Most popular Halloween costumes for 2022 and where to buy: Stranger Things, Hocus Pocus, House of the Dragon
This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement.
In the largely risible Sex and the City (2008) movie, Miranda Hobbes summarises women’s Halloween costume options succinctly, “That’s it. The only two choices for women, witch and sexy kitten.”
But times have moved on in the past decade. A plethora of intriguing anti-heroes popularised in Disney movies, HBO shows, comic book movies mean that now, there are many more options for ladies - and, indeed, gentlemen - searching for a fun Halloween costume.
What are the most popular 2022 Halloween costumes?
But if you’re hoping for a costume that’s bang on trend for 2022, Ebay have analysed this year’s search trends on the online marketplace - from over 20 million searches - and detailed the most popular UK Halloween costumes.
Disney witches, dragon queens and demogorgons are dominating, as shoppers are inspired by film and telly characters they love.
With Hocus Pocus 2 arriving this year (only 30 years after the original!) eBay reports a 567% increase in searches for Sarah Sanderson costumes, inspired by Sarah Jessica Parker’s iconic blonde witch. Additionally a 368% increase for ‘Hocus Pocus costume’ has been noted - a great option for groups headed out together, to go as the trio of witches.
The runaway success of HBO’s House of the Dragon has been reflected as people seeking to channel the bleached white tresses of the show’s lead family - Targaryen costume’ searches have increased +766% on eBay.
And, once again, Stranger Things is proving popular. Ebay has reported a 123% rise in searches for ‘eleven costume’ , and a 161% more searches for ‘demogorgon costume’ on eBay.
*All data points based on Month on Month eBay searches: 14 Aug 2022 - 10 Sept 2022 vs 11 Sept 2022 - 08 Oct 2022
In addition to the eBay research, an anaylsis of google search Google search trends has revealed ever
While a few old favourites feature, recent movies and TV shows have dominated the list of on trend costumer. We’ve listed them below, as well as where to buy.
So if you’re
We’ve already summarised the best Halloween costumes for men and women in this handy guide, and a list of the best Halloween costumes for trick or treating children.
If you’re thinking of throwing a Halloween bash, check out our guide to Halloween decorations, and if you’re looking to entertain children, these are the best food and party treats for Halloween.
The most popular Halloween Costumes for 2022
Since the release of George Romero’s 1968 horror classic, Night of the Living Dead, zombies have been a mainstay of scary costuming.
They’re back in fashion, with the notion of a disease tearing its way through nations (struck by supply shortages and a paranoid populace) rapaciously oddly popular just now, for some reason.
The great fun of dressing as the undead is that you can chose the moment your character was bitten and frozen in time. Zombie clown? Teacher? Bride? Terrifying, and with a hint of pathos.
We love this zombie priest option, for the added sinister ecumenical overtones.
There are now almost as many Joker iterations in movie history as there have been takes on Hamlet, so alluring is the Clown Prince of Gotham to actor’s wanting to dial their performance up to 11.
This writer prefers the dark, dirty vocal work of Mark Hamill on the superlative animated version, or the deranged menace of Heath Ledger’s Dark Knight incarnation.
But there is little doubt the current surge in popularity for Joker costume’s is due to Joaquin Phoenix’s Oscar winning turn in the 2019 The Joker film.
Link to that costume below.
Fancy the Ledger version? Buy the costume here. And the Arkham Asylum, oh-so-creepy Hamill version is available here.
We here at Recommended are going to keep our feelings about the fact that Halloween costumes are meant to be scary to ourselves (you can split hairs given the celebration’s Christian and pagan roots, but c’mon, people - it’s Fright Night) and instead stick to reporting that Princess costumes are the one of most sought out costume option for spooky season.
Further to that, Disney princesses top that particular sub category, with ‘Women’s Princess Jasmine’ costume the most popular search overall, because there is never a better time to bare your midriff and wear diaphanous harem pants than the onset of winter at night.
Cruella De Vil was the latest Disney villain given a sympathetic overhaul in a prequel last year (we can debate the necessity to redeem a woman whose prime character trait was a desire to murder puppies later), and the resultant film was unexpectedly fun.
It’s little wonder the black and white garbed anti-hero proved so popular: depicted by Emma Stone, in the 2021 movie Cruella’s costumes were designed by genius costumier Jenny Beavan and they’re a luscious treat.
No wonder shoppers are seeking to emulate those striking looks. Please just step back from the puppies.
It’s a cat, what can we say. In defence of its popularity, cats are excellent animals, so there’s much to be said for dressing as one. Sleeping in the sun and staying aloof? The animals know how to live.
We’re linking to a lightly fetish-y, Catwoman-inspired cat costume, because it can’t be denied the Sexy Cat outfit is an enduringly popular one. You were right, Miranda Hobbes, what can we say.