98 Halloween Costume Ideas Inspired By Movies and TV Shows

Be the main character this spooky season.

split image of ella purnell in fallout, reese witherspoon in legally blonde, zendaya in dune 2, and sarah jessica parker in sex and the city
(Image credit: Alamy)
Brooke Knappenberger
By
last updated
in Features

I don't know about you, but I've been counting down the days to Halloween 2024 since November 1 of last year. It's the one night a year I can show off my love of the best-ever movies and TV shows via a spot-on Halloween costume without looking like an over-enthusiastic fanatic. But even if you're not as obsessed with pop culture as I am (totally understandable!), turning to iconic on-screen characters can help get the inspiration flowing if you're in need of a last-minute costume. 

Whether your grand plans for October 31 include bingeing scary movies or attending a fabulous costume party, dressing up as one of your favorite TV or movie characters for Halloween is a low-lift way to pretend you're someone else for a night. Maybe you want to live out your Emily in Paris dream with a French-inspired outfit. Or maybe your go-to little black dress inspired a slew of Halloween costumes like Wednesday Addams from Wednesday or Holly Golightly from Breakfast at Tiffany's. In any case, there are plenty of Halloween costume ideas from both the small and silver screens. 

Ahead, we’ve rounded up our favorite options for your 2024 Halloween escapades, inspired by characters from movies and TV shows, both old and new. Not only do these make great conversation starters, but they can get your loved ones involved, too. Why not grab your best friend for a Halloween costume or take your love of movies to work with a group costume?  

Wednesday Addams from 'Wednesday'
(Image credit: Netflix)

Wednesday Addams from 'Wednesday'

Ariel from 'The Little Mermaid'
(Image credit: Alamy)

Ariel from 'The Little Mermaid'

Wanda Maximoff from 'WandaVision'
(Image credit: MARVEL STUDIOS / Alamy)

Wanda Maximoff from 'WandaVision'

Barbie from 'Barbie'
(Image credit: Alamy)

Barbie from 'Barbie'

Shiv Roy from 'Succession'
(Image credit: Warner Bros)

Shiv Roy from 'Succession'

Jennifer Check from 'Jennifer's Body'
(Image credit: Cinematic Collection / Alamy Stock Photo)

Jennifer Check from 'Jennifer's Body'

Fran from 'The Nanny'
(Image credit: Maximum Film / Alamy Stock Photo)

Fran from 'The Nanny'

Nami from 'One Piece'
(Image credit: Netflix)

Nami from 'One Piece'

The Bride from 'Kill Bill: Vol. 1'
(Image credit: Courtesy)

The Bride from 'Kill Bill: Vol. 1'

C.J. from 'Baywatch'
(Image credit: Alamy Stock Photo)

C.J. from 'Baywatch'

Casey from 'Scream'
(Image credit: Movieshare Collection / Alamy)

Casey from 'Scream'

Mia Thermopolis from 'The Princess Diaries'
(Image credit: Maximum Film / Alamy Stock Photo)

Mia Thermopolis from 'The Princess Diaries'

Gwen Stacy from 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse'
(Image credit: Alamy)

Gwen Stacy from 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse'

Satine from 'Moulin Rouge!'
(Image credit: AJ Pics / Alamy Stock Photo)

Satine from 'Moulin Rouge!'

Principal Ava from 'Abbott Elementary'
(Image credit: Scott Everett White/ABC via Getty Images)

Principal Ava from 'Abbott Elementary'

Carrie from 'Carrie'
(Image credit: Allstar Picture Library Limited. / Alamy Stock Photo)

Carrie from 'Carrie'

Juliet from 'Romeo + Juliet'
(Image credit: Moviestore Collection Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo)

Juliet from 'Romeo + Juliet'

Rhaenyra Targaryen from 'House of the Dragon'
(Image credit: HBO)

Rhaenyra Targaryen from 'House of the Dragon'

Alicent Hightower from 'House of the Dragon'
(Image credit: HBO)

Alicent Hightower from 'House of the Dragon'

Sydney from 'The Bear'
(Image credit: Hulu)

Sydney from 'The Bear'

Tashi Duncan from 'Challengers'
(Image credit: Amazon/MGM Studios)

Tashi Duncan from 'Challengers'

Meredith Blake from 'The Parent Trap'
(Image credit: Entertainment Pictures / Alamy Stock Photo)

Meredith Blake from 'The Parent Trap'

Vivian from 'Pretty Woman'
(Image credit: c Touchstone Pictures/Entertainment Pictures)

Vivian from 'Pretty Woman'

Mabel from 'Only Murders in the Building'
(Image credit: Craig Blankenhorn/Hulu/THA)

Mabel from 'Only Murders in the Building'

Kate from 'Twisters'
(Image credit: Universal Pictures)

Kate from 'Twisters'

Galadriel from 'The Rings of Power'
(Image credit: New Line Cinema / Warner Bros. Television / Amazon Studios)

Galadriel from 'The Rings of Power'

Marie Antoinette from 'Marie Antoinette'
(Image credit: PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy Stock Photo)

