An Increasingly Niche Guide to Film-Inspired Halloween Costumes
Fashion
Fashion
Here are our best film-inspired Halloween costumes for couples, friend groups, and BFFs from the very costume designers who brought these characters to life.
Halloween is just around the corner, and with it comes the opportunity to dress up as your favorite film character—-or, in the case of “Backrooms,” shade of wallpaper. We shuffled through the buzziest and scariest, releases of 2026 to create the ultimate cinephile guide to costume dressing. Whether it's Freaky Nikki from “Obsession”—wearing the exact halter top designer Blair James sourced from Princess Polly—or Creepypasta a la “Backrooms,” our list has it all. Below, we’ve compiled costume ideas informed by the best craft talent in the industry, with timeless costume homages to cult classics peppered in.
“Romeo and Juliet” (1996)
Claire Danes in "Romeo and Juliet."
As far as on-screen situationships are concerned, there is no better duo than Claire Dane’s angelic Juliet and Leonardo DiCaprio’s gangster Romeo, as costumed by Kym Barrett in Baz Luhrmann’s retelling of the Shakespearean tragedy. To nail this costume, you and your companion don't need much more than a colorful Hawaiian shirt and white feather wings, although a gauche silver watch and simple silver cross necklace would certainly help cement the look. We suggest forgoing the gun.
Shop the Look
“Obsession” (2026): Nikki and “Bear”
Nikki (Inde Navarrette) in "Obsession."
Focus Features
“Obsession” taught us many important life lessons, like how men are evil and film budgets don't have to be proportional to production value or box office revenue. For this costume, we encourage minimizing monetary costs in the spirit of indie filmmaking. Luckily, the exact red halter neck top worn by Indie Navarette in the party scene is still available for purchase on Princess Polly and is only $49. Costume designer Blair James, opens in new tab chose garments that amplified the male gaze, so if you comprise the Nikki half of this costume, dress for the enemy. For Bear, a simple henley and Carhartt jacket will do, but to really drive home the film’s message, why not opt for an actual adult teddy bear onesie.
Shop the Look
“Almost Famous” (2000): Penny Lane
Patrick Fugit and Kate Hudson in "Almost Famous".
Everett Collection
It takes a truly talented costume designer to transform an Urban Outfitters rug into fashion history, as Betsy Heimann famously did with the Penny Lane coat on the set of “Almost Famous.” If you don't feel like following in the designer’s DIY footsteps, Free People is going to be your friend for this one. Heimann and her costume department hand-made all the clothing from scratch, but vintage Edwardian camis with Levi’s 501 denim will help enforce the Penny Lane look. Of course, the bulk of the costume lies in the coat. Check out Charlotte Simone and Rixo for a modern-day take on the Penny Lane coat.
Shop the Look
“Legally Blonde” (2001): Elle Woods costume party
Reese Witherspoon in "Legally Blonde."
Sorry, Marty Supreme, but whoever said orange is the new pink was seriously disturbed. For an iconic solo look, pull up to a costume party dressed as Elle Woods’ rabbit costume in the OG “Legally Blonde" as costume designed by Sophie de Rakoff. You can source the exact bodysuit worn by Reese Witherspoon at Trashy Lingerie on La Cienega Boulevard, right down to the hot pink fishnets. Or, DIY your own by trimming any old satin lace corset with pink marabou feathers. To turn this into a BFF costume, have your friend dress as a younger version of Elle from the Amazon prequel television series, which de Rakoff worked on with costume designer Sara Byblow., opens in new tab
Shop the Look
Trashy Lingerie Dolly Corset with Marabou.png Trashy Original Dolly Corset with Marabou
Trashy Lingerie
Buy for $360
“Carrie” (1976): Carrie White
Sissy Spacek in "Carrie".
Red Bank Films
“Carrie” is the gift that keeps on giving. Giving way to new adaptations, that is. In light of Mike Flanagan’s latest television reboot bringing the telekinetic teen back to the screen this month, why not pay tribute to the cult classic 1976 film which gave us the iconic dusty pink slip dress and plastic crown look via costume designer Rosanna Norton. Bonus points if you can score a vintage, handmade ’70s dress, although modern-day replicas like the ones linked below shouldn't be too hard to source. Fake blood might come in handy for this one.
Shop the Look
“Practical Magic” (1998)
Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman in "Practical Magic".
Warner Bros.
For the ultimate ode to sisterhood, you and your bestie could dress up as the Owen witches from the original “Practical Magic," brought to life by costume designer Judiana Makovsky. The components of this costume are as bohemian as they are witchy and could already be in your closet: think loose knit cardigans, crushed velvet, and an understated paisley or floral print. Or draw inspiration from the iconic green Monah Li, opens in new tab dress worn by Nicole Kidman, paired with jeans and a white lace cami for Sandra Bullock. The designer is still making dresses today, and we recommend shooting her a DM if you’re after something to not only complete your costume but treasure for years to come.
