Props to you, buddy. You’re clearly the better most motivated half of your couple if you’re reading this—or at least the most strategic when it comes to finding the best couple’s Halloween costumes that won’t suck eggs, and also won’t cost you hundreds of dollars.
The world just doesn’t really need another ketchup-and-mustard duo, does it? You can throw down the same amount of money for a couple’s costume that pays homage to some of the best movies, TV shows, and cult Halloween characters instead, especially now that 90s nostalgia has come full circle and A24 consistently gives us so much creepy-meets-aesthetic cosplay fodder. Remember the H-Ween of Midsommar flower crowns? There was no better way to subtly roast your partner that year than by sticking them in a bear suit.
This year, we’re looking to some of our favorite David Lynch movies, Woody Harrelson characters, and undying love of Space Jam for inspiration. We’ve got plenty of costumes that you can assemble with just a few strategic Amazon additions (Daria needs her round glasses, after all) or that come fully assembled for the truly lazy, because, same. Whether your relationship is romantic, platonic, or a situationship—the truest fright factor of the fall—here are some of the raddest, unique couple’s Halloween costumes to increase your coolness capital.
Welcome to the Space Jam
Ah, everyone’s favorite anthropomorphic basketball movie. It’s easy to find already-assembled Space Jam costumes online of Lola and Bugs Bunny, but you can also do a DIY version with some basic basketball fits and bunny ears.
Sailor and Lula from 'Wild at Heart'
We’ll take any excuse to create a Laura Dern and Nicholas Cage cosplay moment. David Lynch’s cult 90s movie put these two in soooo many sick outfits, but you’re going to want to go for the looks from the movie poster (and this scene); find a faux snakeskin jacket or button-down for Cage’s character, Sailor, and the pink dress worn by his lady love, Lula (played by Dern). Perfect a heavy-handed Elvis accent if you’re Sailor, and if you’re Lula, get ready to repeat the line, “This whole world is wild at heart and weird on top” in red lipstick.
For all the alt 90s kids, Daria and Jane
This really is the perfect couple’s costume for Gen Xers and older millennials who still have pairs of combat boots floating around. There are loads of pre-made Daria costumes on the web, and you can also find plenty of Daria-ready black glasses and skirts. Her equally iconic BFF Jane isn’t as ubiquitous on the H-Ween circuit, but her look is just as easy to create with a red blazer and the right wig.
You’re an A24 ho
Midsommar has been played out at this point, so why not pay homage to The Lighthouse? Super creepy, and super H-ween appropriate. Just dress up as either Robert Pattinson and Willem Dafoe’s unhinged sailor characters, or Pattison/Dafoe and a seaweed tangled mermaid from *that* scene. Pipe and farting optional, but preferred.
Mickey and Mallory Knox
The cult 90s movie Natural Born Killers follows the misadventures of a psychopathic, serial killer couple, which means it was basically made for Halloween. Why else would the film’s stylist have given Woody Harrelson’s character, Mickey, those red-tinted shades, or Juliette Lewis (who plays Mallory) such a rad crop top? For Mickey’s most iconic look, all you need is an all-white ensemble, a chonky belt, some fake blood, and those red shades.
If you’re dressing up as Mallory, you can either go for her sundress “marriage” scene outfit, or her low-rise pants and crop-top combo:
For a super easy costume, do Georgie and Pennywise
You could really pull this off with the bare minimum of a yellow raincoat for Georgie, and some Pennywise face paint/a mask for your creepier, better half. If you do want to add in a few more finishing touches, recreate Georgie’s boat toy with some paper, and give the clown a ruffled shirt.
Woke up this morning and you had some gabagool
Everyone is losing it with opinions over The Many Saints of Newark right now, and will be for the rest of October. No matter what you thought of the latest ~Soprano story~ we can all agree that prima di tuuuuutti, the most iconic duo from the franchise, next to Tony and Camilla, is Tony and his [gestures in Italian] gabagool. Also, we will use any excuse to invest in more Sicilian mobster-appropriate bowling shirts (though you might need to trim your wig down a bit).
TBH the gabagool has the coziest fit for the eve:
Wishing you and yours a bloody, fruit-by-the-foot-filled H-Ween.
The Rec Room staff independently selected all of the stuff featured in this story. Want more reviews, recommendations, and red-hot deals? Sign up for our newsletter.