40 Halloween Costumes That Will Bring 90s Kids A Serious Case of Nostalgia
Today’s Halloween is very different from that which originated from the Celtic festival called Samhain, but a few similarities still remain. During Samhain, they used to light bonfires and wear costumes to help ward off ghosts.
People today don a variety of costumes for Halloween, not to ward off spirits and ghoulish creatures – but mostly for fun and entertainment. During the last day of October, you’ll see everyone, both young and old, transforming into their favorite superheroes, cartoon characters, movie stars, and even fruits and vegetables.
On this list, you will see 40 Halloween costumes that will bring people born in the 90s serious nostalgic feelings of days gone by. Keep reading to find your favorite and get inspiration and tell us what your fondest memory of Halloween is.
Oops, she did it again, y’all!
Who could forget Britney’s figure-hugging red suit in her Oops, I Did It Again video? The song was a hit! People of all ages and genders were singing to it on the streets, in the subway, on the bus, and wherever you could think of.
The metallic catsuit screamed “sexy” and “look at me!” All our female friends wanted to look like Britney for Halloween and wanted to channel their celebrity vibes in that iconic red suit. This makes us feel quite ancient, though. The song came out two decades ago.
Let your inner witch shine through
Since the first Hocus Pocus movie came out in 1993, the Sanderson sisters have become a classic Halloween staple. Tell us your neighborhood kids didn’t want to be them. They’re not just witches; they’re a zany bunch of witches. And they’re back for a sequel.
They would have succeeded if Omri Katz wasn’t there to meddle in their affairs. But villains have to be thwarted somehow. Who’s your preferred Sanderson sis? Winifred, Mary, or Sarah? The Sanderson Sis are the perfect characters to get into if you have two sisters or girl best friends.
Roald Dahl’s Matilda
Ah, here’s another one of our childhood favorites, Matilda. We’ve read the novel, and we’ve watched the 1996 flick with Mara Wilson. Even then, we knew for certain the movie would become one of the favorites of generations of children to come.
The brilliant girl who was neglected has special abilities that she uses to deal with the world and her cruel parents. Who can forget that cruel Miss Trunchbull in the movie? She gave us nightmares for weeks, and she’s still seared in our memory.
Get ready to pay the Bills, Bills, Bills
This is a great alternative to a group of three who do not want to dress up as the Sanderson sisters. Destiny’s Child launched the career of one of the most popular and iconic female singers of all time, Beyoncé Knowles.
Everyone remembers the trio and their string of hit songs which include Say My Name, Bootylicious, Brown Eyes, Soldier, Survivor, and Bills, Bills, Bills. If you have the attitude and the sass, even better! No one can resist Destiny’s Child.
Some Japanese cartoons for Halloween
It’s not Halloween without the presence of a few Japanese cartoon characters, even if you’re not in the Land of the Rising Sun, don’t you agree? And what’s more Japanese than the schoolgirl who transforms into a hero to battle the forces of evil?
Although a bit too sexy for a schoolgirl outfit, no one can argue that Sailor Moon has done her share of protecting the citizens of this world and kicking the butts of various bad guys. Hurray for girl power and Sailor Moon and her whole crew.
From one pop star to another
We can’t include Britney on this list without mentioning her once closest rival, Christina Aguilera. To do so would be a travesty. We can all look back to our teenage years and wonder at how the two teen queens stole our hearts.
From her innocent Genie in a Bottle to her more daring, sultry, and sexy Dirty, Christina is one successful singer who does not fail to come out with one hit after another. She still has a lot of juice in her, and we can’t wait to see what she comes up with next.
And who can forget Lizzie McGuire?
Who indeed can forget the very young Hillary Duff in her breakout role as Lizzie McGuire? Plenty of young girls and boys were glued to her TV screen every time her comedy series was on. Everyone could relate to the clumsy middle school girl.
She showed everyone the real life of a teenager and how difficult it can sometimes be to navigate your teen years, especially with an annoying younger brother. We still miss Lizzie sometimes. Thank the heavens that now we can watch her anytime we want to.
May the force be with you
One of the most successful film franchises of all time and one of the most copied during Halloween, Star Wars will always be a classic, especially two of its most memorable characters, Princess Leia and Darth Vader. People may always dress up as them, but we will never get tired.
Once in a galaxy far, far away, they created a film that would go on to have so much success that prequels and sequels were needed, although some of them didn’t become big hits like the others. Nobody’s complaining; there’s always room for one more Star Wars movie.
Cruella de Vil
Thanks to the success of Emma Stone’s 2021 film Cruella, more people are now dressing up as the villainous but complex character from Disney’s beloved 101 Dalmatians. The pampered and glamorous heiress had distinct hair and had nefarious plans for the wonderful dogs and pups.
