Halloween is so much more than treats, tricks and scary movies; it’s a night to dress up as whoever or whatever you want. You could go the classic route with a witch, ghost or vampire costume. Or you could shake it up with pop culture hits like Marvel superheroes, blockbuster movie stars or other celebrity figures. Whether you’re a Bridgerton buff, a Jon Snow junkie, an Elvis extremist or a Doctor Strange devotee, we’ve conducted research into the costumes expected to be the biggest hits this year.
We all know that planning a show-stopping spooky look requires a lot of time and effort – after all, it only happens once a year! To help you out, we’ve rounded up the most popular Halloween costumes in 2022. And, with a new season of The Umbrella Academy, a whole host of new Marvel films, a brand-new Buzz Lightyear film and a prequel to Game of Thrones, we’re in for a treat (not a trick) this year. Go ahead and take a look!
The 20 most popular Halloween costumes 2022
| Rank | Halloween Costume |
| 1 | Harley Quinn |
| 2 | The Joker |
| 3 | Barbie |
| 4 | Witch |
| 5 | Buzz Lightyear |
| 6 | Wanda Maximoff (Scarlet Witch) |
| 7 | The Rock |
| 8 | Wednesday Addams |
| 9 | Baby Yoda |
| 10 | Batman |
| 11 | Doctor Strange |
| 12 | Elvis |
| 13 | Maleficent |
| 14 | Beetlejuice |
| 15 | Umbrella Academy |
| 16 | Cruella de Vil |
| 17 | Carole Baskin |
| 18 | Lil Nas X |
| 19 | Cher (Clueless) |
| 20 | Maverick (Top Gun) |
1. Harley Quinn
In the world of DC Comics, one character who has been both a villain and a reluctant ally over the years is Harley Quinn. A fan-favourite ever since her debut appearance in Batman: The Animated Series episode, “Joker’s Favour”, in 1992. However, her popularity has intensified in recent years following her DC Extended Universe depiction in Suicide Squad (2016), Birds of Prey (2020), and, more recently, James Gunn’s The Suicide Squad, leading the distinctive Harley Quinn look to have maintained its popularity from Halloween 2016 through to 2022.
2. The Joker
When it comes to The Joker and Harley Quinn, can you really have one without the other? Clearly not, as The Joker is this year’s second most popular Halloween costume. As the arch-nemesis of Batman, The Joker has an iconic look that has been etched into cinema history. Featuring bright, garish colours, tailored suits and clown-inspired makeup, it’s no surprise it remains one of the most sought-after Halloween costumes in 2022.
3. Barbie
On March 9, 1959, the very first Barbie doll was presented to the world, but this glamorous toy’s distinctive style is still shaping fashion today. In fact, the doll has inspired the upcoming Barbie (2023) film, starring Margot Robbie as Barbie and Ryan Gosling as Ken. Given all the hype the movie has gotten already, it’s unsurprising that it has inspired Halloween costumes too. So, stick with the trends this year by dressing up as the blonde-haired, pink-loving doll.
4. Witch
Looking to go less pop culture and more classic this year? The traditional scary witch costume remains one of the most popular Halloween costumes in 2022, coming in fourth place. Let’s be honest, ‘witch’ has been our go-to for a last-minute Halloween costume for as long as we can remember. After all, all you need is a pointy hat and a broomstick.
5. Buzz Lightyear
Buzz Lightyear might just be a toy, but since first appearing on our screens in 1995, he’s been inspiring us to infinity and beyond with his loyalty, bravery and, of course, his outfits. So, it’s no surprise that Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger suit makes it into the top 5 most popular Halloween costumes in 2022. Even more so this year thanks to his new solo movie that came out this year, Lightyear.
6. Wanda Maximoff (Scarlet Witch)
Finally, lost soul, Wanda Maximoff, transformed into the official villain in this year’s Multiverse of Madness, making her signature Scarlet Witch get-up the perfect option for Halloween 2022. Complete with leather suit, headband and flowing cape, we’re sure to see plenty of Scarlet Witches at Halloween parties across the UK.
7. The Rock
You might be wondering why WWE wrestler and actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is one of the most popular Halloween costumes in 2022. Well, it comes from when The Rock himself tweeted numerous pictures of him wearing a black turtleneck with a silver chain and a fanny pack. Spooky, eh?
8. Wednesday Addams
Wednesday Addams costumes have become a classic Halloween ensemble – and with the new Wednesday Netflix series dropping this Autumn, it’s unsurprising that it’s more popular than ever. Best known for her long, dark braids, signature black dress and white collar, it’s an easy look to DIY this Halloween, so why not give it a go?
9. Baby Yoda
When Disney released the last entry in the long-running Star Wars franchise, The Mandalorian, one character stole all of our hearts. Dubbed “Baby Yoda” by adoring fans, the alien baby quickly became a favourite for costumes and, while it’s not exactly scary, Baby Yoda looks to be a hit in the UK this year for Halloween.
10. Batman
It would be rude not to include Batman alongside The Joker and Quinn in the most popular Halloween costumes in 2022. With The Batman (2022), featuring Robert Pattison being released earlier this year, we can’t be shocked that Batman has once again managed to claw its way into the top 10 most popular Halloween costumes of 2022.
The 10 most popular kids’ Halloween costumes 2022
Looking around on Halloween you’ll see little people running around dressed as everything from superheroes and Disney princesses to classic monsters and other fairytale characters. But now we know which are the front-running Halloween costumes for adults this year, what can we expect to see from the kids?
| Rank | Halloween Costume |
| 1 | Minion |
| 2 | Superman |
| 3 | Vampire |
| 4 | Mermaid |
| 5 | Ninja |
| 6 | Spiderman |
| 7 | Batman |
| 8 | Alien |
| 9 | Zombie |
| 10 | Paw Patrol |
| 11 | Barbie |
| 12 | Captain America |
| 13 | Olaf |
| 14 | Elsa |
| 15 | Skeleton |
| 16 | Cruella de Vil |
| 17 | Minecraft |
| 18 | Pirate |
| 19 | Buzz Lightyear |
| 20 | Shrek |
Topping the list of the best kids’ Halloween costumes in 2022 is (what a surprise) the Minions – small yellow creatures who dress in blue overalls and goggles. After first appearing in the 2010 computer-animated comedy Despicable Me, as the sidekicks of the evil Gru, they were given their own origin-story film in 2015 and, in 2016, they officially became the mascot of Universal Studios. So, expect to see groups of these strange yellow creatures knocking on your door this Halloween.
Also unsurprising, the classic Superman costume came in second place, with three other superheroes also making into the top 20 most popular kid’s costumes, including Spiderman, Batman and Captain America. Superman was closely followed by a more classic costume choice of ‘vampire’ – an easy and effective choice that’s equally spooky as it is simple.
Between the seashell accessories, sparkly tail and long, flowy hair, it’s no surprise that ‘mermaid’ also made it into the top 5 most popular kids’ Halloween costumes in 2022. And let’s face it, who doesn’t want to be a mermaid? Similarly, in fifth position comes the ninja – from Batman’s Ra’s al Ghul to the cast of The Mutant Ninja Turtles, they’re some of our favourite fictional characters of all time so it’s undeniably a great choice for kids this year.
Get ready for spooky season and make sure you’re prepared for the big day with our super scary collection of Halloween cards.
Methodology:
Using Google Trends, we conducted research into the search volumes of Halloween costumes over the past 30 days to determine which are going to be the most popular this year.
