Most Popular Halloween Costumes Throughout American History (#138)

Need some last-minute inspiration for a Halloween costume this year? Then this might be the episode for you!

Ever since the late 19th century, Americans have been dressing up to celebrate Halloween. The costumes people choose to wear are always changing, influenced by popular culture and current events.

From the 1870s to the 1890s, people mostly made their own witch and ghost costumes.

There were no store-bought costumes in the late 1800s, so people dressed up as classic symbols of the Halloween holiday with looks they made themselves.

Victorian America was also fascinated by the Far East.

Any costumes that were what people would have called "exotic," such as Egyptian princesses, were popular choices in the late 19th century. This wouldn't fly today with more widespread awareness about cultural appropriation.

Mass-produced paper costumes and buckram masks hit stores between the 1900s and the 1920s.

Halloween became more popular at the turn of the century, celebrated in civic institutions such as schools and parades. Almost everyone was wearing mass-produced costumes made by Dennison Paper Company. 

"Everybody looked the same, those were aprons with cats or little witches printed on them, or hats or paper masks. They were meant to be worn once and thrown away, like crepe paper," Bannatyne said. "That's the first time Halloween got a standard color scheme — yellow, black, orange, purple — with paper products.

Disposable paper costumes made way for boxed character costumes in the 1930s and '40s.

Ready-to-wear boxed costumes usually included a plastic mask and a rayon costume depicting well-known characters from cartoons, books, and the radio.

According to Lesley Bannatyne, Halloween expert and author of Halloween Nation: Behind the Scenes of America’s Fright Night, these costumes were considered a luxury in the 1930s, and they only became more affordable after World War II.

Television defined popular culture in the 1950s, and Halloween costumes followed suit.

"Popular culture went from radio to television in the '50s, and all of a sudden everybody is on the same page," Bannatyne said. "You couldn't have standard Halloween costumes that everybody knew about until we had a common culture."

“The celebration of Halloween often illustrates what’s going on in our culture… Halloween feeds on zeitgeist in a way that other holidays can’t. It’s expressive of who we are and what we value, what we’re thinking about or are afraid of or love—from bird flu to Game of Thrones to politics to Frozen.”

So, let’s take a look at what some of those costumes have been over the years, from 1950 all the way through to today:

1950: Cowboy / Norma Desmond from Sunset Boulevard

Everyone this year was “ready for their close-up,” in the words of Norma. Her arched brows and dramatic gowns made such a standout costume.

When most people think of the 1950s, they imagine a poodle skirt or leather jacket. But what was the go-to costume in 1950? A good ol’ cowboy. Hollywood was obsessed with Westerns at the time. From John Wayne to Gene Autry to Roy Rogers, young boys and men alike had found their heroes, and that was reflected on Halloween night. 

1951: Tarzan / Alice in Wonderland

Can you believe the animated movie is this old? Alice’s pinafore with her socks and black shoes is basically iconic and immediately recognizable—two features that make a great Halloween costume.

Tarzan—the orphan boy raised by apes in the jungle—has been the subject of movie after movie dating all the way back to 1918. By the time Tarzan and the Slave Girl hit theaters in 1950, the character had become a household name. This Halloween costume packed a punch with minimal accessories and became a classic couple’s costume for anyone dressing up with his very own Jane. 

1952: Don Lockwood

Break out the umbrella and tap shoes: Singin’ in the Rain was released in 1952. It featured dancing and romance in true Hollywood style, and it was the perfect follow-up to Gene Kelly’s award-winning performance in An American in Paris. Many consider it the greatest musical of all time, even if it wasn’t nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. (It’s in good company with these other classic films that didn’t win Best Picture either.) Kelly’s raincoat-wearing, umbrella-toting Don Lockwood was—and still is—an incredibly easy costume to copy.

