Halloween costumes for 2025

Do you remember when Halloween meant running down the streets with your friends, searching for carved pumpkin faces inviting you to knock on their doors, and carrying bags of sweets? If I told my 10-year-old self that people don’t dress up as terrifying witches, ghosts, or murderous killers anymore, she would be a little disappointed and confused, saying, “What kind of silly costumes are you dressing up as then?” (especially considering that she believed that the fake blood, witch’s dress, and scary eye make-up she had professionally smudged across her face after school for trick-or-treating was the best costume she had ever seen).

For those who love the thrill and excitement of screams and gore, costumes based on some of our favourite horror films are always a great starting point. If you are a big Stephen King fan, the name Carrie won’t be unfamiliar

However, as we’ve gotten older, that excitement for dressing up has turned into suddenly realising that Halloween is just around the corner and you have no clue what to be. Of course, there’s always the option of not dressing up, throwing on that stupid mask, and calling it a ‘costume’. Only after Halloween has passed do you come up with the perfect costume idea, and the unfortunate cycle continues.

So, if you’re struggling for ideas, here’s a guide to costumes I’ve come up with. One your 10-year-old self would definitely approve of:

“What’s your favourite scary movie?” – Ghostface, Scream
For those who love the thrill and excitement of screams and gore, costumes based on some of our favourite horror films are always a great starting point. If you are a big Stephen King fan, the film Carrie won’t be unfamiliar. With the iconic, drenched in blood prom queen look, it’s a perfect costume for anyone who wants to feel horrifically beautiful wearing a tiara and dress. For fans of Bret Easton Ellis’s American Psycho, the only disturbing character is Patrick Bateman, a character you can’t forget. His recognisable white shirt, red tie, transparent raincoat and headphones are a great last-minute costume for any finance or business students.

If all else fails with a costume this year, be a tired university student with eye bags and a low attendance to lectures – you won’t even have to dress up!

“I put a spell on you and now you’re mine.” – Hocus Pocus
It’s challenging to meet in the middle when your girlfriend wants to be a princess and asks you to paint your face green to be the pea, or your boyfriend keeps requesting you to dress as his childhood crush Padmé, while he lives out his dreams as Anakin. If you are both low-effort people who want to find something easy but fun, Subway Surfers is a perfect option: blue wash jeans, white top, red cap or beanie. For any TV series fans who binge-watched YOU, a Love and Joe duo costume is a good option to highlight your obsessions with one another. If you like Coraline, try The Other Mother and The Other Father – you could stick buttons on sunglasses for their chilling button-eyes. And if you are a music couple, Priscilla and Elvis, with their famous nineteen fifties look, are an effortlessly cool choice – just add gelled hair and thick eyeliner.

“I’m the ghost with the most, babe.” – Beetlejuice
If you don’t want to take Halloween too seriously and enjoy a good laugh, The Hangover – which may ironically be the next day’s consequences of Friday night – is the best group costume to do with your flatmates or those outside. Sometimes the best and easiest option for a Halloween costume is associated with your degree – Shakespeare, Issac Newton, or maybe Aristotle, but as a Halloween edition. Or, if you’re ready to break from tradition, go a little ‘uncensored’ with costumes inspired by pop culture and internet chaos.

So, whether you already have a costume or decide to have a go at one of these, enjoy this year’s Halloween with a scary movie or a festive activity. If all else fails with a costume this year, be a tired university student with eye bags and a low attendance to lectures – you won’t even have to dress up!