She may be a villain, but she is a memorable villain whose unique albeit eccentric sense of style people wanted to copy. Do you have any idea what would make this costume even cooler? The presence of Dalmatians! Then you can truly live as Cruella.
Accidentally in love with Shrek and Fiona
An ogre goes on a quest to save a feisty princess from a dragon. That sounds like the start of a joke, right? Shrek was a success for DreamWorks, and it had five more sequels and a spinoff movie for the beloved cat, Puss in Boots.
If you and your partner are game with painting your faces green and donning medieval clothes, Shrek and Fiona might just be perfect for the two of you. After all, they are the true meaning of one-of-a-kind love. And if you have a third wheel, they can be the lovable but loquacious sidekick, Donkey.
Somebody stop him!
Don’t look at us, but we just love using famous movie lines, and The Mask remains one of our favorite movies of all time. Jim Carrey and Cameron Diaz rocked their roles, and they looked great together. Who could forget Jim’s comedic antics?
After all, this was the movie that launched the actor to Hollywood stardom. The green face, the exaggerated expressions, and the effects all worked together and resulted in one great 90s film that people of that generation will treasure forever.
The gang’s here too
Halloween isn’t complete without those meddling kids. Their silly antics and mystery-solving skills are iconic, right? Shaggy, Velma, Daphne, Fred, little Scrappy, and of course, Scooby-Doo are all Halloween costume staples for teenage groups and gangs. Scooby Doo, where are you?
Originally broadcast on CBS from 1969 to 1976, the show then moved to ABC until it was canceled in 1985. It’s safe to say everyone remembers the gang climbing into their green van, looking for a phenomenon, and solving yet another mystery.
Backstreet’s back, alright!
Ah, the 90s! We distinctly remember it as the time when boybands were here, there, and everywhere. They dominated the music charts, made teenage girls’ hearts swoon in delight, and made teenagers force their parents to buy those teen magazines stuff.
The Backstreet Boys were one of the most popular groups of their time. Granted, they are now in their 40s and no longer deserve to be called boys, but 90s girls will still fondly remember them and their dance moves.
We all want the fairytale, don’t we?
Who could forget Julia Robert’s starring role in the romantic comedy movie Pretty Woman? Cast as the prostitute hired by a rich entrepreneur to accompany him in events, she was perfect in the role of Vivian. But is there really hope for a rich guy and a down-and-out-on-her-luck prostitute? Yes, in the movies.
Here you see her iconic costume in the movie recreated and brought to life for Halloween. My word, she’s got it nailed, even down to the thigh-high boots. This is one costume that gets an A for me. Superb and a worthy effort.
Age ain’t nothing but a number
Dana Haughton, better known as Aaliyah, was in the throes of music and film domination when her life was cut short by an airplane crash as she and her crew were on their way back to the US after filming a music video.
She would have been such a big star today if she did not perish in the accident, but her music lives on. Thanks to people who remember to make their very best impression of her during Halloween, we will continue to remember the beautiful singer.
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Who can forget watching four seemingly innocuous turtles turn into human size creatures living in the sewers of New York with a mission to protect citizens who are mostly oblivious to the dangers they are facing on a daily basis?
Even before Megan Fox jumped on the bandwagon, the brothers were already stars in their own right. We can remember shouting “Cowabunga” with friends as we were on the way to rescue other friends in distress at the hands of The Shredder.
The Addams Family
A creation of cartoonist Charles Addams, the Addams family, originally appeared as a series of cartoons before making it on television and eventually the big screen. The eccentric family is composed of Gomez, Morticia, Wednesday, Pugsley, Grandmama, Uncle Fester, Lurch, Grandmama, Thing, and Cousin It.
As popular as they still are until today, we are certain people still know the characters by heart. After all, who could forget such a family who enjoys playing with the guillotine during their spare time and a mother who grows poisonous flowers?
What’s your favorite scary movie?
Another horror film that’s become a cult favorite – and, dare we say, a classic – is the Scream series. The movie gave us comedic laughs, a few screams, and a memorable character to boot, Ghostface. His famous catchphrase? What’s your favorite scary movie?
If you don’t answer his questions, he’ll come after you before the night ends. Although there were a few sequels, nothing can beat the original movie that came out in 1996. Drew Barrymore only had 12 minutes of screen time in the movie, but nobody could forget her character.
Falling in love while playing basketball
Nowadays, sports that were traditionally thought of as only for men have been penetrated by women, too. Yes, that pun is intended. Basketball? Yes, Candace Parker, Maya Moore, and Lisa Leslie are dominating the court. MMA? The ladies are kicking butts too.
The sports cum love drama movie Love and Basketball was released in the early 2000s, and it proved that women could hold their own against men on the basketball court. Typical of a romantic movie, both male and female protagonists fall for each other, but that movie gave us memorable characters.
