Halloween is right around the corner and if you've already started to panic about your Halloween costumes, we know the pain. Coming up with an original costume year after year can feel daunting, because - let's be honest - there are only so many years in a row you can throw on a pair of cat ears and call it a day.
To solve the problem, we've looked to the women of our favourite TV shows and movies for some inspiration. From Euphoria's Maddy, to 2023 favourites including The Little Mermaid and Barbie, Halloween gives you the chance to take the form of your favourite female on-screen characters who simply exude female empowerment.
We've curated a list of our top movie-inspired Halloween costumes, as well as links for where to shop them. Shop our top picks below.
Best Halloween costumes inspired by on-screen characters
1 of 13Harley Quinn from Suicide Squad
Is it really Halloween if you don't contemplate, at least for a second, to go as Harley Quinn? The highly loved, slightly unhinged character is a favourite every single year, and we totally get why.
**What you'll need:
**Harley Quinn Costume, Amazon, from £26
Harley Quinn Wig, Amazon, £12
2 of 13Cowgirl Barbie
We've said it once and we'll say it again - Cowgirl Barbie will be the most popular Halloween costume for this year. Buy your outfit before it sells out.
What you'll need:
Barbie Halter Top, Zara, £35.99
Barbie™ Full Length Trousers, Zara, £59.99
Women's Cowboy Hat, Amazon, £3.99
3 of 13the little mermaid
Halle Bailey as the Little Mermaid was a monumental time in pop-culture, and took us right back to our childhood where all we wanted to be was a mermaid. Make your childhood dreams come true by shopping the best mermaid halloween costume below.
What you'll need:
NaaNaa Sequin Crop Top, ASOS, £6
Mermaid Costume Skirt, Amazon, £13.99
Red Wig, Amazon, £13.99
4 of 13Cruella de Vil from Cruella
Without doubt the most fashionable Halloween tale, Cruella De Vil is based on an aspiring designer whose love for fashion goes a little...far when she starts making fur coats out of Dalmatians. Even so, the character which Emma Stone fabulously portrayed in 2021 is a Halloween icon, and easy to recreate with just a few items.
What you'll need:
Colour Block Blazer Dress, ASOS, £50
White Faux Wrap, Quiz, £24.99
Half Black and Half White Wig, Amazon, £19.99
5 of 13Maddy from Euphoria
Halloween or not, Maddy from Euphoria is one of our favourite on-screen style icons. The cut-out dress became a viral phenomenon, and lucky for you, we've found the exact duplicate.
What you'll need:
Key Hole Cut Out Mini Bodycon Dress, Ego, £26
6 of 13Roller blade barbie
If you're more of a roller blade Barbie yourself, opt for this fun costume from PLT.
What you'll need:
Bright Pink 80s Doll Fancy Dress, PLT, £22
7 of 13Wednesday Addams from The Addams Family
Wednesday Addams will never not be one of our favourite and easy-to-recreate costumes. Plus, with the imminent release Netflix series Wednesday, we think the iconic costume will be an even bigger hit this year.
**What you'll need:
**Long Sleeve Mini Smock Dress With Collar, Missy Empire, £16
8 of 13Carrie from Carrie
If you're all about the Halloween gore, then Carrie's pig-blood-ridden prom dress is the costume for you. PSA, you'll probably need about five bottles of fake blood to get the desired effect.
What you'll need:
Miss Selfridge White Dress, ASOS, £11.50 OR Motel Lace Dress, ASOS, £52
Rhinestone Crystal Pearl Princess Tiara, Amazon, £4.49
Fake Blood, Amazon, £1.99
9 of 13Regina George from Mean Girls
Regina George is the ultimate mean girl we all aspire to be. Okay fine, maybe not quite as mean.
What you'll need:
A Little Bit Framatic Mean Girls Shirt, Ebay, £10.28
Cropped Cardigan, ASOS, £18
Petite Pleated Skirt, ASOS, £11.50
10 of 13Eleven from Stranger Things
Perhaps one of the most beloved TV characters is none other than supernatural hero, Eleven. We're obsessed with the 80s style of the whole show and - to be honest - we can't wait to try on some suspenders.
What you'll need:
Stranger Things Eleven T-Shirt, Coshd, £23.99
High Rise Mom Jeans, ASOS, £9
Brace Suspenders, Ebay, £4.16
11 of 13Dionne from Clueless
Everyone knows and loves Cher's iconic yellow set, but Dionne's equally stylish checkered co-ord does not get nearly enough attention as it should.
What you'll need:
Vero Moda Mini Skirt and Blazer Set, ASOS, £29.50
Red Textured Top, Stradivarius, £12.99
12 of 13The Black Swan from Black Swan
Equally breathtaking as she is haunting, the Black Swan is the perfect costume for those that always aspired to be a ballerina.
What you'll need:
Lace Trim Corset, ASOS, £15.99
Black Rhinestone Tiara, Amazon, £10.99
Floral Lace Gloves, Amazon, £6.99
13 of 13Mia Wallace from Pulp Fiction
You'll be hard-pressed to find a more low-maintenance Halloween costume than that of Mia Wallace because chances are, you already have everything to nail the look. P.S. make sure to practise your twists before heading to the dance floor...
What you need:
White Linen Shirt, H+M, £19.99
Black Cropped Trousers, H+M, £19.99
Black Wig, Amazon, £6.99