1953: Mickey Mouse

The Halloween costume business saw a boom after World War II. Once stores like Sears offered boxed costumes, Bannatyne says, “mass-market costumes followed trends in popular culture from comic-book and radio characters to television favourites to movie stars and Internet memes.” One of the biggest trends of the early ’50s, way before the advent of the Internet? Disney everything. On Halloween night in 1953, you would have seen your fair share of Donald Ducks and Snow Whites, but Mickey Mouse was the overwhelming favourite. With hit after hit (Snow White, Pinocchio, Dumbo, and Bambi) in the late 1930s and early 1940s and Disneyland under construction in California, the Disney impact was undeniable, and Mickey Mouse was the breakout star. 

1954: Batman

Holy Batman! The 1940s and 1950s shaped Batman into the beloved superhero we know today. Born into the DC Comics world in 1939, crime-fighting Batman quickly caught up to the popularity of Superman. In fact, Detective Comics #27, where Batman first made his debut, is still one of the most sought-after comics. But things started to shift for Batman on April 19, 1954, when psychiatrist Fredric Wertham published a book called Seduction of the Innocent, which linked comics and juvenile delinquency. Censorship took the comic world by storm, but fans still donned the black mask and cape on Halloween. 

1955: Davy Crockett / Rebel Without a Cause

James Dean immortalized a red jacket, white tee, and jeans in this classic flick. Plus, his costar Natalie Wood had the best fashion sense.

Everyone’s favorite frontiersman was a Halloween staple of the mid-1950s. Boys (and men) everywhere were charmed by Davy Crockett, especially after the Disney series aired from 1954 to 1955 and Davy Crockett: King of the Wild Frontier hit theaters in 1955. Faux raccoon cap? Check. Rugged good looks and captivating storytelling ability? Check, check. 

1956: Anna Leonowens

The King and I is one of those iconic Broadway musicals that everyone’s at least heard of. And when the film adaptation of the Rodgers & Hammerstein musical hit theaters in 1956, Halloween inspiration basically jumped right off of the screen. The movie’s female protagonist, Anna Leonowens (played by Deborah Kerr), was the perfect costume for those seeking a bit of glamour and an excuse to wear a ball gown and a sleek updo. 

1957: Frankenstein

There’s no doubt that Frankenstein, the star of Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel of the same name, was one of the biggest Halloween costume trends of the 1950s. But science fiction and horror fans really broke out the green paint and neck bolts on October 31, 1957. Why? Frankenstein was dominating the comic-book world, and movies about the monster were airing on TV. Fun fact that only true bookworms know: Victor Frankenstein is actually the name of the doctor, not the monster. 

1958: Zorro / Madeleine Elster from Vertigo

The Alfred Hitchcock film, set in San Francisco, had some incredible detective-inspired outfits, including Madeleine’s (played by Kim Novak) trench coat and gloves.

After Disney’s Zorro hit TV screens in 1957, starring the hunky Guy Williams, masks and swords became the year’s must-have Halloween accessories. The masked, sword-wielding fox (which, by the way, Zorro means in Spanish) of a hero was created by Johnston McCulley in 1919. Now more than 100 years old (and having gone through a 1998 reboot starring Antonio Banderas), Zorro continues to be a Halloween costume favourite.

1959: Marilyn Monroe

Following the success of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes in 1953, The Seven Year Itch in 1955, and Some Like it Hot in 1959, platinum-blond wigs and the perfect shade of red lipstick were in high demand on Halloween in 1959. Women flaunted their sex appeal as bombshell Marilyn Monroe, something that many still do today. 

1960: Hula girl

To say that Americans were fascinated with Hawaii in the ’50s and ’60s would be an understatement. What with World War II servicemen returning with stories of a nearby paradise, South Pacific making waves on Broadway and in theaters, and Hawaii officially becoming the 50th U.S. state on August 21, 1959, grass skirts, Hawaiian shirts, silk flowers, and tiki bars took the country—and Halloween—by storm.

1961: Holly Golightly

Although Truman Capote originally wanted Marilyn Monroe to play Holly Golightly in the adaption of his novel Breakfast at Tiffany’s, it was Audrey Hepburn who ultimately brought the character to life in 1961. Between Holly’s little black dress, pearl necklace, and cat-eye sunglasses, she is every fashionista’s dream costume. Of course, the actress herself wasn’t too shabby either. 