The Simpson family
They’re yellow, funny, and pretty dysfunctional at times. No, we are not talking about the Minions. We are referring to the Simpson family. We can all remember Homer, his wife Marge, and their three children, Maggie, Bart, and the incredibly smart Lisa.
Aside from accurately predicting the future, such as a certain person’s rise to power, the show gave us many laughs. The satiric adventures of the working-class family hit close to home for a lot of people, and plenty can relate to the struggles of those who are not filthy rich.
Mrs. Doubtfire
Yet another of Robin Williams’ masterpieces, Mrs. Doubtfire, was shown in theaters in 1993. The movie is about a divorced actor who disguises himself as an old housekeeper so that he can work in his ex-wife’s home and spend more time with his children.
The comedy-drama movie directed by Chris Columbus was a box-office hit. In the photo, you can see Mrs. Doubtfire trying to get into character so that he can go to work and relish every moment he has with his kids, something he sorely missed while working as an actor.
Back to the Future
One unique thing about dressing up for Halloween these days is it’s no longer just for the little ones. It is just as important to adults and their pets. Everyone is involved, and everyone is trying their best to portray their favorite character.
Even this doggo is in on the fun on a spooky night and has come dressed up as Dr. Emmett from the hit movie Back to the Future. He even has his own pet, a plushie dog. How cute is that? Released in 1985, the movie starred the then-very young Michael J. Fox.
Frankenstein’s monster
Also called The Modern Prometheus, the 1818 novel penned by Mary Shelley tells the story of a mad doctor named Victor Frankenstein who sets about creating a sapient creature by using old body parts. He pushes the limits of science by creating a creature, and it backfires quite badly.
While many today might not have the opportunity to read the novel in its entirety, everyone is familiar with the creature. It’s the stuff of nightmares and I’m certain that like me, many children had problems sleeping in the dark after hearing of the story.
Space Jam
We might get a lot of flak for saying this but LeBron’s Space Jam doesn’t hold a candle to the original movie which starred the GOAT Michael Jordan, Bugs Bunny, Lola Bunny, and the rest of the zany folks from Looney Town.
The animated and live-action sports comedy film earned a total of more than $250 million worldwide, and it tells the story of the Looney Tunes squad seeking help from retired basketball Michael Jordan to earn their freedom. Children loved the movie, and so do we.
A costume perfect for those with little ones
Do you have little ones in tow for this year’s Halloween party? Don’t despair because you can always include them in all the fun. One of the excellent costume options out there is the Magic School Bus. A product of Scholastic, it’s something parents everywhere are familiar with.
It is based on the bestselling book of the same name, and it takes children on a virtual bus ride which later on transforms into a spaceship, submarine, plane, or surfboard. If you have children or had children at some point in your life, we’re sure you’ve seen a few episodes.
Judith Funnie from Doug
If you’ve got an orange, curly wig at home, you might get away with dressing up as Doug’s older sister Judith Funnie. While not as popular as the other characters on this list, Doug was a hit television series created by Jim Jinkins.
The show zooms in on Doug’s early adolescent life, who goes through the usual stuff teenagers go through while dealing with studies, friends, and family. A few topics addressed by the show were romantic relationships, friendships, and trying to fit in, which we all relate to.
One big, happy Super Mario family
One of the most successful computer games ever, Super Mario, was created by Nintendo and starred the mascot of the same name. Set in the fictional Mushroom Kingdom, the game typically has Mario as the main character, joined by his brother Luigi.
The two go on a quest to rescue the kidnapped Princess Peach from the villain, Bowser. Players have to run and jump across platforms and enemies in various themed levels. This is one fun Super Mario family, except that the boy being hoisted by his father doesn’t seem too happy.
Loonette, the clown
Remember that clown with her little doll, Molly? The Big Comfy Couch was a Canadian children’s television series starring Loonette the clown and her doll, Molly. They used to solve everyday problems in the comfort of their big comfy couch.
We weren’t too familiar with this show, so we had to Google the character – and we have to hand it to the lady in the photo above because she looks exactly like the character on TV. Some looks you nail, and some looks you fail – and this clearly belongs in the former category.
Laney from She’s All That
She’s All That was released in 1999, and the romantic comedy movie made teenagers everywhere believe and hope that even if they look very geeky currently, they will bloom to become beautiful swans and find the loves of their lives.
Laney, the main character, is socially inept and awkward, but we all know that Rachel Leigh Cook is none of that. Still, it made for a good story. Here is an impression of Laney and her infamous falafel balls on her head.
Selena
She was set to take the world by storm with her special dance moves and soothing voice, but alas, her life was snuffed out just as she was on the cusp of international stardom. And she was shot by one of her fans—such a sad ending to what would have been a great life.
