It’s that time of the year again, the brief slice of fall when people care about pumpkins and having fun, before the chaos and stress of holiday shopping and preparing for visiting relatives saturates the rest of the year. Halloween has always been a lighthearted and fun holiday, for adults a reprieve from the normal when everyone throws on a costume and celebrates the wilder side, and for children a curious joy that brings a bounty of sweets.
We all know popular entertainment fuels the year’s best Halloween costumes. We dug into the popular topics of the year and rounded up some of the hot costumes you can bet will be spotted this season.
Game of Thrones
Any GOT fans are likely still reeling from the tumultuous Season 7 and dreading the final six episodes of the series in 2018. Unless you are completely detached from popular culture, you’ve likely heard someone raving about the battles, treacherous power plays, and dramatic plot twists that characterize the biggest fantasy series to hit TV. This season you can raise your house banner and fight the hordes of basic witches, zombies, and other lame costumes by dressing up as some of the show’s main characters.
Daenerys targaryen (Khaleesi)
She goes by many names, among which the most notable is “The Dragon Queen,” from her pet dragons which she uses in her army’s push to reclaim the Iron Throne. Arguably one of the strongest female roles on TV, her trademark brilliant blond hair and determination have made her a fan favorite, which will surely be a cosplay and Halloween hit with the ladies.
Jon Snow
From his beginnings in the Night’s Watch, Jon Snow starts out as an underdog with honor and good intentions. His trials and tribulations test his core beliefs, and make him a beloved character. Despite his difficulties and misfortunes, his conquest to fight the White Walkers sees his loyalties grow and this fan favorite will be one of the best Halloween costumes this season for men.
Wonder Woman
Thanks to the first full feature film for Wonder Woman early this year, plenty of women and girls will don the familiar gauntlets and headband as the Amazonian superhero and hit the streets to bring justice to the land. The key to a good Wonder Woman costume is in the details: the gauntlets, whip, headband, and boots.
Spider-Man, Thor (or any of the Avengers)
Spider-Man and Thor aren’t new, but considering they both have new movies this year (with Thor’s still to come in early November) they are naturally going to be hot choices for all ages. The key to nailing the new-age Spider-Man is getting the sarcasm and humor down pat. When it comes to dressing up like Thor, if you can’t lift an ancient stone hammer by Halloween you don’t need to worry—the luxurious blond hair is enough to distract everyone from the inflatable muscles.
Daredevil
Netflix knocked it out of the park with this series, which rescued the superhero’s dignity after the disgraceful showing of Ben Affleck’s 2003 rendition. As a blind lawyer for the underserved by day, Matt Murdock becomes a skilled vigilante by night fighting off the underworld scum and The Hand in Hell’s Kitchen. Brush up on your martial arts and get used to seeing in the dark, as you’ll surely be seeing rival Punisher costumes walking around this Halloween.
Moana
Almost every year Disney puts out a blockbuster animated film, and for 2016 that was Moana. The brilliant colors, textures, and songs of Polenysian culture were dazzling for both adults and children, breathing life into the story of a young girl saving her family against all odds. Without fail there will be girls in grass skirts and sarongs, bringing an island vibe to the streets.
Clowns (It)
Killer clowns are no newcomer to the Halloween scene, and there are few things creepier than seeing those overly makeup-ed faces contorted in a murderous smile or covered in blood. Perhaps the ubiquitous fear started with Stephen King’s novel It years ago, maybe it was the movie rendition, or maybe it’s just a natural fear of a sub-human being, but by popular demand this theme has held strong. I can guarantee evil clowns will be scaring trick-or-treaters this year, revived with the new release of It in theaters.
Star Wars
Star Wars is a Halloween costume gold star winner when done right, and without a doubt will be a popular topic considering the return of Rey and Luke in December’s Episode VIII. There are plenty of folks who will just throw on a cloak and find a cheap light saber, but the real fans will take it to the max. I’ve seen some epic cosplay with Boba Fett and platoons of Storm Troopers, but there’s just something about seeing a little tyke dressed up as a padawan or small Rey that makes me glad the saga is still going strong in new fans after 40 years.
Zelda
Another all-time-classic video game, Zelda is going to be an even hotter costume in 2017 than in previous years thanks to the recent release of Breath of the Wild. The quest for adventure continues on with everyone’s favorite hero Link, either with his throwback green tunic, hat, shield and sword or his more modern garb.
Assassin’s Creed
If you fancy historic settings and secret societies with a twist of sci-fi, the Assassin’s Creed video game series is a thrilling dive into adventure and mystery. With characters from the French Revolution, Victorian-era London, Rome, and many other historica era there is no end to the meticulous detail that could be put into some killer costumes. My personal favorite is Adewalé, with his machete/blunderbuss combination.
Overwatch
We’d be remiss if this list didn’t include the characters from last year’s beloved first person shooter, which is quite an eclectic bunch indeed. Whether you fancy yourself more an armor-clad gorilla with glasses like Winston or an archer like Hanzo, the Overwatch cast offers plenty of options for epic cosplay this Halloween.
Destiny
Projected to be one of the biggest video games this year, Destiny 2 will land on PC just days before Halloween, and since it’s already out for PS4 and Xbox One you have all the material you need to get your costume prepared. For the ambitious DIYer, this is a great opportunity to stand out from the Master Chiefs that have been flooding Halloween streets and represent the new king of interplanetary shooters.
Mario
Always a classic for gamers, everyone’s favorite Italian plumber will continue to be a popular Halloween costume 36 years after his debut appearance. To stand out from the crowd, try customizing your Mario Halloween getup with a variation of the traditional plumber, like Dr. Mario or Tanooki Mario.