1962: Rocky and Bullwinkle / JFK and Jackie O

It was in the middle of his presidency (before his untimely assassination the following year) and he had just given his famous “We choose to go to the moon” speech. And with Jackie as the First Lady in her bold-colored suits and coats, this was one costume everyone would recognize right off the bat.

Shortly after The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends premiered on ABC, the lovable, animated duo of Rocket “Rocky” J. Squirrel and Bullwinkle Moose became popular Halloween costumes. Creator Jay Ward’s daughter told CNN in 2009 that “she thinks it struck such a chord and remains popular today because her father never wrote for children, he wrote for adults. Jay Ward wanted kids to enjoy the pictures while grown-ups laughed at the quick wit and inside jokes.”

1963: Elizabeth Taylor / The Lucy Show

Lucille Ball’s follow-up to I Love Lucy, The Lucy Show was just as great of a sitcom—and just as popular of a Halloween costume.

When Cleopatra, one of the most expensive movies ever made, debuted in 1963, the nation couldn’t help but obsess over Elizabeth Taylor’s style in the film. Between the over-the-top jewels and the elaborate eye makeup, it’s no wonder why people wanted to copy the look. Plus, Taylor was one of the biggest stars on the planet at the time, which also boosted Cleopatra’s Halloween popularity. Of course, nowadays the casting of (and dressing up as) Elizabeth Taylor as Cleopatra comes across as blatant whitewashing.

1964: The Beatles

Already massively popular in the U.K., the Beatles became a sensation in America after wooing teenagers with their appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in February 1964. That’s also the year when Beatlemania first took hold of Halloween, and groups started dressing up like the Fab Four. Dibs on Paul McCartney—who, 50 years later, is people’s favorite Beatle, according to a CBS News poll. 

1965: Sonny and Cher

“They say we’re young and we don’t know,” but we do know that Sonny Bono and Cher were a legendary duo that Halloween revelers wanted to emulate—especially when “I Got You Babe” topped the charts in 1965. When one half of a couple donned a long, black Cher wig and dressed in her over-the-top style and the other half opted for Sonny’s bushy mustache and shaggy hair, there was no doubt who they were dressed as. 

1966: Barbie / Star Trek

Barbie was introduced to the world in 1959, and at the time, little girls loved dressing up and dressing up as Barbie Millicent Roberts (“Barbie”). In 1966, Barbie was still rocking the glamour of the 1950s (though she also made history by going to the moon in 1965, four years before Neil Armstrong), and so too were those dressing up as the uber-popular doll on Halloween. 

Speaking of the moon and space in general, the sci-fi show was released this year, and you couldn’t miss those bold-colored shirts with the Star Trek logo on ’em come Halloween.

1967: Morticia Addams / I Dream of Jeannie

Years after the Addams Family first appeared in Charles Addams’ 1938 New Yorker cartoon, the television series The Addams Family debuted on ABC and cemented itself as an American classic. Sure, Gomez and his Frankenstein-like butler, Lurch, were obvious costume choices, but sultry mom Morticia and death-obsessed daughter Wednesday really broke through as trendy costume choices and remain popular even today. 

Jeannie’s pink-and-red scantily clad outfit and sky-high hair was her signature look when the show debuted in ’65, but it continued to be widely popular years later.

1968: Rosemary Woodhouse / Casper the Friendly Ghost

Thanks to successful books and a cartoon, Casper the Friendly Ghost made many trick-or-treat appearances in 1968.

Hands down, Rosemary’s Baby is one of the scariest movies of all time. A massive success, the movie—about a woman who suspects that her unborn baby is the spawn of Satan—was also deeply cursed for the movie’s creators and stars and deeply influential in terms of horror movies. Following its release, women started to dress up like star Mia Farrow’s Rosemary on Halloween, with her trademark pixie cut, nightgown, knife, and, of course, demonic baby.

