Iconic pop culture costumes for Halloween 2024

Halloween is just around the corner. If you fall between “I planned out 3 separate costumes in February” and “just pretend I’m a werewolf” — you’re probably scrounging for a costume that’s low-budget, but relevant enough that you’re actually perceived at the party.

The chronically-online Partiful team put together this list of pop culture-inspired solo, duo, and group costumes for you. Hope you find it inspiring.

Trust us, the brain worms were fully activated for this one.

(Speaking of brain worms, how is RFK doing?)

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Solo costumes

These meme-inspired looks are conversation starters. You may show up alone, but you certainly won’t be lonely.

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Josh wine

(Not sponsored) Josh wine is exactly the vibe you want to give at a Halloween party: a bit classy, a bit trashy, and beloved by all. P.S. You don’t have to actually be named Josh to do this. Josh wine is for everyone.

Coconut tree

Remind your fellow partygoers: they exist in the context of all in which they live and what came before them.

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Nara Smith

Making a Halloween costume from scratch for my husband. Ingredients: (1) modest dress with an oversized collar. (1) mixing bowl. (10) million TikTok followers. (0) shame in creating clickbait content.

Ben Affleck

Great low-effort costume for all you straight males out there! Technically this reference is from 2016, but Ben has been THROUGH it this year. And haven’t we all? We could all use a cigarette and a Dunkin’ delivery.

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Smoking duck

If you and your friends are pathologically active on X dot com (née Twitter), this is for you.

donatella VERSACE 💜

If you and your friends are pathologically active on Instagram dot com and/or queer, this is for you.

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NYC’s Cheeseball Man

In April, hundreds gathered in Washington Square Park to find out the answer to an age-old question: “Can I eat this entire jar of cheeseballs?”

Four Seasons baby

Who wants to go to the Four Seasons Orlando? You do!

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The tennis ball in Challengers

“Don’t you mean Tashi, Patrick, and Art in Challengers?” No. If we meant that, we would have said that. The real main character of the movie is the tennis ball. If you can’t beat the game, be the game.

Pesto the penguin

Moo-ve over, Moo Deng. A new baby animal is taking the limelight: heavy-hitter Pesto (literally heavy. He’s 50 pounds of fluff and chill vibes).

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Duo costumes

This year, there’s gonna be a lot of straight couples doing Taylor + Travis (without the 10-figure net worth) and a lot of gay couples doing Deadpool + Wolverine (in bodysuits that are just a bit too tight). Here are some duo/couples’ costumes that are less obvious, but no less iconic.

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Hot Ones

(Sean Evans + Jennifer Lawrence)

It’s now a rite of passage: you’re not an A-list celeb until you’re chugging milk and blowing up your pants while Sean Evans asks increasingly specific questions about your life.

The Carpenters

(Sabrina Carpenter + Jesus Christ)

In 2024, a Carpenter achieved mainstream fame. Previously, this happened in 1969. Before that? 33 AD. Good news: you can reference all three in one couples’ costume.

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Glasgow Wonka Experience

(Oompa Loompa + The Unknown)

Undisputedly the Internet’s most mysterious hot couple of the year. As a bonus bit, consider charging your friends 44 dollars to take a picture.

Olympic athletes

(Pommel Horse Guy + Raygun)

Stephen “Pommel Horse Guy” Nedoroscik. Rachael “Raygun” Gunn. Like many couples at a party, one is a high achiever who’s widely adored by everyone. The other… happens to be attending the same event. Ask a friend who should be who!

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Republican politicians, in drag

(George Santos + JD Vance)

If you’ve always wanted to try out drag, this is the perfect costume. The crunchier your wig and more busted your makeup, the more accurate you’ll be.

Gay son + thot daughter

Gay son or thot daughter? Don’t choose – be both! The beauty of this one is that there are so many options. David and Alexis Rose. Ariana and Frankie Grande. Loras and Margaery Tyrell. Ryan and Sharpay Evans. Two friends from Bushwick.

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Group costumes

Group costumes are where you should turn the chaos meter up to 1,000. The best group costumes aren’t just a look… they’re an experience. They’re performance art.

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Fred again…

The Scooby-Doo gang, except everyone is Fred. The more people you can get to do this, the funnier it is. And when people ask you what you are, you can say “Oh, we’re Grammy Award-winning artist Fred again… (again… again… again… again…)”

Brat and it’s completely different but it’s also still Brat

Brat Summer is over, but we’re still working it out on the remix(es). This group costume features Charli herself, plus 3 guests on the upcoming Brat remix album: Troye, Lorde, and Billie.

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Twisters

This is perfect for a mixed group of low- and high-effort Halloweenies. Your low-effort friends can simply wear disheveled clothes, apply some grimy makeup, and mess up their hair. Your high-effort friends will be the twisters.

“Twister”s

An alternate take on Twisters. Everyone is a Twister game board.

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Symphony Dolphin meme

2 dolphins. 1 rainbow. 1 person who has TikTok text on their shirt saying “my tummy hurts” or “I’m depressed.” Bonus: bring a speaker and blast Zara Larsson.

NYT Connections

The sequel to last year’s Wordle costumes! You and 3 friends collectively create a game of Connections to psychologically torture everyone at the party.

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If you end up using one of these ideas, tag us @partiful on Instagram! We'd love to see you shine like the icon you are.