21 Halloween Costume Ideas Inspired By The Year’s Big Pop Culture Moments

They not like us! Except for when they want to dress up on Halloween. Your favorite pair of boot cut jeans will be the star of the show here, and then just have that perfect diabolical Kendrick Lamar smile the whole entire night. Bliss.

The wigs on Netflix’s The Hunting Wives are already iconic, so grab your own and dress up like your favorite character from Maple Brook. You have a whole lot of options to choose from, plus you’ll be pretty comfy all night.

These little dolls literally took over the internet this year, so why not dress like one for Halloween? There are tons of store-bought options, including the knock-off mask above, but honestly, any kind of ears and a cozy onesie or sweatsuit will get you there. Then just draw the teeth on with some face paint!

I love a comeback story, and Happy Gilmore 2 was my personal favorite of 2025. Obviously, you can dress as Happy, but between him, Bad Bunny’s turn as Oscar the Caddy, all of Happy’s kids, and characters like Hal and Shooter McGavin, there are tons of options for a fun, 2025-centered Halloween costume. (I especially love Shooter in his jammies.)

I mean, it doesn’t get much more on theme for 2025 than Katy freaking Perry going to space on a Jeff Bezos rocket ship, right? All you need is an astronaut suit or even just a helmet and a Katy Perry-inspired costume to make this conversational costume work. Don’t forget to sing “What a Wonderful World” while trick-or-treating.

This one couldn’t be easier, so simply dress like the infamous cheating CEO of Astronomer and the cheating head of HR (black tank, blue polo, super quick to throw together), or go even harder and make a Kiss Cam frame to carry around all night. This is such a funny option for a couple's costume.

A fun twist on a Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce costume, I think you can either go literal and dress as a gym coach and English teacher for a subtle, deep-cut take, or dress as Taylor and Travis from their engagement announcement.

You knew this had to be on the list, right? Licensed Halloween costumes are selling out fast, but honestly, depending on the scene and character, you can easily pull something together at home. I’m a big fan of dressing up as Huntrix while they’re chanting, “Couch! Couch!” myself. Maybe throw a cup of ramen in your hand for an easy (and delicious) prop.

How many times has “Nothing beats a Jet2 Holiday” gone through your head this year? Exactly. So why not pay homage to this 2025 trend by dressing as a Jet2 flight attendant or pilot? You can simply grab this accessories kit and then wear a navy skirt and blazer, or opt for a full-on costume instead.

Dressing as The Fantastic Four for Halloween isn’t really new, but this year’s Fantastic Four movie really helps make this a topical and relevant choice again. This is perfect for a friend group, for a pregnant person (pregnant Sue is so good!), for a family with a brand new babe — so many options.

OK, obviously Krypto and Lois Lane aren’t interchangeable, but if you saw the new Superman movie, you can see how both of these are great costumes. Whether you have a pet to play Krypto or a partner to join you in Superman and Lois Lane, these are super fun to put together, and everyone will definitely know who you are.

Listen, I loved the new Superman movie, but I think I loved the character of half-drunk, partying Supergirl most of all. If you’ve got a pup, it makes the costume even better since they can play Krypto.

Sinners, starring Michael B. Jordan, was a huge hit this year, and honestly, it’s time we had some new vampire costumes this year. The costumes are super fun to put together and may require a little thrifting and digging, but there are tons of options throughout the movie to lean on for your favorite look.

2025 is the year of the new pope, and while dressing as Pope Leo XIV is obviously great, I really think dressing specifically as a Chicago pope is such a fun Halloween costume idea. I mean, how many times will we get to brag about that? So throw a Cubs hat on with your Pope robes and rosary, or maybe have a hot dog in hand to represent the Chicago connection.

Oh, Ozzy. Losing the Prince of Darkness this year was super hard, so I’m sure there will be a ton of Ozzy Osbourne tribute costumes this year. Whether you want to go full Black Sabbath or later Ozzy, there are a ton of options — and as a bonus, they all look a little spooky and perfect for Halloween. I think his glasses might be the most important part, but a bat in hand wouldn’t hurt. (IYKYK)

Every single person who’s watched The Pitt has fallen in love with Dr. Robby, and a costume to portray him is so simple to throw together. Scrubs, a blue zip-up hoodie, sexy scowl — done. Throw a coffee cup in your hand as a prop.

The Naked Gun, a legacy sequel, has been a solid hit this year, and dressing as characters played by Liam Neeson or Pamela Anderson is super simple. Throw on a suit and a police badge or big glasses, a white dress, and a beret, and you’re all set. Be sure to memorize some of the best one-liners, or grab a few props to really set the costume apart.

An animal activist, conservationist, scientist, and all-around solidly good human, Jane Goodall recently passed away, so dressing as her for Halloween would be the sweetest tribute. You could often find Jane in utility clothes when she was out in the field, along with a notebook and a camera, but you could also dress like older Jane Goodall, who frequently was seen in gorgeous pashminas and lots of sweet floral patterns. Above all, remember a cute chimp on your hip.

Listen, nothing had a chokehold on parents more this year than The Unknown Number documentary on Netflix about the high schooler who was being bullied via text message for over a year — until police discovered it was (spoiler alert!) her own mother. The woman has some deep-seated issues, but if you want a super popular pop culture icon for 2025, try dressing like Kendra Licari. Really, you only need long, straight brown hair, the ability to show off your front teeth as much as possible, and a cellphone.

This one could be incredibly simple with a blue outfit and an American flag attached to your head, or you could use a map of the United States and turn it into a sandwich board costume. Obviously, tongue-in-cheek with this one, but beware trying this costume around a bunch of people who are MAGA or take Gulf of America too seriously.

Butter yellow definitely had a moment in 2025, and if you want to just be super cozy and on trend, throw on a full butter yellow look for Halloween.