1969: Astronaut

America’s fascination with the moon soared in the late ’50s and early ’60s, when NASA was established and the first forays into space began. But it was Halloween 1969—three months after Neil Armstrong became the first man on the moon—when the astronaut costume really took off. That was one small step for man, one giant leap for the Halloween costume industry. 

1970: Elvis Presley

While Elvis Presley first topped charts in the 1950s, it was in 1970 that the King of Rock ‘n’ Roll broke records in Las Vegas and shot a documentary. With his signature black hair and sideburns, flashy jumpsuits, and gold glasses, who could resist copying Presley’s style on Halloween? 

1971: Willy Wonka

Chocolate, magic, and music were the winning combo (the golden ticket, if you will) when Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, the adaptation of Roald Dahl’s 1964 novel, premiered in June 1971. Gene Wilder made his mark on the big screen as the eccentric chocolatier, and Halloween revelers have worn large top hats and bow ties ever since. 

1972: Don Corleone

While America was dealing with the end of the Vietnam War, Hollywood was making us an offer we couldn’t refuse: The Godfather. Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, the film cemented Marlon Brando as gangster-movie royalty—and as a character worthy of emulating on Halloween with his thin mustache, slicked-back hair, tux adorned with a red rose, and, of course, the perfect Brando voice. If you’ve got a tux at your disposal, you can easily create this look. 

1973: Marcia Brady / The Brady Bunch

Here’s the story…of a popular Halloween costume in 1973. The Brady Bunch first aired in 1969 and became everyone’s favourite family, but it was 1973 when Maureen McCormick’s Marcia Brady took a football to the nose. And, of course, if you had a large group, going as the world’s most prominent blended family was the perfect idea for a group costume.

1974: Richard Nixon / Daisy Buchanan from The Great Gatsby

The first film adaptation of the classic F. Scott Fitzgerald novel was a total throwback to the 1920s.

“Political masks do well when there’s a scandal or a tagline that’s memorable,” says Bannatyne. Case in point: During Richard Nixon’s impeachment, Tricky Dick masks were all the rage.

Political masks also tend to pop up on election years, though things are slightly different today than they used to be. “Up until Trump’s election, sales of candidate’s masks were a fairly good indicator of the winner of an upcoming election. Obama outsold Romney in 2012, for example,” says Bannatyne. “With Trump, the masks sell well, but no one can tell if it’s because people support him or are making a joke of him.”

1975: Dr. Frank-N-Furter

Is there a bigger cult classic than The Rocky Horror Picture Show? When it premiered in 1975, the film’s main character, Dr. Frank-N-Furter—a “sweet transvestite, from Transsexual, Transylvania,” played by Tim Curry—became instantly recognizable. While Rocky Horror is now pretty mainstream, it was radical at the time for its depiction of sexuality.

1976: Charlie’s Angels

Forget Charlie, and instead, grab your two best friends and dress up as the Angels. That was the thought for Halloween back in 1976, and still often the thought today. The sexy crime-stopping trio of Charlie’s Angels first hit the boob tube in 1976 with record-breaking numbers. The series was groundbreaking for featuring women in leading roles, and all of the ladies were popular—but, of course, it was Farrah Fawcett (with her perfectly feathered hair) who became the biggest star. 

1977: Star Wars

A long time ago, on a Halloween far, far away, the streets were lined with mini Luke Skywalkers, Princess Leias, Han Solos, and Darth Vaders. Actually, they still are. After the iconic franchise was introduced to the world in 1977, it became a surprise hit and the world became obsessed. The popularity of StarWars Halloween costumes started with Star Wars: Episode IV – A NewHope, and it hasn’t dwindled since. 

1978: Michael Myers

The year 1978 is an important one in horror-movie history. It’s when Halloween first debuted, kicking off an 11-film series (to date) that’s still going strong. Serial killer Michael Myers, with his white, hollow-eyed mask and trusty kitchen knife, quickly became the Halloween costume choice for those wanting to channel the darker side of the holiday—and scare the bejesus out of anybody nearby. 

1979: Rocky Balboa / Superman

Christopher Reeves Superman made 1979 Halloween celebrators want to become the Man of Steel for a night.

