Movie Halloween Costumes - living after midnite

HALLOWEEN is just a few weeks away, have you figured out what you’re dressing up as this year? I know not everyone is as crazy as me and plans their Halloween costume weeks in advance, but it’s never too early to start saving a few costume ideas to your secret Halloween Pinterest board!

I’m a little bit of a pop culture junkie and LOVE dressing up as characters from TV shows and popular movies for Halloween! Movie character costumes are some of my favorite types of Halloween costumes because they’re super recognizable. I love retro movie costumes like the characters from the Wizard of Oz or Star Wars, 80s or 90s movie costumes like Marty and Doc from Back to the Future and The Sanderson Sisters from Hocus Pocus, and also more current favorites like the Joker and Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad.

These iconic movie Halloween costumes can be DIYed from items already in your closet for the most part and if you’re missing one of these pieces and have to pick it up you’ll definitely be able to wear it again! This isn’t my first time creating Halloween costumes from my closet (check out this & this for more inspiration) and I love being able to show you how easy it is to create a great costume from items you already have!

Iconic Movie Halloween Costumes

Ursula from The Little Mermaid Costume

Who wants to be a Disney princess when you can be a Disney villain? Ursula, the sea witch from The Little Mermaid, that stole Ariel’s voice will forever be a favorite of mine and getting dressed up as her was so much fun!

WHAT YOU NEED: Gold Conch Shell Necklace, Quartz Crown Headband, Starfish Earrings, Purple & Blue Eyeshadow Palette, Gold Trident, Corset Top, Purple Tulle Mesh Gloves & Purple & Black Tulle Skirt

Breakfast at Tiffany’s Holly Golightly Costume

Holly Golightly from the movie Breakfast at Tiffany’s is an Audrey Hepburn classic and such a fun Halloween costume! This is also a great costume if you have to dress up for work!

WHAT YOU NEED: A crystal tiara clip, sunglasses, a black sheath dress, long gloves & a large pearl necklace. Bonus points if you walk around with a to-go coffee cup (filled with whatever your heart desires) and a pastry.

Sandy from Grease Costume

Grease is one of my all time favorite movies and there’s so many great Halloween costume inspiration in it thanks to all the great characters! Danny, Sandy, The Pink Ladies, I can go on and on!

WHAT YOU NEED: Red lipstick, black leather pants, a black off the shoulder top, red heels & a curling iron. Black leather jacket & a faux cigarette optional.

Wednesday Addams Halloween Costume

Wednesday Addams is not only a classic Halloween costume, but also a pretty iconic current costume thanks to the new Netflix series! While Wednesday’s “look” has changed a little over the years the basics I listed below should make sure everyone immediately recognizes who you are!

WHAT YOU NEED: Pigtail braids (& a wig or black hair spray if you don’t already have dark hair), a black skater dress, black tights & black boots.

Cousin Debbie from Addams Family Values Costume

And if Wednesday isn’t your thing, go for Cousin Debbie Jellinsky! This is one of my absolutely favorite roles that Joan Cusack has ever played and it is SO iconic! Every outfit she wears in the movie is amazing so you can’t go wrong, just make sure to grab a shovel or even better give yourself an electrocuted look!

WHAT YOU NEED: Blonde Bob Wig, Diamond Ring, Pink Dress, Pink Shawl & Shovel

Heathers Costume

Heathers is one of those cult classic IYKYK iconic movies and could not be left off this list! This is perfect for a girl group costume, especially if you and your friends are a little crazy.

WHAT YOU NEED: Vintage Plaid Blazer with Shoulder Pads, Skirt, Loafers & Croquet Mallet

The Craft Costume

The girls from The Craft are equally as crazy as the ones from Heathers with a little bit of witchcraft added in!

WHAT YOU NEED: Private School Uniform – Plaid Skirt & White Top

Ghostbusters Costume

Ghostbusters with Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd is one of the most iconic 80s movies and the remake from 2016 with the female cast did not disappoint and is what really prompted this costume!

