"So many memorable moments have happened already this year, so there’s inspiration aplenty when it comes to costume ideas for Halloween 2024! Taylor Swift, Beyoncé, and Olivia Rodrigo once again dominated our playlists. The Paris Summer Olympics shined the spotlight on fan favorites like Simone Biles and Sha’Carri Richardson and viral moments like male gymnast Stephen Nedoroscik and Australian break dancer ‘Raygun’. New movies also tugged on our nostalgic hearts and movie trailers got us excited for upcoming new releases. Not to mention, the steady popularity of the kids’ shows Ms. Rachel and Bluey (likely on repeat in many of our homes) means they’ll again be costume favorites this year. So, Halloween 2024 is shaping up to be full of fun and timely costume ideas for kids and families.
While it may still seem early for costume planning, we all know we’ll blink, and the next thing we know, we’ll be prepping for Thanksgiving dinner. Not to mention, the most popular Halloween costumes of the year sell out early (take it from the parents seeking out Bluey costumes in mid-October last year).
If you’re excited for Halloween, here’s a little treat. Keep scrolling for 35+ of the best Halloween costume ideas for kids and families. Read on for all the spooky (and fun!) Halloween costume inspiration you could want.
2024 Pop Culture Halloween Costume Ideas for Kids and Families
Despicable Me 4
The Despicable Me crew is made for families. If your kids couldn’t be more excited to see the new movie, they’ll be even more excited to dress up like adorable yellow Minions and the whole cast this year. We also love how easy this costume is to DIY—just grab a yellow shirt, some overalls, and a Minion hat to complete the look. Plus, Despicable Me 4 includes a new character perfect for a family costume with a baby: Gru Jr.
Inside Out 2 Characters
One of the most highly anticipated new movies of 2024 was, without a doubt, Inside Out 2. In the sequel, all about emotions, we’re introduced to some new, totally lovable characters like Embarrassment, Anxiety, Envy, and Ennui. We predict that arguably one of the cutest, Embarrassment, will be a hit DIY costume this year.
Moana 2
Speaking of new movies, the buzz for the Moana sequel is as strong as an ocean breeze. Families this year are sure to be dressing up as Moana, Maui, Heihei, and the gang. Disney also just released a Moana 2 costume from the new movie, perfect for little ones who’ll want to dress up for the movie (and beyond!)
Sports Costumes
According to the 2024 Pinterest Halloween Trend report, there’s been a 265% increase in searches for “sports costume ideas” on Pinterest. And it’s no surprise with how sports and popular culture collided this year. 2024 was THE year for women’s basketball. Women’s March Madness broke attendance records with superstars like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese (among many others) moving up to the WNBA. Now, the NFL season is in full swing, with plenty of kids planning to dress as their favorite football players.
Not to mention, this year’s Summer Olympics in Paris brought families around the world together to celebrate athletes, sportsmanship, and country pride. Not only do sports inspire the next generation of athletes, but also some truly adorable Halloween costume ideas.
Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce
Of all of the 2024 Halloween costume ideas, this may just continue to reign supreme! If there’s anything we learned in the last few years, it’s that dressing up like Taylor Swift is fun. Plus, the power couple that is Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce have graced our TV and phone screens again and again this year. Little ones and adults alike will love to dress up as the celebrated couple. Don’t be surprised if you see more and more Chiefs jerseys out there on Halloween night, too!
Emotional Support Elmo
Back in January, Sesame Street’s sweet red monster sent out a social media post, “Elmo is just checking in! How is everybody doing?” that went viral with over 200 million views and thousands of people trauma dumping on Elmo. It sparked a mental health discussion, and Elmo even followed up with a post about how important it is to check in on our friends.
Elmo costumes are one of the cutest for kids and comfiest for adults, so making an Elmo costume even more timely for 2024 could include a DIY prop with a printout of Elmo’s post. Plus, with so many Sesame Street characters, this one could become a cute family Halloween costume, too.
Wednesday & The Addams Family
In November 2022, Wednesday took over our TV screens. Kids and parents alike got to enjoy the Netflix series, with many little ones learning Jenna Ortega’s memorable dance number. And we know there are plenty of kiddos ready to embody the morbid character still. With the confirmation of season two already in the works, we know the momentum will keep going this year.
Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice Costumes
Since its release in 1988, Beetlejuice costumes have been creepy classics for Halloween. However, this September, the long-coming sequel Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice came ot theaters! We can’t wait to see some of the original cast, like Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, and Catherine O’Hara, reprise their roles. Not to mention, Jenna Ortega joining the cast! Look for Beetlejuice family costumes to be a highly popular in 2024.
The Bear
Season three of FX’s hit show The Bear debuted in 2024. If your household was saying “Yes, chef” with the rest of the fandom, this could be an easy 2024 Halloween costume hit. Grab white tees, blue aprons, some temporary tattoos, and—if you’re feeling really creative—dress your baby or toddler as an Italian Beef sandwich like this family on Reddit.
Summer of the Sharks
Sharks have been talked about all summer long in news stories and viral videos from down south in Florida to the East Coast of the U.S. If your kids love these ocean predators, there are plenty of shark costumes—from cute to fierce options. Parents can dress as lifeguards, surfers, or fellow sharks for a creative group family costume.
Wonka
The colorful movie musical Wonka, starring Timothee Chalamet, is full of Halloween costume inspiration. Kids can dress as Willy Wonka himself or choose from this hit movie’s extensive list of characters.
Sonic the Hedgehog 3
Right down the line of new movies is a third installation of Sonic the Hedgehog. Little ones that can’t get enough of the video game turned movie series will be so excited to dress up as either Sonic or his new nemesis, Shadow—perhaps a perfect costume for siblings.
IF
Don’t be surprised to see everyone’s favorite purple imaginary friend walking around this October. The new movie starring Ryan Reynolds recently hit theaters and has been making waves ever since. Plus, there are tons of other adorable characters fit for making this costume idea a family affair.
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Some millennials and Gen Z-ers grew up with the animated version of the show. Now, in February of 2024, Netflix released a series that was perfect for our own little ones. Plenty of kiddos may want to showcase their air-bending abilities—or at least pretend—with this low-maintenance costume this year.
Percy Jackson and The Olympians
The Percy Jackson series gained new fans this year, thanks to the Disney+ debut of the TV adaption Percy Jackson and The Olympians. Percy Jackson costume ideas could range from donning Camp Half-Blood tees to dressing as full-on Olympian gods like Poseidon or Medusa.
Freaky Friday Characters
While the excitement of a new Freaky Friday movie may be more for millennial parents than kids, they may be open to getting in on the fun, too! An iconic costume that’s perfect for a mother-daughter duo is Tess and Anna.
Jurassic Park/Jurassic World Rebirth
Teaser images of the next Jurassic Park movie, Jurassic World Rebirth, recently took the internet by storm, fueling excitement for the film starring Scarlett Johansson and Jonathan Bailey coming to theaters in 2025. Jurassic Park-inspired costumes have been hits for families for years, but this new announcement might spark an uptick in popularity for Halloween 2024 and beyond.
Elle Woods from Legally Blonde
Playing into our Barbiecore dreams is a new leading lady in pink. In April we got word that Amazon Prime Video would be working on a prequel to one of the most iconic movies ever, Legally Blonde. Pull out all of the pink from last year’s Barbie costume and repurpose it for a powerful Elle Woods ensemble. Bonus points if you have a lovable chihuahua in the family that can play Bruiser.
Olivia Rodrigo Costume
While last year reigned as the year of the Swifties, this year, Olivia Rodrigo made quite the waves as well. For older kids (and parents!) who couldn’t stop singing every word to Guts at the top of their lungs, dressing up as Olivia for Halloween this year could be a fun tribute.
Beyoncé Costume
They don’t call her the queen for nothing! Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter was a celebrated album by both kids and adults. You and your little ones can have a blast dressing up as whatever Bey eras you love the most!
Cowboys and Cowgirls Costumes
And on that note, don’t be surprised if you see several more wranglers trick or treating this year. The Western revival was huge this year, thanks in part to Beyoncé’s album, the growing popularity of country music artists like Morgan Wallen and Zach Bryan, and the ongoing popularity of TV’s Yellowstone. No matter what brought the trend to your household, have some ropin’ and ridin’ fun this Halloween.
