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Updated August 2026 – The movies of 2026 have given audiences plenty to talk about, from unexpected breakout hits to highly anticipated blockbusters. Obsession and Backrooms reflect the rise of young, creative directors who turned distinctive ideas and online followings into movies embraced by wider audiences. Their success brings fresh voices into the industry while introducing unsettling characters and visual worlds that feel perfectly suited to Halloween. That youthful energy sits alongside seasoned filmmaking teams behind major titles such as Dune: Part Three and Michael, which also places first-time leading actor Jaafar Jackson in the spotlight. Together, these movies have created no shortage of memorable characters, costumes, makeup, and eerie details to inspire Halloween looks this year.
Top Movie-Inspired Halloween Costume Trends for 2026
Nikki from Obsession
At only 26, writer-director Curry Barker led the young creative team behind Obsession, filming the supernatural horror movie in just 20 days for less than $1 million. Released in theaters on May 15, 2026, the movie quickly grew from a festival discovery into one of the year’s biggest breakout successes. Its worldwide box office has since climbed past $443 million, an extraordinary result for such a modestly produced film and one that made it Focus Features’ highest-grossing release. The film’s success also placed Barker and star Inde Navarrette among the most talked-about emerging talents of the year.
For a Nikki-inspired Halloween costume, recreate her disturbing appearance during the living-room scene with Bear and his friends. Pair a hot pink-and-black tiger-print halter top with fitted black shorts, then add tousled dark hair and deliberately unsettling makeup to capture her increasingly unhinged appearance. Our Black Out Mini Sclera contact lenses complete the transformation by covering more of the visible eye than standard costume contacts, giving Nikki’s stare a dark, unnatural intensity. The outfit looks simple at first glance, but the black eyes turn it into a recognizable horror costume that feels far more sinister up close.
Deadites from Evil Dead Burn
The Deadites have haunted the Evil Dead franchise since Sam Raimi’s original 1981 film, where a reading from the Book of the Dead unleashes demonic forces inside an isolated cabin. Rather than traditional zombies, Deadites are people whose bodies have been possessed and twisted into violent, mocking versions of themselves. Evil Dead Burn, the sixth film in the series, brings that lore into a new standalone story directed by French filmmaker Sébastien Vaniček and produced by franchise veterans Sam Raimi and Rob Tapert. Released in theaters on July 10, 2026, the movie follows a grieving family whose gathering inside a secluded home turns nightmarish as its members become Deadites one by one.
A Deadite-inspired costume leaves plenty of room for creativity since each possessed character can look different. Begin with torn or bloodstained clothing, then add pale skin, darkened veins, facial wounds, matted hair, and a wide, unnatural grin. The eyes are what push the look beyond an ordinary zombie costume, and our Darth Maul contact lenses bring that demonic effect into sharper focus. Their red outer ring transitions into a bright yellow center, creating the fiery, possessed stare needed to make a Deadite costume feel truly unsettling.
Michael Jackson's Classic Thriller Look
Released on April 24, 2026, Michael became one of the year’s biggest theatrical successes, opening with $97.2 million domestically and more than $217 million worldwide. The biopic went on to earn over $1.01 billion globally, becoming the highest-grossing biographical film in box-office history. Much of the excitement centered on Jaafar Jackson, whose physical resemblance, stage presence, and carefully recreated dance moves made many of the performance scenes feel remarkably close to the originals. From Michael Jackson’s signature poses and footwork to the costumes and concert staging, Jaafar brought some of his uncle’s most recognizable moments back to the screen.
One of the most anticipated sequences was the recreation of Thriller, with fans excited to see glimpses of its filming before watching the complete transformation on the big screen. To dress as the beloved Thriller-era Michael Jackson this Halloween, start with the iconic red leather jacket, matching pants, black shoes, and curly hairstyle. Our Yellow Cat contact lenses add extra impact with neon-yellow irises and elongated black pupils inspired by a feline stare. The vivid design recalls the glowing yellow cat eyes Michael revealed at the end of the original music video, adding the final supernatural detail to an instantly recognizable costume.
Blue-Eyed Fremen from Dune
Frank Herbert introduced the desert planet Arrakis in his 1965 science-fiction novel Dune, which later grew into a larger book series and inspired several screen adaptations. David Lynch brought the story to theaters in 1984, while Denis Villeneuve introduced a new generation to the saga through Dune in 2021 and Dune: Part Two in 2024. The latter earned more than $714 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing installment in the franchise so far. Dune: Part Three, coming December 18, is one of 2026’s most anticipated movies and fans can hardly wait.
The blue-eyed Fremen are among the saga’s most recognizable figures, with their “blue-within-blue” Eyes of Ibad caused by prolonged exposure to the spice melange found throughout Arrakis. Recreate their desert-ready appearance with a fitted gray or sand-colored stillsuit, layered fabric, a wrapped scarf, utility pieces, and slightly weathered makeup. Our Dune-inspired contact lenses complete the transformation by covering the eyes from the iris to the sclera in a transparent ocean-blue hue. The expanded blue effect captures the Fremen’s otherworldly stare and gives an otherwise understated costume an unmistakable connection to Dune.
Bring This Year’s Biggest Characters to Life
From unsettling horror figures to instantly recognizable movie icons, 2026 has given Halloween fans plenty of fresh costume inspiration. The strongest looks combine familiar clothing, makeup, and accessories with one detail that makes the character unmistakable, especially a dramatic eye transformation. Explore our wider collection of Halloween contact lenses to find designs inspired by demons, creatures, villains, and other screen-ready characters. Choose a pair that suits your costume, follow your eye doctor’s fitting guidance, and let your favorite movie moment shape your Halloween look.