Those who can never get enough of the “Queen of Tejano Music” can always remember Selena’s short life by copying her unique fashion style. She’s known for her mid-baring tops and flared pants. Plus points if you’ve got her figure too.
Spice up your life
While this is not exactly what we envisioned when the group Spice Girls is mentioned, we guess it will have to suffice. This group of young men dressed as one of the most successful girl groups ever is oozing with originality and something you don’t see every day or every Halloween, for that matter.
Formed in 1994, the girl group consists of five iconic singers who went on to have successful solo careers once the group ended. They redefined the girl group concept with their girl power mantra and went on to sell millions of records all over the world.
Quinn the Brain
Ah, Daria. We’re sure a lot of people have fond memories of watching the adult animated sitcom. Sardonic and brainy, Daria tries to keep a low profile in her high school. People can’t even remember her name, much less notice her.
Quinn the brain first appeared in the third episode of the show’s second season. With her distinct red hair, Quinn was always known as someone who had bad grades, but a brief burst of intellectual activity gave her the moniker.
Don’t get him angry
One of the members of the Avengers, the Hulk, first appeared in comic books published by Marvel Comics. The character was created by Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby and debuted in 1962. The Hulk has DID, or dissociative identity disorder, primarily represented by the green alter ego and the calm Dr. Bruce Banner.
We all know the story; the doctor was exposed to gamma rays while saving someone’s life, and things haven’t been the same ever since. When subjected to emotional stress, the doctor transforms into the green creature that loves to smash things.
Zenon
What do you remember of Zenon, the girl of the 21st century? The 1999 original Disney movie was based on the book of the same name and starred Kirsten Storms as the heroine of the same name. The movie was originally planned as a potential television series, but it was not to be.
This fun movie had girls donning suits of metallic sheen and shines, and of course, who could forget the catchy songs? Basically, it was a feel-good movie with plenty of singing, laughter, and happiness. It’s something you’d watch to lift your mood.
So fetch
Everyone’s favorite teenage drama movie, Mean Girls, starred Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Lacey Chabert, and then relatively unknown actress Amanda Seyfried as a group of popular girls who are known as “the plastics.” They ruled their school, and on Wednesdays, they would wear pink.
Who could forget the movie’s immortal lines? They’re still in my head, even though it’s been years since I last watched the movie. The girls in the photo nailed the look, and if you’d want to recreate it too, you better have plenty of pink stuff in your wardrobe.
Winnie and the gang
Definitely, one of my favorite characters of all time, Winnie the Pooh or Pooh Bear, is a fictional teddy bear created by English author A.A. Milne and English illustrator E.H. Shepard. The typical bear, Pooh, loves honey and has plenty of friends to keep him company.
He often goes on all sorts of adventures with his friends Piglet, Owl, Rabbit, Eeyore, and Tigger. It has been years since we watched a Winnie the Pooh cartoon or live-action movie, but the lessons they teach everyone will live on.
Cheetah Girls
We’re not sure what they had in mind when they named their group, but the Cheetah Girls were a success in their own teeny right. Based on a series of books written by Deborah Gregory, there was also a musical television film of the same name released in 2003.
The girl group consists of Kiely Williams, Adrienne Bailon, Raven Symone, and Sabrina Bryan. They disbanded for a variety of reasons, and of course, the girls were starting to get older and aging out of the very young Disney market.
Take good care of your Tamagotchi
Tamagotchi was a handheld digital pet created by Akihiro Yokoi. It was released by Bandai in November 1996 in Japan and was released in the US in May 1997. It became one of the biggest toy fads of the late 90s and the early 2000s.
Virtually everyone had a Tamagotchi pet back then; just like a real pet, you had to feed it, give it water, and care for it. When neglected, Tamagotchis die, but thankfully, you can raise a new pet by tapping some buttons on the device.
Ashley Spinelli from Recess
Who here remembers the animated TV series Recess? Created by Joe Ansolabehere and Paul Germain, Recess was produced by Walt Disney Television Animation, and it focused on elementary students and their interaction with teachers and classmates. Of course, the title refers to everyone’s favorite period.
The photo you see above is of Ashley Spinelli. The tomboyish ringleader of the gang, she is tough and is T.J.’s best friend and neighbor. The lady in the photo has copied everything beautifully, from Ashley’s beanie and jacket to the long socks.
As if!
Don’t you just hear Alicia Silverstone’s voice in your ear when you look at this costume? We do. No one was more popular than Cher in her high school. People listened to her, boys wanted to be with her, and girls wanted to be her.
Another 90s favorite, Clueless, is a coming-of-age teen comedy that was released in 1995, and boy, did Paul Rudd look divine in that movie. But back to the costume, though. This girl nailed her Cher impression, and people love it.