“Apollo Creed meets the Italian Stallion. Sounds like a damn monster movie.” Maybe, but it also sounds like the follow-up to Sylvester Stallone’s 1976 hit, Rocky. The boxer from Philadelphia and his new opponent, Apollo Creed, duked it out this year in Rocky II. No wonder the boxer’s robe was such a Halloween staple.

1980: John Travolta (well, sort of) / Daisy Duke from Dukes of Hazard

Cute heels and a plaid shirt helped ladies transform into Daisy Duke from The Dukes of Hazzard in 1980.

First, there was charismatic high schooler Vinnie Barbarino in Welcome Back, Kotter. Then came disco king Tony Manero in Saturday Night Fever and ’50s T-Bird Danny Zuko in Grease. The late 1970s were all about John Travolta, and so were the Halloweens to follow. 

1981: Indiana Jones

Break out the fedora and leather whip: Raiders of the Lost Ark came out in 1981, and archaeologist and adventurer Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) quickly went from battling Nazis and fleeing snakes to trick-or-treating across America. Fun fact: Director Steven Spielberg sent creator George Lucas (also responsible for Star Wars) a hidden message in the film.

1982: E.T. / Annie

In 1982, it was hard not to fall in love with Annie, the star of the eponymous film, and her infectiously positive attitude.

E.T. phone Halloween. Steven Spielberg’s 1982 film about a young boy (Elliott) befriending a sweet alien (E.T.) became one of the top 10 highest-grossing movies of all time. And although the movie spurred fans to bust out the red hoodies and bicycles on Halloween, things could have been very different had Spielberg made it into a horror movie as he had originally planned.

1983: Michael Jackson

Long before the sexual abuse allegations, Michael Jackson was a music-legend-in-the-making. His hit album Thriller came out in 1982, with an iconic video that screamed Halloween (zombified Jackson in a red motorcycle jacket) on MTV the next year, and Jackson landed the cover of Rolling Stone in 1983. So while this might not be the most popular costume choice today, the King of Pop was everyone’s favourite in the 1980s.

1984: Madonna / the crew from Ghostbusters

Everyone caught the supernatural bug with the release of Ghostbusters in 1984.

Madonna made history at the very first MTV Video Music Awards in 1984. Performing “Like a Virgin” in a risqué wedding dress, fingerless lace gloves, layers of necklaces, and “boy toy” belt, the Material Girl was just getting started with her shocking, covetable style. From the iconic cone bra to her teased hair, there are so many Madonna looks to leave a lasting impression on Halloween. 

1985: Freddy Krueger

One, two, Freddy’s coming for you. Three, four, better trick-or-treat some more. Once A Nightmare on Elm Street came out in late 1984, kids had a new villain to fear with Robert Englund’s Freddy Krueger. That red and green striped sweater has become synonymous with the razor-gloved serial killer—not to mention, you know, the razor gloves. 

1986: California Raisin / Jem and the Holograms

How did a bunch of raisins start making hit music? In the 1980s, the California Raisin Advisory Board came up with an idea to boost slowing raisin sales. Fast-forward to a group of claymation raisins singing and dancing to “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” and the rest is history. The California Raisins were a viral sensation before the days of viral sensations.

For Halloween 1986, pink hair and a microphone was all the rage, thanks to the animated series Jem and the Holograms.

1987: ALF / Robocop

What exactly was ALF, and why did he want to eat cats so badly? The late ’80s were a weird time, and the Alien Life Form (aka ALF) became the star of an NBC sitcom that ran from 1986 to 1990. Living with a middle-class California family before being captured by the U.S. Air Force’s Alien Task Force, ALF quickly became a fan favourite of the time (merchandise sales and ratings were through the roof). Unfortunately for those hoping to get an update on the furry alien, the present-day ALF reboot has been nixed. Even ’80s aficionados have to admit that ALF was strange.

RoboCop was practically begging to become a Halloween favorite in 1987, and fans didn’t disappoint.

