Halloween
It may only be August, but the planning for the end-of-year holidays is now traditionally early. With September around the corner, people may already be looking forward to the spooky season. Heck, even Spirit Halloween stores start to open this early. So, if you’re thinking that you may be planning a Halloween party or that you’ll be doing something social that you’re going to need ideas for, here are just some costume ideas that are inspired by movies from 2026.
5. Captain Clark from Backrooms
This one is an obvious contender for a costume you’re likely to see this year. Backrooms was a massive hit and even as the concept of the film is about the creepiness of liminal spaces, we have gotten a new movie monster out of it with the monstrous pirate, Captain Clark. In the film, the monster is derived from the character of Chiwetel Ejiofor as he films his commercials for his local business as “Captain Clark.” So, the simpler Halloween idea is to replicate Ejiofor in his pirate costume, but for the people who are willing to go the extra mile, trying to elongate their body and sporting a distorted face would really make this costume memorable.
4. Freaky Nikki from Obsession
It’s a simpler costume, but if you’re in a pinch and still want to capitalize on something trendy and recognizable, Inde Navarrette as Freaky Nikki from Obsession is definitely the star of the year. Just like a Carrie costume, the most important element is the blood splattering, but you can do varying degrees from different points in the movie. There is the look like the one above, with a splash of blood over one side, or you can go with the bloodier mess she becomes later in the movie. If you are inclined, you can also emulate the scene when Bear finds Nikki in the aftermath of waiting all day for him and her bodily fluids are all over her.
3. Agamemnon from The Odyssey
Now, we’re getting into the really ambitious stuff. Agamemnon from Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey instantly sparked debates upon his reveal. His look was seen as too clean at first. The costume didn’t feel lived-in per se, as armor that’s been worn down by battle. However, when you see the scene of Agamemnon standing at the gates of Troy, accompanied by the badass score by Ludwig Göransson, and he saunters in with his army charging all around him, this was a dynamic image that may have inspired some future cosplayers for Halloween and beyond.
2. Smarty Pants from Toy Story 5
It’s time to get creative! Conan O’Brien’s Smarty Pants character from Toy Story 5 was an incredible addition. The former late-night talk show host was able to bring his humor to an inventive character from this fifth entry as a potty training toy, who had plenty of toilet-time puns. While his costume doesn’t quite lend itself to a simple dress up, in the past, many Halloween goers and cosplayers have been able to creatively become robots or different kinds of items. This would be a big hit if you could additionally incorporate some potty puns in conversation.
1. Rocky from Project Hail Mary
Alright, sports fans! It’s time to really think outside the box! One of the biggest box office hits earlier in the year was the Ryan Gosling sci-fi film Project Hail Mary. And his alien companion, Rocky, was a character who would succeed in stealing scenes away from the magnetic Gosling. To pull this costume off, it would require a ton of creativity and moving parts, as the character does not simply lend itself to a human shape. The design is distinct. People would instantly recognize it and since people connected with the character so much, it would be a big hit wherever you go.
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