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Top 12 Pop Culture Halloween Costumes

If you’re looking for the “wow” factor this Halloween — while still showing off your savvy style sense — try a costume inspired by pop culture. Pop-inspired Halloween costumes are super fun and (bonus!) fairly affordable to put together.

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Ready to get your creative juices flowing? Try these ideas on for size. Whether you are flying solo, going with a group, or pairing up with your beloved bae, here are the best pop culture Halloween costumes for 2022.

Pop culture Halloween costumes

1. Penny Benjamin from Top Gun Maverick

You probably have all you need to pull off a Penny Benjamin costume — brown bomber, white button down, Levi’s, and an eyebrow pencil. If you need to buy anything, it’ll be the sexy brunette locks. Fortunately, Amazon has you covered with this brown wig priced at $18.

2. For couples: Elvis and Priscilla

You can buy Vegas-style Elvis costumes on Amazon, but I prefer the young, rebellious Elvis. Plus, the shopping for young Elvis and Priscilla will be super fun. Get your beau a black shirt, red tie, khakis, and black leather boots. You can haunt thrift stores and your grandma’s closet. Or you can try Modcloth, which may have some suitably retro outfits (like this jumpsuit).

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You’ll also need a bumpits for your hair or a wig. You can find both on Amazon.

3. TikTok influencer

Influencer Halloween costume

Here’s another costume you can create from the pieces you have on hand. Team up your favorite sports bra, leggings, and bomber jacket. Add the cap, dad sneakers, and huge sunglasses. The finishing touch is a bold lip color.

I dare you to wear this into a grocery store — with the sunglasses on. People will stare and whisper. They’ll know you’re somebody for sure.

4. Camila Cabello

Twentysomething Cabello met fame as lead singer of the girl band Fifth Harmony, but it was her breakout solo single “Havana” that solidified her stardom. Now’s she’s a judge on The Voice, along with Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, and John Legend.

You can copy Cabello’s black zipup dress and pink neck flower for a look that anyone who’s watched The Voice will recognize immediately. Even better, recruit some friends to take on the roles of Shelton, Stefani, and Legend.

5. Selina Kyle (Catwoman) from The Batman

Catwoman always makes for a great Halloween costume. This year, the famous cat burglar also falls into the pop culture category, too, with the 2022 release of The Batman.

I mean, black bodysuit, mask, evil mastermind stare…those are qualities that’ll make you the star of any Halloween get-together. It’s also a plus that you can buy an affordable Catwoman costume on Amazon for less than $50.

6. Scarlett Witch from Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness

Wanda Maximoff aka Scarlett Witch is a super hero and super villain. You can choose to be evil Maximoff working with Ultron or Avenger Maximoff who switched sides and foiled Ultron’s plans.

Either way, you’ll want to dress in a red and black body suit, cape, and headpiece. You can find a Scarlett Witch costume set on Amazon here.

7. Kayla Watts from Jurassic World: Dominion

Watts is a former Air Force pilot who smuggles illegal cargo to Biosyn in Jurassic World: Dominion. Fortunately, she wises up and later becomes instrumental in the group’s escape from the valley.

Watts’ signature look is green cargo pants, and green cropped jacket topped with a shearling brown leather jacket. Add any toy that could pass for a tranquilizer gun and you’re all set.

8. Loretta Sage from The Lost City

You don’t have to watch The Lost City to know how it turns out. But despite the flick’s corny nature, it does give us an excellent pop culture costume idea: romance writer Loretta Sage. Find yourself a sequined pink dress and tear up the hemline. Borrow a pair of boots from your closest guy friend and mess up your hair. Add strategic mud smudges here and there and — just like that — you’re Loretta Sage.

This is easily a couple’s costume, too. You just need a hunky guy to play the role of romance novel model Alan.

9. Samantha LaRusso from Cobra Kai

The Karate Kid movie is a classic for my generation, but it lacked a strong female lead. Fortunately, the TV series Cobra Kai corrects that problem with Samantha LaRusso (and Tory Nichols too).

Sure, LaRusso’s in high school on the show, but I say play this part at any age. You only need a karategi to pull it off. And possibly a good friend to french braid your hair.

10. Avril Lavigne

Avril Lavigne released her seventh album earlier this year and she has tour dates on the calendar. Although she’s now in her late-30s, it’s tough not to see her as the punk-rock-school-girl icon of the 2000s. After all, she made the plaid skater skirt into a fashion statement.

Maybe it’s my age talking, but I say any respectable Avril Lavigne costume should emulate that 2000s look. Put some pink in your hair, slip into fishnets, and don an ultra-short schoolgirl skirt. Don’t forget the combat boots.

11. Ted Lasso

Ted Lasso or Beard — either costume will make your friends smile, especially if you’re female. Why not? You can rock a mustache (or beard) as well as a dude, right?

Also, this is a great costume choice if you are low on creative energy. Just buy it on Amazon.

12. Stranger Things

Pop culture Halloween costume for Eleven character of Stranger Things.

It only takes a romper with a colorful geometric pattern to transform yourself into Stranger Thing‘s Eleven. Pick this number up on Amazon for $41. You will have to fake the psychic powers, since Amazon doesn’t sell those just yet.

That wraps up our list of the best pop culture Halloween costumes for this year. If you need more Halloween inspiration, see our posts on: