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Each Halloween brings trendy costumes ripped from the headlines and getups inspired by pop culture’s biggest moments, and while a trendy costume can be a great way to commemorate the year that was, it can sometimes age poorly (or be downright confusing) to look back on. Simply put, dressing up in the best Halloween celebrity or pop culture costume doesn’t have to mean putting on a costume that probably won’t make sense in six months.
Plus, while it can be fun to put on a new, more elaborate costume each year à la Heidi Klum, there’s a case to be made for the kind of costume you can revisit down the line — memorable, timeless pop culture costumes that don’t require a ton of explanation.
Whether you need an easy, last-minute costume or you’re looking for an outfit that’ll impress more people than it’ll confuse, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite celebrity and pop culture costumes that you can wear in 2025 — that’ll still make sense come 2026. And if you’re looking for some trendy ideas from TV and movies, we’ve included picks from popular 2025 shows like The Pitt and Severance.
Noah Wyle in The Pitt

Warrick Page/MAX
If you’re looking for a last-minute Halloween costume, Noah Wyle as Dr. Robby in The Pitt is an easy one to pull off. The doctor typically sports a blue zippered sweatshirt, black scrubs, and a stethoscope. A weary expression helps, too.
Leonardo DiCaprio in One Battle After Another

YouTube
One Battle After Another is one of the most talked-about movies of the year and a “stone-cold masterpiece,” according to Rolling Stone’s David Fear. DiCaprio’s character, Pat, wears a distinctive look throughout the film of a bathrobe, oversized shades, and a beanie. Bonus points if you can find his old-school phone.
Helly R. in Severance

Apple TV
Severance costumes have been a buzz since the show first premiered, and they’ll likely remain popular this year, following the release of season 2 this spring. Britt Lower’s character, Helly R, has a distinctive look that’s relatively easy to pull off.
Michael Jordan’s “Flu Game”

Tom Smart/Getty Images
Dressing up as an athlete is easy enough since every athlete has a uniform. But if you want to make the costume a little less basic, you can recreate a specific sports moment, like Michael Jordan’s famous “flu game.” Jordan led the Bulls to a game 5 victory against the Utah Jazz while stricken with a stomach bug.
John Lennon

Apple TV+
A costume that’s easy to pull off is John Lennon, thanks to the rock and roll icon’s signature round eyewear and long hair that he sported late in the Beatles’ career and after their breakup. You can keep it out of Harry Potter territory by adding Lennon’s famous “New York City” t-shirt.
Elton John

Walmart
Elton John has sported many looks over the years, but few are as iconic and instantly recognizable as his sequined Dodgers uniform. You can buy a ready-made version online, and cap it off with a pair of oversized sunglasses.
Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley in Alien

Corbis via Getty Images
If you have unlimited time and resources, you could dress up as a Xenomorph from the Alien franchise, but Sigourney Weaver as Ellen Ripley might be a little easier. A gray jumpsuit is key to the look, as is a head of curly hair. If you don’t want to carry a prop gun, you can bring Jonesy the cat along instead.
Thelma & Louise

Getty Images
Looking for an easy pop culture couples’ costume? Thelma & Louise is not only iconic and recognizable, but the individual components work outside of Halloween — anyone can pull off a pair of light blue Levi’s, not just Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon on the lam.
Levi’s Ribcage Jeans
A pair of vintage jeans will look best, or you can buy new, such as these light-wash high-waisted jeans from Levi’s. Add a western belt and a bandana to complete the look.
Robert Pattinson as Edward in Twilight

Twilight
Summit Entertainment
Despite the film’s lack of narrative subtlety, the costumes from Twilight are fairly subdued. After all, these vampires don’t wear giant black cloaks. You can pull off Edward’s look with a gray peacoat, glitter makeup, and artfully tousled hair. A red apple makes for a cheap, convenient prop.
Uma Thurman as Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction

(Photo by Miramax Films/Sunset Boulevard/Corbis via Getty Images)
Corbis via Getty Images
Dressing up as Uma Thurman as Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction is as easy as it is timeless, and the same could be said for most of the characters in the film. An oversized white dress shirt, black pants, and a bob wig are all you need. Bonus points for the bloody nose.
Kyle MacLachlan as Dale Cooper in Twin Peaks

(Photo by ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images)
Disney General Entertainment Con
The ’90s supernatural drama remains an enduring icon (and The Return is criminally underrated). Kyle MacLachlan’s Dale Cooper is a relatively easy costume to pull off that’s sure to be a hit with TV fans. A trench coat, white shirt, and black tie are the basics, but every good costume is about accessorizing. Add Cooper’s tape recorder and a cup of coffee (preferably a damn fine one).
Freddie Mercury at Live Aid 1985

(Photo by Pete Still/Redferns)
Redferns
Queen at Live Aid in 1985 remains one of the band’s most enduring performances, and Freddie Mercury’s on-stage outfit is iconic despite how simple it is. You may already have most of what you need to pull it off — the core components are simply a white tank and light-wash jeans. Studded accessories and a mustache (real or fake) complete the look.
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