39 Classic Halloween Costumes That Will Never Go Out of Style
From pirates to lifeguards, nothing beats a classic Halloween costume. It isn’t that we don’t enjoy going above and beyond for the annual holiday (i.e., dressing up like Harley Quinn—pink/blue hair included), but there’s something oddly nostalgic about chasing our kids around the house while wearing a simple witch costume and chanting, “I’m melting!”
We compiled a list of 39 classic Halloween costumes, which are accompanied by fictional references from your favorite TV shows and movies. Keep reading for all the deets.
RELATED: The 70 Best Halloween Movies of All Time
1. '50s girl
Inspired by: Grease (starring John Travolta, Olivia Newton-John, Stockard Channing)
Tell me about it, stud.
Get the look: Kidcostumes adult poodle skirt with printed scarf ($20); BengPro retro costume accessories ($15)
2. Football player
Inspired by: Remember the Titans (starring Denzel Washington, Will Patton, Wood Harris)
Now go run a mile.
Get the look: Sports Unlimited integrated football pants ($35); Wild Horse custom football jersey ($40)
3. Firefighter
Inspired by: Station 19 (starring Jaina Lee Ortiz, Jason George, Grey Damon)
Bring on the heat.
Get the look: Aeromax adult firefighter suit (from $66)
4. FBI Agent
Inspired by: FBI (starring Missy Peregrym, Zeeko Zaki, Ebonee Noel)
Fidelity. Bravery. Integrity.
Get the look: Smart People Clothing FBI jacket ($35); Livhò aviator sunglasses ($15)
5. Lifeguard
Inspired by: Baywatch (starring David Hasselhoff, Pamela Anderson, Yasmine Bleeth)
CPR certification not required.
Get the look: Dixperfect one piece bathing suit (from $16); BLARIX whistle and lanyard ($13); Ever Ready first aid fanny pack ($9)
6. Boxer
Inspired by: Million Dollar Baby (starring Hilary Swank, Clint Eastwood, Morgan Freeman)
Fists up.
Get the look: Sioro bathrobe (from $14); Sanabul punching bag gloves ($30)
7. Vampire
Inspired by: Dracula (starring Bela Lugosi, Helen Chandler, David Manners)
It’s not the size of your fangs, it’s how you bite.
Get the look: Rubie's Costume Co. Transylvania vampire costume ($45); CoolJoy vampire teeth ($9)
8. Mouse
Inspired by: Mean Girls (starring Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Seyfried, Rachel McAdams)
We’re a mouse. Duh.
Get the look: Miqieer long silky dress ($15); Skeleteen mouse accessory set ($10)
9. Zombie Bride
Inspired by: Mean Girls (starring Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Seyfried, Rachel McAdams)
Adam Samuels-approved.
Get the look: Fun World Costumes zombie bride dress (from $23); Beautyself silver grey costume wig ($19); Mehron Makeup coagulated blood ($8)
10. Undercover officer
Inspired by: Men in Black (starring Tommy Lee Jones, Will Smith, Linda Fiorentino)
The best kept secret in the universe.
Get the look: P&L 2-piece suit jacket and pants set ($90); Joopin polarized sunglasses ($11); Skeleteen secret spy earpiece headphones ($7)
11. Witch
Inspired by: The Wizard of Oz (starring Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger)
Warning: Avoid buckets of water…or else.
Get the look: Forum Novelties classic witch costume (from $14); Mehron Makeup green face and body paint ($12)
12. Lion
Inspired by: The Wizard of Oz (starring Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger)
Who you calling a coward?
Get the look: Funny Party Hats lion ears and tail set ($27); Elope fingerless costume paws ($10)
13. Scarecrow
Inspired by: The Wizard of Oz (starring Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger)
If we only had a brain cornfield…
Get the look: Rubie's Store adult scarecrow costume (from $25)
14. Tin man
Inspired by: The Wizard of Oz (starring Judy Garland, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger)
Oil not included.
Get the look: Rubie's Store adult tin man costume (from $43)
15. Clown
Inspired by: It (starring Bill Skarsg?rd, Jaeden Martell, Finn Wolfhard)
*Spots red balloon*
Get the look: Rubie's deluxe Pennywise costume (from $41); Binggle Pennywise mask ($27)
16. Cheerleader
Inspired by: Bring It On (starring Kirsten Dunst, Eliza Dushku, Jesse Bradford)
There must be some Torros in the atmosphere.
Get the look: Cheer Fantastic uniform (from $85); Lunea-Wo canvas sneakers ($15)
17. Ballerina
Inspired by: Black Swan (starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel)
Because we’ve always dreamed of starring in The Nutcracker.
Get the look: Kranchungel embroidered corset ($16); v28 tutu skirt ($9); Floral Fall crown ($13); Stelle ballet tights ($7)
18. School girl
Inspired by: The Princess Diaries (starring Julie Andrews, Anne Hathaway, Hector Elizondo)
An excuse to break out your Lisa Frank merch.