WHAT YOU NEED: Khaki Jumpsuit & Black Backpack (or just buy the Ghostbusters Costume…it’s worth it!)

The First Wives Club Costume

This girl group costume is definitely very niche and specific, but I guarantee every Millennial girl at the party will know exactly who you are! Bonus points if you break out in song and dance to “You Don’t Own Me”.

WHAT YOU NEED: White Business Suit

The Great Gatsby Costume

The Great Gatsby is a CLASSIC (book and movie) and the costume is so glam! If you’re headed to a fancier Halloween party this is the costume for you!

WHAT YOU NEED: Flapper Dress, Black Sheer Tights & Black Pumps

Troop Beverly Hills Costume

Troop Beverly Hills is another one of those classic 80s movies that makes an absolutely Iconic Movie Halloween Costume. Guys probably won’t know who you are, but every Millennial girl will!

WHAT YOU NEED: Khaki Dress, Green Handkerchief & Green Beret

Carrie Costume

This Carrie costume may be the messier costume on this list, BUT it’s definitely the coolest! It’s creepy and iconic and everyone will absolutely know who you’re dressed up as! To be honest I’m surprised more Halloween costume lists don’t include Carrie! But I will warn you, the fake blood is pretty much impossible to get off clothing so this is definitely a one and done type of costume because you’ll probably have to throw out everything the fake blood touches!

WHAT YOU NEED: Tiara, Pink Prom Dress, Bouquet of Flowers & a lot of Fake Blood

Scream Costume

One of my favorite couple costumes that hasn’t been done a million times is Casey Becker and Ghostface from the first Scream movie! While Drew Barrymore’s character was only on screen for a few minutes prior to being killed, she will forever be an iconic Scream cast member and my pick to dress up as if you’re planning on dressing up for Halloween as someone from the Scream franchise!

WHAT YOU NEED: Blonde Wig, Ivory Sweater, House Phone, Knife & Ghostface Mask

Edward Scissorhands Costume

The makeup for this Edward Scissorhands costume was probably the hardest makeup I’ve ever done! I actually started it and washed it off and had to start again because I wanted it to be perfect, in the end I think I did a pretty good job! Any Johnny Depp related Halloween costume will always be a winner in my book and Edward Scissorhands is on the top of my list of amazing movie Halloween costumes.

WHAT YOU NEED: Black Dress Pants, Black Turtleneck, White Button Up, Suspenders, Black Wig, “Scissorhands” & a lot of White Makeup

Chucky from Child’s Play Costume

Who else was simultaneously terrified, but obsessed with Chucky growing up? I’ve never looked at a doll the same way since seeing Child’s Play for the first time in the 90s, but I also couldn’t stop watching the movies!

WHAT YOU NEED: Striped Sweater, Red Wig, Overalls & Knife

Pretty Woman Costume

Pretty Woman is such an iconic movie and such a fun idea for a BFF Halloween costume! Before and after Julia Roberts is Pretty Woman is not a costume I’ve ever seen until Megan and I dressed up as Vivian Ward a few years ago and honestly not that many people have replicated it. So if you’re looking for something super original this idea may just be it! And if you’ve got a third friend have them dress up as Richard Gere’s Edward Lewis in a suit!

WHAT YOU NEED: Blonde Bob Wig, Black Paperboy Hat, White Tank, Red Blazer, Blue Mini Skirt & OTK Black Boots OR Red Off the Shoulder Dress & Red Wig

Mean Girls Halloween Costume

This one is kind of tricky because it’s a costume inside of a costume! One of the most iconic Mean Girls’ scenes is the Halloween party when Amanda Seyfried’s character Karen is dressed as a “mouse” and Lindsay Lohen’s, Cady, shows up dressed to the nines as a dead bride. Make it a group costume and have the rest of your friends dress up as a sexy cat and bunny to really win “best dressed”.

WHAT YOU NEED: Lingerie and mouse ears for Karen / Wedding Gown, Veil and Fake Teeth for Cady