1988: Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! Tim Burton’s wacky 1988 comedy was a box-office success, and it’s actually among the top 10 highest-grossing that year. It’s also the film that catapulted a young Winona Ryder to stardom, and it’s arguably one of Michael Keaton’s best character performances. With his black-and-white suit, wild green hair, and signature makeup (the film would go on to win an Oscar for makeup), Beetlejuice was certainly recognizable, and many fans copied the look. 

1989: Ghostbusters / Batman

Who ya gonna call—um, dress up as for Halloween? While Ghostbusters was one of the highest-grossing films of 1984, Ghostbusters II was even more successful, nearly doubling the first movie’s box-office numbers in 1989. Between stars Bill Murray and Dan Akroyd alone, it’s no surprise that the movie was such a massive hit. And considering the distinctive costumes and proton packs, it’s no surprise that trick-or-treaters loved this costume. Check out these Halloween customs and traditions from around the world.

In 1989, the first film in the Batman series was released, and fans have been dressing up as the Caped Crusader ever since.

1990: Marty McFly / Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Get in your DeLorean—we’re going back to 1990. By the turn of the decade, all three films in the Back to the Future franchise had been released and kids everywhere wanted a hoverboard. Whether it was Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) or Doc Brown (Christopher Lloyd), there was no doubt you’d see a bevy of Back to the Future characters on Halloween.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles began as comic book characters and quickly spawned a cartoon series, movie series, video games, toys, and more. Who knew that crime-fighting, sewer-dwelling turtles named after Renaissance artists (Donatello, Leonardo, Michaelangelo, and Raphael) would become one of the greatest hits of the '80s and '90s? The TMNJ movie debuted in 1990, making the franchise an especially popular choice that Halloween.

1991: Terminator / Morticia Addams

When Arnold Schwarzenegger said, “I’ll be back,” in 1984’s The Terminator, he wasn’t kidding. Terminator 2: Judgment Day, which had a record (at the time) $100 million budget, opened in 1991. The blockbuster was just the second in the action franchise that would only continue to grow. Whether fans dressed up as Schwarzenegger’s killer cyborg or Linda Hamilton’s badass Sarah Connor, you’d better believe you were hearing, “Hasta la vista, baby,” on Halloween.

In 1991, your dream of becoming a member of the Addams Family finally could come true as The Addams Family graced the silver screen.

1992: Barney / Catwoman

“I love you, you love me.” How adults felt about Barney is debatable, but nearly every preschooler in America loved him in the ’90s. Barney & Friends premiered on PBS in 1992, and soon, more than 14 million viewers were tuning in every week to see the lovable, purple dinosaur. Even Demi Lovato, who appeared on the show from 2002 to 2004, admitted that she had a thing for Barney. 

Michelle Pfeiffer brought Catwoman to life in 1992’s Batman Returns, so her slinky costume was a smash hit the year Michelle Pfeiffer took on the classic character in Batman Returns. 

1993: Power Rangers

Red, blue, yellow, pink, white, or black: Which Power Ranger are you? Nineties’ kids loved the teen superheroes, and some still do, especially after 2017’s big-screen reboot. But after Mighty Morphin Power Rangers aired in 1993, “demand was so high for the costumes that many shops ran out, leaving some determined parents to craft their own Power Rangers outfits for their children,” according to ABC News. 

1994: Bart Simpson / The Lion King

The Simpsons is the longest-running scripted program in history. Since premiering in 1989, the show has aired hundreds of episodes, featured many a celebrity, and has even predicted the future. By the time the sixth season premiered in 1994, Bartholomew JoJo “Bart” Simpson (yep, that’s his full name) had earned his spot as a pop-culture icon—and as a popular Halloween costume.

The Lion King was released in 1994, and you might have been living under a rock if you didn’t dress up as Simba or Mufasa.

1995: Lloyd Christmas and Harry Dunne / Star Trek

They may have been dumb, but BFFs Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) and Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) were certainly dynamic on the big screen. Dumb and Dumber came out in December 1994 and “opened at number one and became the sixth-highest grossing movie of the year in the United States,” according to Time. The hilarious best friends—and their orange and blue tuxedos—soon became the Halloween costumes of choice for best buds. 

