Get Ready for Halloween 2016

(Mostly) Easy Costume Inspiration

In a little under two weeks the ghosts and goblins (and clowns, but we won't talk about that this year!) of Halloween will be walking among us at parties, trick-or-treating and having a generally wicked good time on All Hallows Eve. If you don't have a costume picked out yet, don't panic. We've combed through countless films to bring you some sartorial inspiration. And better yet, a lot of these get-ups can be made with items you already own or can find with a quick trip to the thrift store. There are a few more challenging pieces here as well, for those who are handy with a needle and thread.

Mark of the Vampire

Bela Lugosi as Count Mora holding candle and Carroll Borland as Luna Mora, with large cobweb in front of them.

You can't go wrong as an old-school vampire or vampiress. Take inspiration from Bela Lugosi and Carroll Borland in the 1935 chiller Mark of the Vampire.

Casablanca

Classy couples can look to the classics for their costumes. Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, as Rick Blaine and Ilsa Lund in Casablanca, make a perfect pair.

Rebel without a Cause

Medium shot of James Dean as Jim Stark.

Try a 1950's surly teenager costume. James Dean is inimitably cool as Jim Stark in the 1955 classic Rebel without a Cause.

Forbidden Planet

Leslie Nielson and Anne Francis

Another fun and relatively easy couples costume idea: cheesy sci-fi couple. Here Leslie Nielsen and Anne Francis are set to orbit the Forbidden Planet.

What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

Full shot of Bette Davis as Jane Hudson holding large doll.

Want to creep your friends out while giving a nod to one of cinema's greatest leading ladies? Dressing up as Jane "Baby Jane" Hudson (played by Bette Davis) should do the trick.

The Exorcist

Linda Blair in the Exorcist

Perhaps even creepier is going to a party as little Regan (played by Linda Blair) in The Exorcist. All that's required is a nightgown, some makeup and perhaps the willingness to utter unmentionable things that would shock even yourself.

Caddyshack

Full shot of Rodney Dangerfield as Al Czervik golfing.

Time to lighten the mood a little! Go for clashing colors and patterns just as Rodney Dangerfield did when he played Al Czervik in Caddyshack. It's...a hole in one.

Honeysuckle Rose

Willie Nelson as Buck, wearing headband/bandana, leaning against bus.

If you got it, flaunt it! Dare to bare in a skimpy Halloween costume this year with Willie Nelson as your inspiration from 1980's bittersweet Honeysuckle Rose.

Who's That Girl?

Madonna as Nikki Finn wearing leather coat and hat and squatting next to cougar.

1980's-era Madonna is always a great go-to choice. Here Madge poses with a cougar (which we don't recommend) in the 1987 caper Who's That Girl?

The Goonies

Medium shot of Cyndi Lauper, from music video: \"The Goonies 'R' Good Enough.\"

Cyndi Lauper has always been an icon but her look in the '80's was particularly fetching and makes for a great Halloween costume. Here she is appearing in the music video "The Goonies 'R' Good Enough."

The Name of the Rose

Full shot of Christian Slater as Adso von Melk.

If pop stars aren't your thing, maybe you'd like to try something more somber, such as being a man of the cloth for an evening. A young Christian Slater starred as Adso von Melk in the medieval mystery The Name of the Rose.

Eyes Wide Shut

Full high-angle shot of Tom Cruise as Dr. Bill Harford surrounded by masked people, all looking up.

If you like the idea and convenience of just throwing on a robe as your costume but want to be a little more...subversive...add a mask and voilà! you're now one of the partygoers from "that" scene in Eyes Wide Shut.

Bonnie and Clyde

Faye Dunaway as Bonnie Parker and Warren Beatty as Clyde Barrow, wearing hat, both leaning on car and holding guns/pistols.

Bonnie and Clyde are a perennial Halloween favorite for couples. The 1967 film version starring Faye Dunaway and Warren Beatty should be required viewing for anyone wanting to suit up as the 1930's gangsters.

The Matrix

Full shot of Keanu Reeves as Thomas A. Anderson/Neo wearing sunglasses and coat/duster standing on skyscraper rooftop.

Full shot of Laurence Fishburne as Morpheus, wearing sunglasses and long leather coat.

Medium shot of Carrie-Anne Moss as Trinity preparing to attack wearing sunglasses and gun in holster.

We couldn't choose just one costume from The Matrix. Pick your favorite or go as a group.

Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery

Mike Myers as Dr. Evil

Austin Powers may be nearing 20 years old but a Dr. Evil costume is timeless. We'd bet "one miiiillllliiion dollars" on it.

Mortal Kombat

Medium BTS shot of Chris Casamassa as Scorpion and Francois Petit as Sub-Zero.

The only question is: Who will be Scorpion and who will be Sub-Zero? A behind-the-scenes shot from the 1995 film, Chris Casamassa as Scorpion and Francois Petit as Sub-Zero.

Pee-Wee's Big Adventure

Full shot of Pee-Wee Herman as Himself, sitting on bench.

Medium shot of Alice Nunn as Large Marge.

Of course, going as the man(child) himself is always a great Halloween costume idea but don't forget other characters in the Pee-Wee Universe, especially Large Marge!

Elf

Will Ferrell and Zoe Deschanel

For couples who are sticky sweet, Buddy and Jovie from Elf are the perfect twosome.

I Am Legend

Will Smith as Robert Neville, carrying gun and walking with dog

We couldn't leave out our canine friends. This easy costume as the Last Man on Earth (and the coolest looking) also includes the right-of-way for your four-legged BFF. Will Smith as Robert Neville in I Am Legend.

Mad Max: Fury Road

Imperator Furiosa

We hope to see lots of Imperator Furiosas this Halloween. Considering that Mad Max: Fury Road won the Oscar for Best Costume Design, it's probably safe to say that the film and Furiosa herself (played by Charlize Theron) will inspire some truly creative costuming!

Going in Style

Medium shot of George Burns as Joe, wearing disguise and holding gun/pistol.

And if you're down to the wire, a pair of Groucho glasses will work just fine!