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With Halloween firmly behind us, it’s time to pick out the very best costumes this year. The crème de la crème of creativity, spookiness, and awesomeness if you will. To help you decide, Bored Panda has compiled this list of the most impressive outfits that would help any trick-or-treater bring back a massive haul of candy any night of the year.

From people dressing up as celebrities to our most beloved stars dressing up as someone else, from memes and puns turned into costumes to some of the scariest outfits we’ve seen in years, we’ve got a bit of everything for everyone’s tastebuds. Have a scroll down and don’t forget to upvote what you think are the most deserving costumes!

(My personal favorites were the Bernie-Sanders-wearing-mittens meme come to life, as well as the Anti-Faxxer costume, but don’t let that influence your decision!) When you’re done enjoying this list, check out the best costumes from Halloween 2020 to compare ‘em.

I reached out to entertainment, pop culture, and lifestyle expert Mike Sington to get his take on why so many of us enjoy dressing up as our beloved stars and the pressure that celebrities face to come up with a great costume for Halloween. Scroll on down for Bored Panda's full interview with Hollywood's Ultimate Insider, as well as for my chat with environmental psychologist and wellbeing consultant Lee Chambers about why we're so fascinated by Halloween and how our love of horror can help us test our limits.

Environmental psychologist and wellbeing consultant Lee Chambers from the UK explained to Bored Panda why so many of us are drawn by horror and Halloween. "The whole ethos of Halloween and the flirting with evil and death is fascinating because it is a place we rarely go as humans, especially in today's safe and sanitized world," Lee shared with me.

According to the expert, we not only get to explore this side of ourselves without any judgment, we also get to test our emotive response to fear in a way that's both safe and controlled. In other words, we get to experience the positive sides of horror without the negatives.

"We can get the adrenaline rush of being scared, all while knowing we are in control and can exit the situation if it’s too much. We also cognitively know it’s not real, so we can trigger ourselves and test how we respond to threats, giving us the ability to practice coping mechanism for difficult times in life," he said.

#2

Happy Halloween From The Queen!

Happy Halloween From The Queen!

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#3

Couldn't Resist Dressing Up Our Two Year Old Triplets As Hobbits For Halloween (Girl, Boy, Boy)

Couldn't Resist Dressing Up Our Two Year Old Triplets As Hobbits For Halloween (Girl, Boy, Boy)

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Furthermore, psychologist Lee pointed out that Halloween and horror can help us test where our limits are. "We can explore the taboos of negative emotions like fear in a playful way, see where our limits lie, and do it in a supportive environment with other people. Getting scared and mastering our fear with scary entertainment and curated shocks can make us feel like we can take on all sorts of challenges, and can even feel like therapy when we take into account the physiological rush we get and the feeling of having survived."

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Meanwhile, celeb expert Mike, from LA, told Bored Panda that stars are "under quite a bit of pressure" to come up with great costume ideas. It's not all just glitz and glamor—there's some serious planning and preparation involved.

"They know it will generate a guaranteed photo that will be splashed all around the world. Plus, it’s got to be original and impressive, that’s what their fans are expecting. They don’t want to disappoint them, and it’s a rather easy way for a celebrity to get positive press by showing their fun side," he told Bored Panda about the advantages of coming up with a creative, fun, impressive costume.

#6

Halloween Cosplay (Batman Returns) By Nba Player Robin Lopez And His Wife

Halloween Cosplay (Batman Returns) By Nba Player Robin Lopez And His Wife

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I was curious to find out why so many of us love to dress up as our fave celebrities for Halloween. According to Mike, there are a couple of reasons for this phenomenon. "They either want to honor a favorite celebrity, or they want to have some fun by mocking a celebrity they don’t care for. It’s also actually kind of fun to 'become' a celebrity and imagine what their life might be like!"

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Mike agreed that many people have a hard time separating actors from the characters they play in movies. "Celebrities know that, and some will accept it and capitalize on it, while others will fight it and try to distance themselves from the characters they play," the celebrity expert noted how stars can react to this piece of knowledge in different ways.

"Most fans on Halloween are looking at celebrities and their characters as one, and will usually dress as the character, which is probably going to be easier to pull off and the most recognizable of the two!"

#7

This Halloween I’m An Anti-Faxxer And There’s No Changing My Mind

This Halloween I’m An Anti-Faxxer And There’s No Changing My Mind

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Vic
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Now you need to post "facts" and "research information" about fax on whatsapp and Facebook.. umm I mean Meta..

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#9

My Son Decided To Rick Roll The School For Halloween

My Son Decided To Rick Roll The School For Halloween

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This year’s Halloween fell into a bit of a gray area regarding the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. While the danger of getting ill is still ever-present, the continuing vaccination programs have made it a bit safer to go about with ordinary life. ABC7 notes that Halloween participation is rebounding and people are spending more than ever.

However, wearing your Halloween mask is no excuse for not wearing your regular medical mask underneath and maintaining social distancing. It’s fine to have fun, but you can’t throw all the safety precautions out the window—now that would be scary.