The Star Trek franchise is massive and spans decades, but two Trekkie TV series were both on the air in 1995: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, which ran from 1993 to 1997 and Star Trek: Voyager, which aired from 1995 to 2001.

1996: The Spice Girls / Ghostface from ‘Scream’

The Spice Girls dropped their debut album, Spice, in 1996, and soon girls everywhere were throwing up peace signs and shouting, “Girl power!” on Halloween and the rest of the year. Scary Spice, Sporty Spice, Ginger Spice, Baby Spice (the most popular), and Posh Spice came onto the scene and quickly made an impact. Even the band’s latest reunion tour in 2019 was record-breaking, grossing more than $170 million—more than tours in the group’s heyday. If you’ve still got your ’90s gear stashed in your closet, you can put together this costume pretty easily. 

Horror movie Scream, which follows the murder of a teen girl, debuted the same year this costume skyrocketed to number one. That iconic mask still startles and terrifies people today, two decades later. 

1997: Austin Powers / Batman

Yeah, baby, yeah! Saturday Night Live alum Mike Myers burst back onto the scene after his success in 1992’s Wayne’s World as the cryogenically frozen 1960s secret agent Austin Powers. Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery featured catchphrase after catchphrase, Austin’s signature look (black glasses and a velvet suit), and enough mojo to fill the entire Swinging Sixties. That made it hard to avoid seeing someone dressed up as Austin Powers—or, of course, his nemesis, Dr. Evil—in the late ’90s. 

George Clooney starred in the 1997 film Batman & Robin, spawning renewed interest in the classic comic franchise. 

1998: Ghostface / Kenny from ‘Southpark’

“The 1980s saw an uptick in horror franchises and into the ’90s, and Halloween iconography grew bloodier with them, including costumes,” says Bannatyne. When Scream 2, the follow-up to horror hit Scream, came out in late 1997, kids everywhere donned serial killer Ghostface costumes on Halloween. More than 20 years later, that mask is still just as creepy. 

South Park, the lovably crass cartoon starring four fourth-grade boys, has been widely beloved since its first episode in 1997. The first Halloween after its debut, thousands of trick-or-treaters couldn't wait to dress up like Kenny, the cynical, mumbly one. 

1999: Neo from ‘The Matrix’

Keanu Reeves may be having another moment right now, but it was his role as Neo in 1999’s reality-questioning movie The Matrix that propelled the actor to superstardom. (The film’s sequel would actually be Reeves’ top-grossing film.) Got a long black coat and tiny black sunglasses? Then you’re all set to play Neo. 

2000: Britney Spears / The Flintstones

The pigtails, the white button-down shirt, the schoolgirl skirt: Who could forget Britney Spears’ iconic look in “Baby One More Time”? Well, fast-forward a year later to 2000, and all fans could think about now was the red leather jumpsuit from Spears’ “Oops!…I Did It Again” video. Chances are, though, you’d see many versions of Spears on Halloween in the early ’00s.

Halloween lovers went “yabba dabba doo” for The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas in 2000.

2001: Harry Potter and Hermione Granger

Harry Potter mania was alive and well before this, but after the first film debuted right around Halloween 2001, fans now had an established, iconic “look” to turn into a costume. Kids and grown-ups alike were dressing up as the Boy Who Lived and his brainy friend. 

2002: Spider-Man

You think you’re seeing lots of little Spideys today? Well, in 2002, the year the first Spider-Man film starring Tobey Maguire came out, America’s Spidey sense was off the charts. The film was the highest-grossing movie of the year, and fans of all ages suddenly had a new favourite superhero. 

2003: Captain Jack Sparrow

Johnny Depp’s iconic look in the first Pirates of the Caribbean film, The Curse of the Black Pearl, was a Halloween fanatic’s dream. Just throw on a pirate hat, braided hair, poofy sleeves, and some serious swagger, and any movie buff instantly knew who you were. 

