Guys, get your Halloween [1] motors running, because you're going to blink and then it's going to be a week from Halloween and you won't have a costume. But it doesn't have to be that way — we've got tons of costume ideas, so breathe, reboot, and start clicking through our offerings. If you're the type who likes to have a pop culture reference as a costume and you don't want to be stale, look no further. We've gathered costumes inspired by this year's hottest pop culture so your coolest friends will salute you on Oct. 31.
Aquaman
- What to wear: First of all, you need to find a way to get that godly mane and beard. If you haven't grown one yourself, it's time to get hunting. Pair the look with lots of silver armor, and don't forget your trident.
- How to act: Angry and brooding. Aquaman is not here to have fun or mess around. Don't be afraid to enter nearby pools, bathtubs, and other miscellaneous bodies of water.
Kevin From Ghostbusters
- What to wear: A short-sleeved button-down, khaki pants, a navy vest, a maroon tie, and glasses without lenses.
- How to act: Like an airhead. Rub your eyes through your glasses occasionally.
Deadpool
- What to wear: A dark-red and black suit with weapons attached to your whole body.
- How to act: Keep the dirty jokes coming. It's really a great excuse to let the expletives fly.
Jesse Custer From Preacher
- What to wear: A priest's cassock, plus a healthy dose of stubble and a cigarette hanging out of your mouth.
- How to act: You're a good person deep down, but you're being corrupted by God's power (literally). When people upset you, just put on your lowest, growliest voice and tell them what you want them to do.
Kilgrave From Jessica Jones
- What to wear: A dapper purple suit.
- How to act: Give people some serious, concentrated looks — you're controlling their brains when you speak, after all.
Newt Scamander From Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them
- What to wear: The magic here is in the accessories. To really get that Scamander vibe, you want a stunning blue trench coat, a cute bow tie, a wand, and an old-fashioned suitcase. Be sure to add coordinating fashion elements like that vest, formal shoes, slacks, etc.
- How to act: You're a mysterious one, and you've definitely got a secret or two up your sleeve.
The Joker From Suicide Squad
- What to wear: Pulling from the Joker's signature colors, you're going to need a purple trench coat and black pants. You should also draw some creative tattoos on your body to offset your green hair and red lipstick [5]. Don't forget to channel Jared Leto [6]'s version of the character by wearing a full grill [7].
- How to act: Mentally insane. Better start perfecting your maniacal laugh now.
Steve Harrington From Stranger Things
- What to wear: So you want to be the popular guy, huh? Tuck a striped, long-sleeved polo into some belted khakis and rock a pair of brown loafers [8]. Feel free to pop the collar.
- How to act: Charmingly cocky is Steve's MO, so don't be afraid to get your flirt on.
Kylo Ren From Star Wars: The Force Awakens
- What to wear: Black leather pants under a long, hooded black robe. Cover your face in a black mask, but when you pull it off, shake out your glorious hair.
- How to act: Like you're being pulled by two different sides constantly. Also, kind of a pouty brat.
Jim Hopper From Stranger Things
- What to wear: Halloween [10] retailers have plenty of different versions of cop costumes, so if you search for one in a khaki color, like a state trooper, your Hopper costume will be complete. Grow out or paste on some five o'clock shadow if possible, and maybe carry around an empty beer can for good measure.
- How to act: Picture your most hungover, irritable moment, and then try to keep that attitude going all night.
The Mountain (Zombie Edition) From Game of Thrones
- What to wear: Unless the person reading this is Shaq, we're going to go ahead and assume you're not nine feet tall, so don't worry about your size. This costume is a little tough, though, considering the undead Gregor Clegane rocks a full suit of golden armor. You can always wear a gold, long-sleeved shirt and pants, and then just buy a helmet if you want to keep things simple. Just make sure you make any visible skin look like the gray, rotting flesh of a corpse.
- How to act: Totally silent and totally terrifying.
The High Sparrow From Game of Thrones
- What to wear: Honestly, you could just cut holes in the side of a large potato sack for your arms and you'd have something akin to the High Sparrow's raggedy dress. If you don't have a potato sack lying around (understandable), just throw on your baggiest, drabbest, light-colored clothes and get yourself a white wig. Go barefoot if possible, and feel free to carry a book around with the Faith of the Seven's seven-pointed star carved into it (or better yet, ask your friend to wear a black robe and paint the symbol on their forehead and follow you around all night).
- How to act: Cocky and self-assured.
The Flash
- What to wear: Start with a red jumpsuit, but you might want to layer more structured, metallic pieces on top of it. Get that dark red helmet with the lightning bolt details, too.
- How to act: You gotta go fast. Make sure you're dodging around people all night long. Also, bear in mind: The Flash is probably the sassiest of the bunch, so crank it up.
Superman
- What to wear: Superman has perhaps the most iconic costume of the group, but the latest iteration of his look is much more modern. You could modify some of the already existing Superman costumes out there, or build your own with muted spandex and an epic cape.
- How to act: Since Superman is from another planet, he lacks the social graces of most humans. A bit distant, but brave.
Killer Croc From Suicide Squad
- What to wear: Aside from covering your hands and face in scales, you'll also need a brown hoodie and black leather jacket paired with some casual black slacks. Go the extra mile by wearing fake sharp teeth.
- How to act: Like a crocodile with killer tendencies. Isn't that obvious? You're a real animal.
Finn From Star Wars: The Force Awakens
- What to wear: A black shirt and a beat-up brown leather jacket. Wield a lightsaber.
- How to act: Amiable and confident, but maybe a little over-confident.