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#10

My Wife Is A School Bus Driver And Dressed Up As Ms. Frizzle For Halloween This Year

My Wife Is A School Bus Driver And Dressed Up As Ms. Frizzle For Halloween This Year

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#11

Dennis The Menace

Dennis The Menace

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#12

Wanted To Be Edward Scissorhands But Also Be Able To Get Into Bars, So I Give You Edward Spoonhands

Wanted To Be Edward Scissorhands But Also Be Able To Get Into Bars, So I Give You Edward Spoonhands

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October might be the spookiest month of the year, but we often take it for granted. Sure, a lot of us love a good scare from the comfort of our own cozy costume or from our sofas in front of a good horror movie, but we don’t always question why we find it so fun. Not too long ago, I reached out to Doug Murano to learn about why we love horror and scary stories so much. Doug is a writer and a Bram Stoker Award-winning editor, so you know for a fact that horror flows through his veins.

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"I suspect that most of us—regardless of our spiritual beliefs—have a longing for something beyond this life. Human beings seem to be pre-programmed with this urge," writer and editor Doug, the founder of Bad Hand Books, told Bored Panda that many of us yearn to learn more about the supernatural. Real-life is beautiful and interesting, but it often isn’t fully enough. We’re just too curious to sit still and be happy with what we have.

#16

Happy Halloween! I Am The One Who Knocks

Happy Halloween! I Am The One Who Knocks

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#17

Mermaid Man And Barnacle Boy

Mermaid Man And Barnacle Boy

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#18

My Take On Harry The Haunted Hunter From Beetlejuice

My Take On Harry The Haunted Hunter From Beetlejuice

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"So much of horror and speculative fiction grapples with death and what happens after we die that I can't help but believe much of our interest in such stories is an expression of a longing for experiences and existences beyond our perceptions," Doug explained.

#19

Happy Halloween From Austin, Foxxy, And The Evilest Dr. Evil There Ever Was

Happy Halloween From Austin, Foxxy, And The Evilest Dr. Evil There Ever Was

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#20

What Do You Guys Think Of My Thor Costume For Halloween? Pretty Stoked To Have The Body Of A Superhero For Once

What Do You Guys Think Of My Thor Costume For Halloween? Pretty Stoked To Have The Body Of A Superhero For Once

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#21

Sweet Baby Rays

Sweet Baby Rays

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When it comes to creating a truly good scary story, you have to learn to be subtle. Nobody’s afraid of a monster that’s right out in the open. It’s the mysterious, partially shadow-shrouded figures in the dark that get our hairs standing on end, our hearts beating the quickest. Or, as Doug puts it, over-explanation is the antithesis of good horror.

#22

My Family's Lotr Halloween Costumes

My Family's Lotr Halloween Costumes

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#24

What Else Is A Tall Girl Supposed To Be For Halloween?

What Else Is A Tall Girl Supposed To Be For Halloween?

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"Great horror stories thread a precarious needle: They maintain a sense of the truly inexplicable while creating a world and a narrative that provides enough answers to ground the story. Over-explanation kills most horror, which is why the shark is scariest when you only see the fin; the alien is most terrifying when it's lurking in the shadows; the killer is most monstrous when he's masked," he told Bored Panda.

#25

Doris From Shrek

Doris From Shrek

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"My professional expertise is limited to fiction, but I'll say this: I've seen enough real magic and wonder in the world to make me think twice about whether the supernatural is real—and I think that's a healthy thing. It's perhaps less important to believe any given tale than it is to remain open to experiences while leaving room in your head and in your heart for belief,” Doug said.

#29

My Zombie Jill Valentine Cosplay For Halloween

My Zombie Jill Valentine Cosplay For Halloween

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#30

My Halloween Mando Costume For Our Uni Halloween Day, I Hope I See More Star Wars Costumes Today!

My Halloween Mando Costume For Our Uni Halloween Day, I Hope I See More Star Wars Costumes Today!

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#31

Sims

Sims

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Olivia Lisbon
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hope people went with it and blocked her in with a chair, so she had to stand there waving her arms and yelling gibberish.

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#32

‘Frights, Camera, Action!’ This Halloween, May All Your Screams Come True…

‘Frights, Camera, Action!’ This Halloween, May All Your Screams Come True…

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#33

Made A Zoidberg Costume For Halloween Because I Wanted An Excuse To Fertilize Everyone’s Caviar

Made A Zoidberg Costume For Halloween Because I Wanted An Excuse To Fertilize Everyone’s Caviar

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#34

Dr. Evil And Mr. Bigglesworth For Halloween. Mwa Ha Ha Ha

Dr. Evil And Mr. Bigglesworth For Halloween. Mwa Ha Ha Ha

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#37

Steve Buscemi As His "How Do You Do, Fellow Kids?" Character From 30 Rock For Halloween

Steve Buscemi As His "How Do You Do, Fellow Kids?" Character From 30 Rock For Halloween

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#39

My Halloween Costume This Year As Cersei

My Halloween Costume This Year As Cersei

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#40

Buttercup Imposter

Buttercup Imposter

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#43

Harry Styles As Dorothy From The Wizard Of Oz

Harry Styles As Dorothy From The Wizard Of Oz

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Steffen Rehm
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

What is about harry styles? One positive comment got downvoted and a negative upvoted. I like how he doesn't take himself too serious.