Shop the Look
“Teenage Sex and Death at Camp Miasma” (2026): Final Girls
Hannah Einbender and Gillian Anderson in "Teenage Sex and Death At Camp Miasma."
Mubi
A new sapphic horror film has entered the scene, and its “final girl” costumes are just to die for, metaphorically that is. Kendra Terpenning, opens in new tab drew on a long lineage of final girls in classics like “Friday the 13th” to land on Hannah Einbinder and Gillian Anderson's final looks, and the end result is as fabulous as it is simple to recreate: a T-shirt and booty shorts (or if you are feeling brave, underwear fit for ballet and other extreme sports) for Kris and a ’40s-inspired blush silk robe for Billy, with liberal application of fake blood.
Shop the Look
“Forbidden Fruits” (2026): Apple, Cherry, Fig, and Pumpkin
Alexandra Shipp, Victoria Pedretti, Lili Reinhart, and Lola Tung in "Forbidden Fruits."
IFC
For a spookier, chronically 2026 spin on the female friend group costume (à la “Sex and the City” and “Mean Girls”) take a page out of Sarah Millman’s, opens in new tab brilliant costume design for “Forbidden Fruits.” The meticulously controlled seductress Apple, coquette cowgirl Cherry, mall-goth Fig, and girl next door Pumpkin make for a perfect squad costume. For a more thorough edit, check out Millman’s picks here.
Shop the Look
“You Can See Everything”: Elizabeth Holmes and Nathan Fielder
Nathan Fielder and Elizabeth Holmes in "You Can See Everything."
A24
Sure, Elizabeth Holmes has been done before; but this crossover couples costume sure as hell hasn't, as there’s no way the world could have seen a collaboration between Nathan Fielder and the Theranos founder coming. For a 2026 spin on the defamed girlboss, ditch the turtleneck and grab a camel sweater from your nearest J. Crew outlet. We recommend the type of drab, salt-of-the-earth shade that subliminally garners sympathy. Nailing Holmes' better half—sorry, Billy Evans, we’re referring to Fielder—requires nothing more than a black shirt, a pair of headphones, and an unshakably dry demeanor. Props could go a few different directions on this one, but we recommend a baby doll and disturbingly blue contact lenses.
Shop the Look
“Wild Horse Nine”: CIA agents Chris and Lee
John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell in "Wild Horse Nine."
Searchlight Pictures
In addition to being the one night a year when a girl can dress like a total slut, and no other girls can say anything about it, Halloween is also the only night you can walk out of the house dressed like a middle-aged 1970s CIA agent without judgement. We suggest you take full advantage of the latter. For a “Wild Horse Nine” buddy costume inspired by Eimer Ní Mhaoldomhnaigh,, the assignment is simple enough: two hats, trousers, and suspenders. A Sam Rockwell-inspired moustache is encouraged, though not required.
Shop the Look
“Making Marie Antoinette”: Marie Antoinette and Sofia Coppola
Kirsten Dunst in "Marie Antoinette".
Sony
In homage to the 20th anniversary of “Marie Antoinette,” and the release of Eleanor Coppola’s documentary about its creation, “Making Marie Antoinette,” dress up as the OG filmmaker and her heroine. The Sofia Coppola half of this costume is very simple: a vintage hysteric glamour graphic tee and denim mini skirt. For Antoinette, check out Trashy Lingerie’s ornate array of pearl-lined corsets for inspiration, or, if you have $380 dollars to spend, purchase. For a deep-cut homage to the film’s behind-the-scenes, recreate the iconic photo of Kirsten Dunst listening to music with wired earbuds in full period garb.
Shop the Look
“Primetime”: Chris Hansen and Decoy Dan
Skyler Gisondo on the set of "Primetime," shot by Alec Soth.
Alec Soth
Robert Pattinson on the set of "Primetime," shot by Alec Soth.
Alec Soth
Skyler Gisondo on the set of "Primetime," shot by Alec Soth.
Alec Soth
Robert Pattinson on the set of "Primetime," shot by Alec Soth.
Alec Soth
What would have happened if costume designer Alex Bovaird wasn't there to supply the iconic puka shell graphic polo tee combo on Decoy Dan in “Primetime”? This Halloween, we suggest soliciting your youngest (or, for comedic effect, oldest) looking friend to dress up as Skyler Gisondo dressing up as a twenty-something dressing up as a tween trying to lure in predators. For the Chris Hansen companion piece, slap a “Chris Hansen; Dateline NBC” over an oversized suit on a red nametag and you are good to go.
Shop the Look
“Backrooms”: the creepypasta wallpaper
Renate Reinsve in "Backrooms".
A24
Nobody could have guessed that the scariest thing to come out of 2026 would be a color. Set decorator Trevor Johnson dedicated weeks of precious production time to finding the exactly right shade. For the lowest-lift costume, take any old white garment and naturally dye it to resemble the putrid yellow wallpaper that has come to define “Backrooms.” Or, take the lazy route and shop one of our close-enough color matches below.