Halloween 2025’s Most Memorable Pop Culture Looks
What is Pop Culture?
Pop culture or “popular culture” is the mainstream cultural phenomena that are widely embraced and consumed by the general public. It encompasses entertainment media like blockbuster movies, hit TV shows, chart-topping music, viral videos, and popular video games, as well as fashion and lifestyle trends, celebrities and public figures, and consumer products that achieve cultural significance. Think of Marvel movies, Taylor Swift albums, TikTok challenges, or Netflix series that everyone’s talking about.
Pop culture is constantly evolving, with one phenomenon replacing another as public attention shifts and technology changes how we consume and share content. It’s distinct from “high culture,” such as classical music or fine art. From the slang we use to the products we buy, pop culture permeates daily life with reference points that help define generational and cultural experiences.
KPop Demon Hunters (Huntrix and Saja Boys)
After being the most-viewed Netflix movie of all time, KPop Demon Hunters has done something remarkable, re-introducing KPop while BTS were on their military duty. Thus, the show’s success has caused people on social media to belt out to Golden or dance to Soda Pop, whatever you prefer. And it’s no surprise that it’s among the most-searched Halloween costumes as of September 2025.
Becoming Huntrix is all about coordinating outfits without sacrificing individuality. And they did a great job as they sang How It’s Done in the movie’s opening scene. For their costume, all you need to nail Rumi is a puffer bomber jacket paired with a mock-neck crop top, while Mira’s punk aesthetic requires graphic tops and bright denim skirts. As for Zoey, structured strapless tops and baggy jeans will do.
As for Saja Boys, you get two options: the all-black, Jeoseung-Saja-inspired Your Idol look and the “flower boy” aesthetic as seen in Soda Pop. You can go dark and mysterious or bright and playful, depending on your mood. A tip for For the Your Idol look, you can definitely do it without the jeoseung-saja. Layer the robes over a simple black outfit, like a black turtleneck and slim-fit pants, to create a sleek, monochromatic base. Then, complete it with yellow cat contact lenses and you’re good to go.
Labubus
Outside of movies and celebrity culture, social media sensation Labubu has been widely recognized as one of the inspirations for this year’s Halloween. These trendy toys have become popular among celebrities, notably Lisa from Blackpink, who often carries them in her luxury handbags.
Creating a Labubu costume at home is quite simple. You can use common materials like faux fur, felt, and craft foam for the ears and face. A basic onesie or jumpsuit can serve as the foundation, and you can add signature features like ears and teeth to complete the look. But, if you’re short on time, buying a full costume online is an easy alternative.
As for the contacts, going for either blackout, blue, or yellow contacts will do.
Lilo and Stitch
Disney nostalgia stays, and the release of the 2025 live-action Lilo and Stitch film triggered something deeper. Thus, it’s time to recreate the childhood favorite as a duo dressing as a Hawaiian girl and her alien companion. It’s pure joy in fabric form, and in a world that often feels heavy, sometimes the most radical thing you can do is embrace whimsy.
For Lilo, a classic red dress with a white palm leaf print will do. As for Stitch, a full-body blue jumpsuit or onesie, complete with floppy ears and a smiling face will turn you into the character, plus blackout contacts to achieve his distinctive large, dark eyes.
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s relationship has become the ultimate modern fairy tale, and their engagement announcement turned them into Halloween gold. But what’s interesting isn’t just that people want to dress as them, it’s how they want to dress as them. The choice can be between their usual Chiefs-and-Eras aesthetic or their engagement outfit.
To perfectly capture Taylor’s look, consider blue contact lenses if your natural eye color differs. Air Optix Colors in True Sapphire closely matches Taylor’s distinctive blue eyes and will complete the transformation.
Beyonce’s Cowboycore Aesthetic
Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” reshaped how we think about American identity through fashion, thus giving birth to “cowboycore”. Oversized cowboy hats, head-to-toe denim, fringe, and rhinestones are all you need to nail the look. Also, another tip, you and your friends can dress up as Beyoncé in different eras. How’s that sound?
Sabrina Carpenter's "Short n' Sweet" Outfits
If you want to be playful, then outfits inspired by Sabrina Carpenter’s “Short n’ Sweet” are for you. You can go for sparkly corsets, babydoll dresses, and coquette aesthetics, which celebrate femininity. Another addition to your look is the kiss-mark tattoo on your shoulder. It’s a playful wink to the people around you this Halloween. Plus, Sabrina’s eyes are the statement. So, you can go for the blue contacts to complete the look.
Squid Game (Players, Pink Soldier, FrontMan, and VIP)
It’s not the last of the green tracksuits and pink overalls for this year’s Halloween. With the last season of Squid Game done and dusted, there is no stopping people from dressing as either the player or the pink soldier. Aside from these usual costumes, you can also dress as the Front Man or as one of the VIPs.
Transform into a Player with a mint green tracksuit, white slip-on sneakers, and a numbered badge sewn onto the jacket. Channel a menacing Guard by wearing a crimson hooded jumpsuit paired with a black mask featuring one of three symbols: circle, triangle, or square.
For those seeking a more sinister vibe, embody the Front Man in head-to-toe black clothing, complete with his signature angular geometric mask and matching gloves. As for the VIPs, just pick the most lavish-looking clothes you have, plus a mask will complete your look.
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