Marie Antoinette from 'Marie Antoinette'

Lizzie McGuire from 'The Lizzie McGuire Movie'
(Image credit: AJ Pics / Alamy Stock Photo)

Lizzie McGuire from 'The Lizzie McGuire Movie'

Cassandra from 'Promising Young Woman'
(Image credit: BFA / Alamy Stock Photo)

Cassandra from 'Promising Young Woman'

Leeloo from 'The Fifth Element'
(Image credit: AJ Pics / Alamy Stock Photo)

Leeloo from 'The Fifth Element'

Sally from 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'
(Image credit: AJ Pics / Alamy Stock Photo)

Sally from 'The Nightmare Before Christmas'

Olive from 'Easy A'
(Image credit: Moviestore Collection Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo)

Olive from 'Easy A'

Chani from 'Dune 2'
(Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

Chani from 'Dune 2'

Alice from 'Closer'
(Image credit: AJ Pics / Alamy Stock Photo)

Alice from 'Closer'

Padme from 'Star Wars: Attack of the Clones'
(Image credit: LUCASFILM/JAK PRODUCTIONS / Alamy Stock Photo)

Padme from 'Star Wars: Attack of the Clones'

Lucy from 'Fallout'
(Image credit: JoJo Whilden/Prime Video)

Lucy from 'Fallout'

Neytiri from 'Avatar'
(Image credit: AJ Pics / Alamy Stock Photo)

Neytiri from 'Avatar'

Trinity from 'The Matrix'
(Image credit: Maximum Film / Alamy Stock Photo)

Trinity from 'The Matrix'

Columbia from 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show'
(Image credit: Alamy)

Columbia from 'The Rocky Horror Picture Show'

Catwoman from 'The Batman'
(Image credit: Moviestore Collection Ltd / Alamy Stock Photo)

Catwoman from 'The Batman'

Giselle from 'Enchanted'
(Image credit: Maximum Film / Alamy Stock Photo)

Giselle from 'Enchanted'

Jessica Day from 'New Girl'
(Image credit: Photo 12 / Alamy Stock Photo)

Jessica Day from 'New Girl'

Poison Ivy from 'Batman & Robin'
(Image credit: Alamy)

Poison Ivy from 'Batman & Robin'

Lara Croft from 'Lara Croft: Tomb Raider'
(Image credit: ScreenProd / Photononstop / Alamy Stock Photo)

Lara Croft from 'Lara Croft: Tomb Raider'

Moira Rose from 'Schitt's Creek'
(Image credit: PictureLux / The Hollywood Archive / Alamy Stock Photo)

Moira Rose from 'Schitt's Creek'

Emily Cooper from 'Emily in Paris'
(Image credit: STEPHANIE BRANCHU/NETFLIX)

Emily Cooper from 'Emily in Paris'

Cruella De Vil from 'Cruella'
(Image credit: Disney)

Cruella De Vil from 'Cruella'

Daphne Bridgerton from 'Bridgerton'
(Image credit: LIAM DANIEL/NETFLIX)

Daphne Bridgerton from 'Bridgerton'

Midge Maisel from 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel'
(Image credit: Philippe Antonello / Netflix / The Hollywood Archive)

Midge Maisel from 'The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel'

Regina George from ‘Mean Girls’
(Image credit: Alamy)

Regina George from ‘Mean Girls’

Young Queen Elizabeth in 'The Crown'
(Image credit: Robert Viglasky/Netflix)

Young Queen Elizabeth in 'The Crown'

Torrance from 'Bring it On'
(Image credit: Courtesy)

Torrance from 'Bring it On'

Phoebe Waller-Bridge in 'Fleabag'
(Image credit: BBC)

Phoebe Waller-Bridge in 'Fleabag'

Penny Lane from 'Almost Famous'
(Image credit: Courtesy)

Penny Lane from 'Almost Famous'

Hellen Parr (Elastigirl) from ‘Incredibles 2’
(Image credit: Walt Disney Studios)

Hellen Parr (Elastigirl) from ‘Incredibles 2’

Margot Tenenbaum from ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’
(Image credit: Buena Vista Pictures/Alamy)

Margot Tenenbaum from ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’

Harley Quinn from ‘Suicide Squad’
(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Harley Quinn from ‘Suicide Squad’

Rachel Green from ‘Friends’
(Image credit: NBC Universal)

Rachel Green from ‘Friends’

Dorothy from the ‘Wizard of Oz’
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Dorothy from the ‘Wizard of Oz’

Princess Leia from ‘Star Wars’
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Princess Leia from ‘Star Wars’

Barb Wire from 'Barb Wire'
(Image credit: Alamy)

Barb Wire from 'Barb Wire'

Winifred Sanderson from ‘Hocus Pocus’
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Winifred Sanderson from ‘Hocus Pocus’

Fembot from 'Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery'
(Image credit: New Line Cinema)

Fembot from 'Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery'

Holly Golightly from ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Holly Golightly from ‘Breakfast at Tiffany’s’

Nina from ‘Black Swan’
(Image credit: Fox Searchlight)