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#45

Winnie Harlow As Cheetara From Thunder Cats

Winnie Harlow As Cheetara From Thunder Cats

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#46

Going Out For Halloween As My Favorite Character From Animal Crossing! Just Hoping No One Dresses Up As A Spider

Going Out For Halloween As My Favorite Character From Animal Crossing! Just Hoping No One Dresses Up As A Spider

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#47

My Daughter Wanted To Be Samus For Halloween, My Wife Spent Two Months Making These For Her

My Daughter Wanted To Be Samus For Halloween, My Wife Spent Two Months Making These For Her

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#49

Grizzly Bear From Animorphs Series

Grizzly Bear From Animorphs Series

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anarkzie
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Man, I'm so old that I thought this was the Altered beast game from the 80's

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#50

Still Love That I Dressed Up As A Gonk Droid For Halloween In Second Grade

Still Love That I Dressed Up As A Gonk Droid For Halloween In Second Grade

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#52

Evan Hansen

Evan Hansen

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myvloggun
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

hey man, this is kinda riffing on the fact they kept the original actor.

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#53

Doja Cat

Doja Cat

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#54

I Finally Decided To Go Ahead And Do It

I Finally Decided To Go Ahead And Do It

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#56

Chrissy Teigen And John Legend As Addams Family

Chrissy Teigen And John Legend As Addams Family

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Ellis Reed
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hmm, I don't remember Morticia cyber bullying people and telling them to kill themselves like Chrissy Teigen did. Must've missed that episode.

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#57

Lil Nas X As The Basketball Guy (Aka Seth Powers) From Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide

Lil Nas X As The Basketball Guy (Aka Seth Powers) From Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide

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#58

Tai From Clueless

Tai From Clueless

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#61

Taylor Swift

Taylor Swift

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Tacocat
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I was trying to figure out a way to be Taylor for Halloween, too! This is awesome! Great job 💜

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#62

Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson

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#63

Victoria Justice As A Skeleto

Victoria Justice As A Skeleto

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#64

Kendall Jenner As The Martian Girl From Mars Attacks!

Kendall Jenner As The Martian Girl From Mars Attacks!

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Bender Bending Rodríguez
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Normally when I see Ack Ack I upvote but this is one of the Kardashian so no upvote from me.

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#66

Who Wants To Play A Game?? Happy Halloween

Who Wants To Play A Game?? Happy Halloween

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Kika González
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There were two that would rather be self absorbed than part of the team

#69

Adriana And Chris In Sopranos

Adriana And Chris In Sopranos

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#70

Cher

Cher

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Max Thompson
Community Member
2 years ago

This comment has been deleted.

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#71

Olivia Rodrigo In The "Good 4 U" Video

Olivia Rodrigo In The "Good 4 U" Video

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#72

The "She's So Crazzzzzzzzy!" Meme

The "She's So Crazzzzzzzzy!" Meme

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#73

A Representative From Grogu’s Publicity Team Has Issued A Statement Regarding The Paparazzi Photos Taken Last Night:‘Grogu Aka Baby Yoda Aka The Child Has No Recollection Of These Events. In Fact, These Events Never Happened *jedi Hand Wave*

A Representative From Grogu’s Publicity Team Has Issued A Statement Regarding The Paparazzi Photos Taken Last Night:‘Grogu Aka Baby Yoda Aka The Child Has No Recollection Of These Events. In Fact, These Events Never Happened *jedi Hand Wave*

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#74

Hailey Bieber As Britney

Hailey Bieber As Britney

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#75

Normani

Normani

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#76

Lil Kim

Lil Kim

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#77

You Wanted To See It, So Here's My Full Micolash Costume For Halloween!

You Wanted To See It, So Here's My Full Micolash Costume For Halloween!

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#78

This Nsfw Meme

This Nsfw Meme

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#79

Dani And Bear In Midsommar

Dani And Bear In Midsommar

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#80

The Picture Wall In La

The Picture Wall In La

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#82

Ariana Grande As The Creature From Creature From The Black Lagoon

Ariana Grande As The Creature From Creature From The Black Lagoon

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#83

Lady Gaga And Beyoncé In The "Telephone" Video

Lady Gaga And Beyoncé In The "Telephone" Video

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#84

The Meteor/Meatier Meme

The Meteor/Meatier Meme

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#85

Beyoncé At Coachella

Beyoncé At Coachella

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Supernatural
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Anyone else find this a little unsettling? A bit like those childrens beauty pageants that are just plain creepy....

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#87

Have You Ever Seen Such A Beautiful Night?

Have You Ever Seen Such A Beautiful Night?

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#88

It’s The Bear Necessities Of Life

It’s The Bear Necessities Of Life

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