Get the look: French Toast pleated skirt ($15); Beninos simple shirt ($20); Patiky criss-cross bowtie ($9)
19. Bunny rabbit
Inspired by: Legally Blonde (starring Reese Witherspoon, Luke Wilson, Selma Blair)
What, like it’s hard?
Get the look: Lingeriecats bunny girl outfit ($33); Jacobson Hat Company bunny ears headband with fluffy tail ($6); Capezio soft transition tight ($14)
20. Pirate
Inspired by: Pirates of the Caribbean (starring Johnny Depp, Keira Knightley, Xavier Alexander)
Ahoy, matey.
Get the look: Smiffy's high seas pirate costume ($48); Jacobson Hat Company pirate hat with braids ($16)
21. Doctor
Inspired by: Grey’s Anatomy (starring Ellen Pompeo, Chandra Wilson, James Pickens Jr.)
Grab your person.
Get the look: Paramed scrubs set uniform (from $13); Paramed classic dual head stethoscope kit ($24)
22. Ringmaster
Inspired by: The Greatest Showman (starring Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron)
Take your seats, ladies and gents. The show is about to begin.
Get the look: Fun shack circus costume outfit ($40); Betheaces Aurora World plush lion ($24)
23. Hippie
Inspired by: That ’70s Show (starring Topher Grace, Laura Prepon, Mila Kunis)
Totally groovy.
Get the look: Joe's USA tie-dye T-shirt (from $16); Kulywon fringe vest (from $11); SunnyPro Store retro round sunglasses ($13)
24. Nun
Inspired by: The Sound of Music (starring Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer, Eleanor Parker)
Auf Wiedersehen, darling.
Get the look: Rubie's Costume nun outfit (from $18)
25. Cowboy
Inspired by: Westworld (starring Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, Ed Harris)
Howdy, partner.
Get the look: Wrangler Riggs long sleeve shirt (from $25); Western Express cowboy hat (from $28); Smiffys cowboy costume hostler with belt ($16)
26. Robot
Inspired by: Westworld (starring Evan Rachel Wood, Thandie Newton, Ed Harris)
Bonus points for stellar robot dance moves.
Get the look: Morphsuits creepy monster costume ($50)
27. Alien
Inspired by: E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (starring Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Peter Coyote)
Warm and practical.
Get the look: Ghoulish Masks Area 51 mask ($20); Utopia blanket ($23)
28. Astronaut
Inspired by: Toy Story (featuring the voices of Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles)
To infinity and beyond.
Get the look: Disguise inflatable costume ($53)
29. Runner
Inspired by: Juno (starring Ellen Page, Michael Cera, Jennifer Garner)
You may already have these pieces in your closet.
Get the look: Soffe running shorts ($15); Aeropostale polo shirt ($10); Suddora yellow sweat band ($7); Pareberry tube socks ($10)
30. Nerd
Inspired by: Napoleon Dynamite (starring Jon Heder, Efren Ramirez, Jon Gries)
Gosh!
Get the look: South Horizon Vote for Pedro shirt ($20); WebDeals aviator eyeglasses ($6); Alluara afro wig ($22)
31. Exterminator
Inspired by: Ghostbusters (starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver)
Who you gonna call?
Get the look: Rubie's Store costume with inflatable backpack ($24)
32. Nanny
Inspired by: Mary Poppins (starring Julie Andrews, Dick Van Dyke, David Tomlinson)
A jolly holiday, indeed.
Get the look: Smiffys nanny costume (from $35); Elope Mary Poppins hat ($25)
33. Devil
Inspired by: Hocus Pocus (starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Doug Jones)
Master!
Get the look: FunWorld Gothic Devil Costume (from $19)
34. Mummy
Inspired by: Hocus Pocus (starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, Kathy Najimy, Doug Jones)
Bonus points for sewed lips.
Get the look: Wishu Long frock coat (from $33); Rubie's Edward Scissorhands wig ($17)
35. Sailor
Inspired by: Stranger Things (starring Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Millie Bobby Brown)
Ahoy, matey!
Get the look: Fun Shack sailor costume ($28); Fun Party Hats white sailor hat ($18)
36. Cat
Inspired by: The Bachelorette (starring Katie Thurston, Connor Brennan)
Connor Brennan (AKA Connor B.) may not have won Katie Thurston’s heart, but he sure is memorable.
Get the look: Fun Costumes adult black cat (from $45)
37. Huntress
Inspired by: Hunger Games (starring Jennifer Lawrence)
May the odds be ever in your favor.
Get the look: InCharacter huntress costume ($34); Morris bow and arrow ($13)
38. Ghost
Inspired by: Scream (starring Neve Campbell, Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich)
Do you like scary movies?
Get the look: Fun World ghost face costume ($45)
39. Genie
Inspired by: Aladdin (starring Will Smith)
Wonderful, magnificent, glorious, punctual!
Get the look: Mehron face and body paint ($7); Joerica gold jewelry ($18); CandyHusky gypsy pants ($22)
RELATED: 57 Movie Character Costumes You Can Recreate at Home
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