People once donned costumes during Samhain, the ancient Celtic festival that ran from sunset on October 31 to sunset on November 1, to ward off spirits or blend in with supernatural beings as the veil between worlds grew thin. These days, Halloween costumes are less about avoiding ghosts and more about having fun and showing off your creativity!
When it comes to costume inspiration, few places deliver quite like the movie screen, especially the cult classics of the ’80s, ’90s, and early 2000s. This era introduced everything from slasher icons and gothic antiheroes to dreamy, Stevie Nicks-esque witches, serving up the perfect mix of spooky, stylish, and endlessly rewatchable Halloween inspiration.
We’ve rounded up five classic Halloween movies that deserve a spot on your annual watch list and double as excellent costume inspiration. To make getting ready even more festive, we’ve paired each look with a themed cocktail and mocktail, perfect for sipping with friends or family before heading out to a party or a night of trick-or-treating.
Scooby-Doo (2002)
Linda Cardellini. Sarah Michelle Gellar. Matthew Lillard. An absolutely stacked cast. No notes.
In this live-action take on the beloved cartoon, the Mystery Inc. gang reunites to investigate a string of strange happenings on Spooky Island. The result is a delightfully chaotic mix of demons, island curses, early-2000s fashion, and plenty of nostalgia.
As for Halloween costumes, this one couldn’t be easier to pull off. For Velma (Cardellini), reach for a red skirt, orange knee-high socks, round glasses, and an oversized orange sweater. Channel Daphne (Gellar) with a purple mini dress, a lilac headband, and matching go-go boots. Bonus points if you convince your friends to complete the rest of the gang.
Get-ready sip: A violet-hued Aviation cocktail or a blackberry mocktail inspired by Daphne’s signature colour palette.
Little Shop of Horrors (1986)
Head to New York City’s Skid Row, where Seymour Krelborn (Rick Moranis) and Audrey (Ellen Greene) work at a struggling flower shop. Their lives take a turn when Seymour discovers a mysterious plant that thrives on one thing: human blood. Equal parts horror, comedy, and musical, “Little Shop of Horrors” has earned its cult-classic status thanks to its campy charm, over-the-top performances, and delightfully dark sense of humour.
For a Seymour costume, all you need is a pair of oversized ’80s glasses, a neutral button-down shirt, a red tie, and, of course, a Venus flytrap tucked under your arm. For Audrey, channel vintage bombshell energy with a cheetah-print bodycon dress, dramatic turquoise eyeliner, and a blonde bob with bangs. This costume pairing is instantly recognizable to fellow cult-movie fans.
Get-ready sip: An Emerald Bliss cocktail or a crisp cucumber mocktail as a nod to Audrey II’s vibrant green hue.
Labyrinth (1986)
David Bowie in a pirate shirt, glittering coat, and feathery mullet? Say less.
In this fantasy cult favourite, teenager Sarah (Jennifer Connelly) accidentally wishes her baby brother Toby away to the Goblin King (Bowie) after one too many babysitting frustrations. Unfortunately for her, the Goblin King takes the request seriously. To get Toby back, Sarah has 13 hours to navigate an enormous labyrinth filled with talking creatures, strange riddles, and some of the most delightfully bizarre (and endearing) characters ever put on screen.
For Sarah, recreate her unforgettable ballroom look with a voluminous ’80s-inspired white gown. For Jareth, the Goblin King himself, start with a billowy pirate shirt, extremely tight pants, dramatic makeup, and a mullet. Few costumes capture fantasy-movie glamour quite so effortlessly.
Get-ready sip: A Blue Lagoon cocktail inspired by William the Worm, or a pink lemonade mocktail topped with edible glitter as a nod to Jareth’s theatrical wardrobe.
Dracula (1992)
It’s hard to think of a Halloween icon more enduring than Dracula, even if vampires like the Cullens and the Salvatores have dominated the pop-culture conversation in recent decades.
Francis Ford Coppola’s “Bram Stoker’s Dracula” helped usher the Prince of Darkness back into the spotlight, transforming the classic tale into a gothic romance. While Bram Stoker’s original novel doesn’t give Dracula a grand love story, Coppola’s adaptation imagines one for the ages. After renouncing God following the death of his wife, Prince Vlad Dracula (Gary Oldman) is transformed into a vampire. Centuries later, he becomes convinced he has found her reincarnation in Mina Murray (Winona Ryder). The result is a blend of horror, romance, Victorian fashion, and some of cinema’s most swoon-worthy lines, including: “I’ve crossed oceans of time to find you” (If he wanted to, he would).
For Dracula, opt for a tailored suit, round tinted glasses, and a top hat. For Mina, embrace full gothic-romance heroine mode with a satiny crimson gown, dramatic ruffles, and Victorian-inspired details.
Get-ready sip: A Dracula’s Kiss cocktail made with cherry juice or a sparkling cranberry fizz mocktail worthy of a candlelit castle.
Practical Magic (1998 and 2026)
No Halloween movie costume roundup would be complete without a little witchy style, and few films have inspired more autumn mood boards than “Practical Magic.” The story follows sisters Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gillian Owens (Nicole Kidman) as they navigate a family curse that dooms any man they fall in love with, all while embracing their magical gifts and sisterly bond.
For Sally, opt for a long floral dress, a loose braid, and an oversized cardigan that slips effortlessly off one shoulder. For Gillian, lean into her free-spirited glamour with a velvet mini dress or something heavy on the mesh, paired with an auburn wig. Together, they’re the blueprint for the kind of witch aesthetic that dominates Pinterest boards and Halloween parties every year.
Get-ready sip: A Midnight Margarita cocktail or mocktail, obviously.
Looking for more movie recs? We rounded up six movies to welcome fall. See our picks here.
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