Deadshot From Suicide Squad
- What to wear: Deadshot is basically DC Comics's version of Deadpool. Aside from your shooting gear, you'll need a red Under Armour shirt, black pants, and matching boots. You should also consider getting a bald cap.
- How to act: You're one sharp shooter with a strong hatred for anything Batman-related.
Luke Cage
- What to wear: A hoodie under a jacket that's riddled with bullet holes.
- How to act: Aloof, and literally indestructible.
Conner 4 Real From Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
- What to wear: A green letterman jacket, bow tie, and cool jeans. Rock a pair of dark, serious shades and grab a microphone.
- How to act: Whip out your dance moves and your best verses — this is your time to shine.
Boomerang From Suicide Squad
- What to wear: You'll need a blue track jacket that reads "Captain," a pair of jeans, a gray overcoat, and black combat boots with duct tape holding them together. If you're wanting to go over the top with your costume, you should also consider getting a gold chain and a matching cap for your front tooth.
- How to act: Aside from faking an Australian accent, you should be on edge about everything. Be ready to snap back at any moment just like your weapon of choice.
Negan From The Walking Dead
- What to wear: We have a feeling Negan will be a popular costume this year, and for good reason. Slick your hair back, glue on a mustache, and then put on a black leather jacket, a red scarf, dark pants, and a leather glove on one hand, and carry around a baseball bat covered in barbed wire.
- How to act: Negan treats everything he does as if he's center stage, in the midst of a performance. He's simultaneously charismatic and terrifying.
Ramsay Bolton From Game of Thrones
- What to wear: Black pants, black leather gloves, a black jacket, and a long cape with fur at the collar. Wear a brown wig, and to add a special touch, carry around a few dog stuffed animals or a shield with the Bolton sigil [11] on it.
- How to act: We take back what we said about the Waif — Ramsay is actually the worst. He's more annoying and despicable than Joffrey, so amp up those tendencies, and remember to fawn over any dog you pass on the street.
Slipknot From Suicide Squad
- What to wear: Other than braiding your hair, you should be dressed in black from head to toe and have some hiking gear tied around your chest.
- How to act: March to the beat of your own drum and don't take orders from anyone.
Poe Dameron From Star Wars: The Force Awakens
- What to wear: A full-length orange jumpsuit with a white vest. Carry around your helmet.
- How to act: Throw up the thumbs up with your best bro. Do everything with purpose.
Black Panther
- What to wear: A tight black jumpsuit with little cat ears. Rock a silver necklace.
- How to act: Very agile, and if you can growl a little, cool.
Dustin From Stranger Things
- What to wear: Dustin's red, white, and blue baseball hat shouldn't be hard to mimic if you buy a plain white hat and some red and blue paint. Once that's done, pick up a curly brown wig, an old-school graphic t-shirt, some brown corduroys, a denim jacket, and a backpack. Also consider getting something to make it look like you're missing your front teeth.
- How to act: Dustin is a total scene-stealer, so you should be, too. Get ready to bust out some tricks this Halloween [12] (like cracking your arms in a cringe-inducing way, for instance), and make sure you keep your friends laughing.
Resurrected Jon Snow
- What to wear: Nothing but a loincloth and the pallor of man who's been dead for a few days.
- How to act: Um, like you just woke up from being dead for a few days. You know, excited, but also kind of disillusioned by the nothingness? Like that.
Batman
- What to wear: You can build your own Batman costume or buy a premade one and spruce it up. The most important components are a very long and dramatic cape and a badass bat helmet.
- How to act: Dark and mysterious. You're in charge, and you're the nightmare that lurks in the shadows. Just creep around people like a crazy person all night and you'll be good.
Ezekiel From The Walking Dead
- What to wear: Ezekiel hasn't made his big arrival on the show yet, but if you're a fan of the comic books or you watched the season seven trailer, you know that not only is he nearly here, but his look is also pretty iconic. If you want to get a head start on the character, get yourself: gray hair, a long coat, fingerless leather gloves, a shirt with a fun print on it, a wooden staff, combat boots, and a tiger stuffed animal (in honor of Ezekiel's pet tiger, Shiva).
- How to act: Project an eccentric and flamboyant attitude. Try and force your friends and loved ones to refer to you as "King."
El Diablo From Suicide Squad
- What to wear: A white tank, black jeans, and tons of fake tattoos, specifically one that resembles a skeleton on your face.
- How to act: Like a quiet man with a fiery spirit.
Arseface From Preacher
- What to wear: Wear a nice blue shirt and khaki pants, but let's be real, the star of this costume is the arse on your face. Get creative at the craft store.
- How to act: You're a kind soul plagued with regret. You have a past that you're afraid to let people know about, so you go overboard trying to be helpful. You may or may not be living in hell.
Cyborg
- What to wear: Much like the other members of the Justice League, you have to get that armor together. Since Cyborg is a bit more robotic, the more mechanical you are, the better. And if you can find a way to get that glowing eye, more power to you.
- How to act: Like a member of the team who's ready to kick ass, take names, and have a good time doing it.
Rick Flag From Suicide Squad
- What to wear: A military uniform with fingerless black gloves and facial hair.
- How to act: You're just a regular guy that got mixed up with the wrong crowd.
Benjen "Coldhands" Stark From Game of Thrones
- What to wear: A cozy black fur ensemble with your hair or wig pulled halfway back. Wear some bluish face makeup to look semidead and very cold.
- How to act: Strong, quiet, and mysterious.
General Hux From Star Wars: The Force Awakens
- What to wear: A perfectly fitting futuristic black suit with gloves and a wide belt. A red wig.
- How to act: Scowly and concerned; you're part of the dark side, after all.
Pop Culture Halloween Costumes for Men
