuerhpalpatea
#40 I Used My Elle Woods Halloween Costume And Harvard Diploma To Create The Most Legally Blonde-Coded Comeback Possible
Image credits: xgigglypuff
#41 My Mario Costume For This Halloween
Had an early Halloween party this past weekend and put together a Mario costume on short notice.
Image credits: Missiondt
#42 My Buddy And His 5 Kids Always Do It Up For Halloween
Image credits: Count-Basie
#43 My Late Grams Wig
Image credits: reddit.com
#44 Our Couples Costume As Newly Weds
Image credits: MoonbugMariette
#45 If You Can Do The Voice This Costume Is Sooo Fun! “Help Is On The Way Dear!!!”
Image credits: surbeastAF
#46 My "Scary" Halloween Costume
Went with the top worst candies to receive... Dress is made out of licorice, candy corn, Raisinettes, good and plenty, Necco, peanut butter kisses, Circus peanuts and peeps. Also made jewelry to go with it.
Image credits: w2talent
#47 This Is My Oldest Kid’s Costume This Year. Proud Dad Moment
Image credits: uncle_douglas
#48 My Daughter Is Obsessed With Opossums, So I Made This For Her Last Halloween
My daughter has been obsessed with opossums for years, and I thought I’d try making her a cool costume of her favorite marsupial! It was impossible to find a decent mask, so I had to make my own. I’m pretty happy with how it turned out! Also made a posable tail but you can’t really see it in these photos.
Image credits: MamaxMetal
#49 Omg
Image credits: _DanLeahy
#50 Last Year's Costume But I Didn't Go Out So This Year's Costume
Image credits: thisisgoing2far