2004: SpongeBob SquarePants / Spider-Man

Spider-Man had another big year in 2004 when Spider-Man 2 came out, becoming the second-most successful film of 2004, grossing $373 million in the United States and Canada. Once again, Spidey suits dominated Halloween. 

But a certain cartoon sponge was also a star that Halloween. The Nickelodeon show had been on the air since 1999, but 2004 was pretty much the moment of SpongeBob’s peak popularity—hence the feature film that came out later that year.

2005: Darth Vader

The reception of the Star Wars prequel trilogy was lukewarm at best, but the third film, Revenge of the Sith, released in 2005, gave everyone Vader fever. Anakin Skywalker finally becomes the biggest baddie in the galaxy in 2005’s Revenge of the Sith, which was better received than the first two prequel films.

2006: V from "V for Vendetta"

Before there was A on Pretty Little Liars, there was V, the freedom fighter in the 2006 political thriller. His all-black outfit topped off with a Guy Fawkes mask was the number one costume of the year. 

2007: Hannah Montana

Miley Cyrus first stepped into Hannah Montana's go-go boots in 2006. By 2007, girls everywhere were clamoring to dress just like her. 

2008: The Joker from "The Dark Knight" / High School Musical

Comic book characters, especially the ones that make the leap to film, are always popular choices, but the Joker was a particularly beloved choice the year that Heath Ledger portrayed him in The Dark Knight. The movie was released six months after his death. 

High School Musical 3 had its final premiere, and it didn’t hurt to reminisce on the Wildcats.

2009: Edward Cullen from "Twilight" / Lady Gaga

Twilight costumes were all the rage in the late 2000s and early 2010s: the books were released from 2005 to 2008 and the movies debuted between 2008 and 2012, so it's no surprise that 2008 saw a lot of Edwards and Bellas. 

In 2009, music lovers fell in love with Lady Gaga and her unique style as ‘Just Dance’ came to mainstream attention in 2009 - Gaga exploded onto the music scene.

2010: The "Jersey Shore" Cast / Princess Tiana from ‘Princess and the Frog’

A year after Snooki became a household name on Jersey Shore, her gravity-defying signature hairdo became a Halloween staple. 

In 2010, The Princess and the Frog captivated audiences and inspired Halloween costumes.

2011: Sue Sylvester from "Glee"

The track-suit wearing terror played by Jane Lynch was the best-selling costume of 2011, two years after Glee captured America's hearts (and chorus classes). 

2012: Psy in "Gangnam Style" / Katniss from ‘Hunger Games’

"Gangnam Style" became the number one YouTube video of all time after it debuted in 2012 — with 2.64 billion views and counting — so it's no surprise that there were a legion of Psy impersonators trick-or-treating that year.

In 2012, the success of The Hunger Games meant that Katniss Everdeen inspired ladies everywhere to walk around with a bow and arrow.

2013: Miley Cyrus / Iron Man

Miley's wild performance at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards alongside Robin Thicke led to a slew of leotard-clad copycats on Halloween.

Iron Man 3 was released in 2013, so you know what that means.

2014: Maleficent / Anna and Elsa from ‘Frozen’

The 2014 live-action Sleeping Beauty reboot Maleficent recast the villainous character as a sympathetic but misunderstood figure. Angelina Jolie's performance caused the dramatic black costume to become the best-selling look of the year.

Frozen *everything* took over 2014, so you definitely saw one of its characters during Halloween.

2015: Harley Quinn from "Suicide Squad"

Here's how popular Harley Quinn is: even though Margot Robbie didn't appear as Harley in Suicide Squad until this year, she was the top-selling costume of last year, while the film was still in production. 

2016: The kids from Stranger Things

If you didn’t hear about Stranger Things in 2016, you were probably living under a rock.

2017: Wonder Woman

With the hotly anticipated movie having been released in this year, the superhero dominated bad guys AND Halloween last year. I mean, who wouldn’t want to be a badass warrior princess, right?

2018: Fortnite

Very much a sign of the times!

2019: Pennywise the Clown

You can thank the recent release of It Chapter Two for filling your neighborhood with men, women, and children dressed as the Stephen King's creepiest character.