Nostalgic and Vintage Costumes
There’s no better place to draw inspiration from than the ’80s and ’90s. From ‘90s movies like A League of Their Own and Clueless to our favorite ‘80s toys like Cabbage Patch Dolls to classic candies we couldn’t get enough of, parents can relive their youth with the sweetest costumes for little ones.
2024 Popular Kids Halloween Costumes
Ms. Rachel
Not only do littles love Ms. Rachel, but she’s a parent favorite as well! This will be an adorably easy costume to put together for a kid (or mom!). Simply reach for a pair of overalls, a pink top, and a headband and call it a day.
Bluey
With new Bluey episodes released this year, we know the craze for Bluey and the Heeler family won’t be dying down, and they will continue to be popular costume ideas again. Grab this one early if your family is in their Bluey era. Plus, if you have more than two kids, Spirit Halloween debuted a baby and toddler Muffin costume this year, so another sib can dress as Bluey and Bingo’s favorite cousin.
Blippi
Another favorite among littles is the Blippi gang! We love that with a little creativity (and access to Amazon Prime), this costume is an easy DIY project.
Paw Patrol
For any kiddos who love the most noble and adventurous group of dogs out there and couldn’t get to the movie theater fast enough to see the film last year, a Paw Patrol costume may be in order.
Super Heroes
It’s safe to say the classic options will never go out of style. There will always be little ones excited to dress up like their favorite superheroes in whatever version of the character they love best. Think Batman, Spider-Man, Black Panther, and more.
Disney Princesses
You can never go wrong with Disney classic characters! For little ones in their princess eras, they’ll likely find themselves drawn to certain characters. Luckily, there’s never a shortage of Disney princess costumes. These will always be available at major retailers, but would also likely be found secondhand for a budget-friendly costume option.
Disney Villains
While princesses were a usual go-to, we’ve seen the Disney villains rise in popularity over recent years. We have productions like Cruella, Maleficent, and The Descendants to thank for that. Don’t be surprised if your little ones want to forgo the typical Disney protagonists and opt for something a little more sinister.
Minecraft and Fortnite Costumes
Not only do kids tend to obsess over these video games, but they’ll likely be so excited (or already are!) to hear a Minecraft feature film is set to be released in 2025. Get ahead of the excitement with a crafty costume this season.
Classic Halloween Costume Ideas
Ghostbusters
You truly can never go wrong with this classic Halloween costume. Ghostbusters costumes are not only readily available but also totally adorable. Plus, any additional family members can dress up as the ghosts they’re catching.
The Sanderson Sisters
Halloween means one thing—Hocus Pocus season. If your kiddos couldn’t get enough of the sequel Hocus Pocus 2 a few years ago, it’s only right to dress up as the infamous Sanderson Sisters in honor of the most beloved Halloween film.
Harry Potter
A classic we see year after year comes from our favorite world of wizards. You simply can’t go wrong with dressing up as Harry Potter or one of his friends. Again, this is a great option for a little witch or wizard to pull off on their own, or it can be part of a group ensemble.
The Wizard of Oz and Wicked Costumes
Following the yellow brick road will always lead to this timeless Halloween costume. With so many great characters like Dorothy, the Tin Man, the Cowardly Lion, and the Scarecrow. Don’t forget to include the family dog as Toto! Plus, with a new Wicked film coming out soon, there’s sure to be plenty of buzz about the witches.
Star Wars
Families have been dressing up as Star Wars characters for decades, but everything got a little bit better with the introduction of Baby Yoda in The Mandalorian series. This costume idea is perfect for siblings and families, too.
The True Classics
When push comes to shove, don’t overlook the classics. Halloween simply wouldn’t be the same without a few mainstays like pumpkins, ghosts, witches, bats, and more!
Brett Nicole Hayden, Assistant Editor
As the Assistant Editor, Brett works with the editors of The Everymom on the content creation process by updating stories, sourcing images and graphics, and pitching and contributing her own articles. Her favorite topics to write about are culture, relationships, and living. She’s also The Everymom’s resident baby names and family movies expert!