Nina from ‘Black Swan’

Claire from ‘The Breakfast Club’
(Image credit: Archive Photos/Getty Images)

Claire from ‘The Breakfast Club’

Carrie Bradshaw from ‘Sex and the City’
(Image credit: Alamy)

Carrie Bradshaw from ‘Sex and the City’

Blair Waldorf from ‘Gossip Girl’
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Blair Waldorf from ‘Gossip Girl’

Lisa from 'Lisa Frankenstein'
(Image credit: MICHELE K. SHORT / FOCUS FEATURES)

Lisa from 'Lisa Frankenstein'

Furiosa from 'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga'
(Image credit: Warner Bros. Pictures)

Furiosa from 'Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga'

Ilana from ‘Broad City’
(Image credit: Comedy Central)

Ilana from ‘Broad City’

Hannah Montana from 'Hannah Montana'
(Image credit: Alamy)

Hannah Montana from 'Hannah Montana'

Joy from 'Inside Out'
(Image credit: Pixar)

Joy from 'Inside Out'

Elle Woods from ‘Legally Blonde’
(Image credit: Alamy)

Elle Woods from ‘Legally Blonde’

Daisy Buchanan from ‘The Great Gatsby’
(Image credit: Warner Bros.)

Daisy Buchanan from ‘The Great Gatsby’

Princess Peach in 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie'
(Image credit: Alamy)

Princess Peach in 'The Super Mario Bros. Movie'

Belle from ‘Beauty and the Beast’
(Image credit: Walt Disney Studios)

Belle from ‘Beauty and the Beast’

Mia Wallace from ‘Pulp Fiction’
(Image credit: Alamy)

Mia Wallace from ‘Pulp Fiction’

Lucy Gray Baird from 'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes'
(Image credit: Lionsgate Films)

Lucy Gray Baird from 'The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes'

Sandy from ‘Grease’
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Sandy from ‘Grease’

Cher Horowitz from ‘Clueless’
(Image credit: Paramount Pictures/Getty Images)

Cher Horowitz from ‘Clueless’

Cleopatra from ‘Cleopatra’
(Image credit: Universal History Archive/Getty Images)

Cleopatra from ‘Cleopatra’

Marilyn from ‘Love, Marilyn’
(Image credit: Earl Theisen Collection/Getty Images)

Marilyn from ‘Love, Marilyn’

Daisy from 'Daisy Jones and the Six'
(Image credit: Alamy)

Daisy from 'Daisy Jones and the Six'

Maxine from 'MaXXXine"
(Image credit: A24)

Maxine from 'MaXXXine"

Priscilla Presley from 'Priscilla'
(Image credit: Alamy)

Priscilla Presley from 'Priscilla'

Barbarella from 'Barbarella'
(Image credit: Alamy)

Barbarella from 'Barbarella'

Bella Baxter from 'Poor Things'
(Image credit: Alamy)

Bella Baxter from 'Poor Things'

Lydia Deetz from 'Beetlejuice'
(Image credit: Google)

Lydia Deetz from 'Beetlejuice'

Gracie Hart from 'Miss Congeniality'
(Image credit: Alamy)

Gracie Hart from 'Miss Congeniality'

Tonia Haddix from 'Chimp Crazy'
(Image credit: HBO)

Tonia Haddix from 'Chimp Crazy'

Elizabeth Zott from 'Lessons in Chemistry'
(Image credit: Apple TV+)

Elizabeth Zott from 'Lessons in Chemistry'

Elphaba from 'Wicked'
(Image credit: Universal Pictures/YouTube)

Elphaba from 'Wicked'

Glinda from 'Wicked'
(Image credit: Universal Pictures/YouTube)

Glinda from 'Wicked'

Jenna Rink from '13 Going on 30'
(Image credit: Alamy)

Jenna Rink from '13 Going on 30'

Suki from '2 Fast 2 Furious'
(Image credit: Alamy)

Suki from '2 Fast 2 Furious'

Aquamarine from 'Aquamarine'
(Image credit: Alamy)

Aquamarine from 'Aquamarine'

Yasmin, Jade, Cloe, and Sasha from 'Bratz'
(Image credit: Fox)

Yasmin, Jade, Cloe, and Sasha from 'Bratz'

Brooke Knappenberger
Brooke Knappenberger
Associate Commerce Editor

Brooke Knappenberger is the Associate Commerce Editor at Marie Claire, where she specializes in crafting shopping stories—from sales content to buying guides that span every vertical on the site. She also oversees holiday coverage with an emphasis on gifting guides as well as Power Pick, our monthly column on the items that power the lives of MC’s editors. She also tackled shopping content as Marie Claire's Editorial Fellow prior to her role as Associate Commerce Editor.

She has over three years of experience writing on fashion, beauty, and entertainment and her work has appeared on Looper, NickiSwift, The Sun US, and Vox Magazine of Columbia, Missouri. Brooke obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Journalism from the University of Missouri’s School of Journalism with an emphasis on Magazine Editing and has a minor in Textile and Apparel Management.

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