The 11 Best Pop Culture Halloween Costume Ideas for 2024

Are you tired of wearing the same old movie character Halloween costume year after year? Of course, you could go for a tried-and-true spooky Halloween costume, but if you want your look to be a little more exciting, it's time to go for a 2024 pop culture Halloween costume.

From viral sensations like Moo Deng to cultural phenomenons like BRAT This summer, this year's pop culture characters are not only adorable, they're also inspiring – and shockingly easy to interpret as costumes for this spooky season. Some costumes, like that Secret Lives of Mormon Women, are easy to recreate using things you may already have in your closet or lying around the house. Others, like the viral We live in time Horsewill require a little more creative thinking and hard work. Whether you want to put in a lot of effort or are looking for a last-minute look, there's a pop culture costume for you. Just read on to find the symbol that appeals to you. Want even more inspiration? Don't miss our definitive list of the best Halloween costumes of all time.

Moo Deng

This pygmy hippopotamus is iconic for a reason. She's hydrated, her blush is on point, and she just doesn't give up shit. Who wouldn't want to be Moo Deng on Halloween? Now there are several ways you can transform into the adorable, knee-biting menace. You can go for a Moo-Deng inspired makeup look and/or grab a gray romper and go. The most important thing, though, is to remember to be sassy and GLOWING, because if there's one thing that defines Moo Deng, it's ~shining~.

LZBXBXDA Unisex Adult Manatee Onesie

Now 11% discount

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Extreme Shimmer Shadow & Liner

L'Oreal Infallible Soft Matte Rouge

Now 30% off

Iconic London Prep Set Glow Moisture Spray

We live in time Horse

The crazy carousel horse We live in time took the internet by storm this year, securing a place in pop culture and my nightmares. You can create the shocking look yourself by painting a horse mask bright yellow and awkwardly sneaking up on your couple.

Soft fabric color TULIP in matt sunshine yellow

Thermajane fleece lined pajama set

Chappell Roan

There's no shortage of great outfits to inspire your Chappell Roan Halloween costume, but in the spirit of pop culture idols, I based this one on the cover of their album The Rise and Fall of a Midwestern Princess. (Yes, technically it came out in 2023, but considering how blown up it was this year, I'm willing to overlook that.)

TDiooCor One Shoulder High Waist Sleeveless Party Dress

yuehong Long curly orange wig

Uongeod rhinestone tiara

Now 20% off

CIEHER White blank satin sash

Zonon Rhinestone Letter Iron

Artificial silk rose bouquet from Nubry

Nara Smith

If TikTok star Nara Smith made a video of herself creating the recipe for her own Halloween costume, I think it would look something like this: I was longing for a Halloween costume and decided to make one from scratch. I put on my designer dress, grabbed my mixing bowl and purse as accessories, and got to work.

Yuxin Cinderella Prom Dress

Jovilife foldable silicone bowl, pack of 2

Yaopeing saddle shoulder bag

Now 29% off

The Golden Girls of Team USA

Simone Biles, Suni Lee, Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey and Hezly Rivera led the way at the 2024 Summer Olympics, winning gold as a team and, quite frankly, stealing the show. You can be a regular Team USA gymnast with a patriotic-coded leotard and a gold medal, or transform into a specific gymnast with accessories.

GK Elite United Glory tank jersey

Now 16% off

Jauisus 6 gold medals

Now 19% off

Spooktacular Creations Jumbo Gold Watch Necklace

I espresso

Sure, you could dress up in one of those Sabrina Carpenter costumes and live out your pop star dreams on October 31st, but what if you decided to get a little more creative and silly instead? Enter the Me Espresso Halloween Costume! The real ones will understand, especially if you use stickers to spell out “Espresso” on a visor, just like Sabrina wears in the music video!

Cuppa Joe costume for adults

ENTRANCED STYLES Blonde wig with bangs

Now 35% off

Debinolo Self Adhesive Vinyl Letters and Numbers Set

Mormon Women by MomTok

The Mormon #MomTok drama is nothing new, but Hulu's is this year The Secret Lives of Mormon Women brought them from TikTok to the small screen and introduced us to a new MomTok must-have: the extreme Swig sodas. The key to making this costume work is the Swig drink cup, which you'll have to make yourself, but otherwise it's pretty easy to pull off, especially if you already have long, brown hair.

brat

It is bratbut it's completely different because you're not actually Charli XCX and it's a Halloween costume.

RAMISU Sleeveless PU Leather Bodycon Dress

SOJOS polarized rectangular sunglasses

Now 33% off

DIVINA VITAE Black fingerless mesh gloves

Now 17% off

challenger

If you've ever dreamed of being Zendaya for a day, now's your chance. Wear a white tennis dress to emulate her challenger Character, Tashi's play style or embody her character's tragic injury with the “I Told Ya” t-shirt and a knee brace.

Wilson Tour Slam Adult Recreational Tennis Racket

POWERLIX knee compression sleeve

Adidas women's GameCourt 2 sneakers

Now 21% off

Raygun

She came, she saw, she did not conquer. Raygun was perhaps one of the most talked-about Olympians at the 2024 Games, which always leads to a costume that gets people talking. All you need is a green tracksuit and maybe some yellow tape to decorate it in the signature Raygun style. Bonus points if you can pull off this dance move.

Gary Com 2-piece velor tracksuit

The Hat Depot The Hat Depot Unisex Blank Washed Low Profile Cotton and Denim Baseball Cap (Kelly Green)

Champion Sports vinyl tape, 1 inch wide x 60 yards long

Mary Todd Lincoln from Cole Escola

If you haven't seen Cole Escola's incredible play yet, Oh, Mary! This costume may be a little foreign to you, but if so, then you know that this is the chicest outfit an aspiring cabaret singer/first lady could ever wear.

GRACEART Medieval Victorian Renaissance Ball Gown

YAKEFJ Peter Pan detachable shirt collar

Rubie's baby doll wig

Now 32% off

One final tip: Some of these pop culture Halloween costumes will be *extremely* only recognizable online, so be prepared to enlighten curious minds. Hey, no one said being a pop culture icon would be easy!

Olivia Truffaut-Wong is an editor at Cosmopolitanwhere she covers beauty, entertainment and lifestyle. She loves finding and testing the best skin care products to recommend, like the best tinted sunscreens, and is always on the lookout for the best cat accessories for her fur baby. She has over 10 years of experience as an entertainment and culture writer and editor and her work has been featured in The cut, Refinery29, Teen Vogue, Polygon, hustle and bustleand more.