If you’re looking for book Halloween costume ideas, you’ve come to the right place! These ideas are all based on books/comics that have been at the center of pop culture in the past year or so.

These book character costumes are mostly inspired by books/comics that have been turned into TV shows/movies recently. Everyone loves current pop culture references for costumes! There are obviously a ton of classic famous literary characters like Sherlock Holmes, Harry Potter, Indiana Jones, etc. that won’t be featured on this list because others are more relevant for 2024.

13 Book Halloween Costume Ideas

1. Bridgerton 

Although the plot of season 3 of Bridgerton fell a little flat, the outfits on this show never let us down. There are two routes you can take for your Bridgerton Halloween Costume. You could go the route of emulating a specific character from the show, but you could also just put together an amazing Regency Era look in homage to the books/show.

Vintage ballgowns, feathers, statement costume necklaces, elbow length gloves, are all easy items that can be found in nearly every frame of Bridgerton! For the gents, tailcoats, breeches and knee high socks will create a perfect Regency era look.

2. Dune 

Another one of the most popular releases of 2024 was Dune II. The characters in Dune all have a very specific look, and Dune II gave us even more signature character aesthetics. Feyd Rautha and Princess Irulan were great new introductions to the franchise, and of course you can’t go wrong with Paul Atreides, Lady Jessica, or Chani.

3. Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes

About a decade ago, there was a Katniss costume at every Halloween party. Now, the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes can provide some new costume ideas in the Hunger Games universe. The people who live in the Capitol are known for their wacky looks that would be perfect for Halloween. Coriolanus Snow, Tigris Snow, and Lucky Flickerman would all make great costumes. But, we can’t forget about the standout character miss Lucy Gray Baird.

4. Fire and Blood

While the second season of House of the Dragon wasn’t as strong as the first, there is no doubt the characters in the Game of Thrones universe are easily recognizable and would make for great costumes! The Targaryens are easy to represent, but this show allows for great options for group/couples costumes as well.

5. Wicked

While the Wicked movie doesn’t come out until after Halloween, it is one of the most anticipated releases of the year. Glinda and Elphaba have been iconic for decades, and there are sure to be tons of options for costumes for their characters this year. Even if you don’t dress as the two main witches, the rest of the characters in the Wizard of Oz world would be all the more relevant this year because of the movie release.

6. Deadpool x Wolverine

Marvel characters always make awesome halloween costumes, but a movie that is a cross between two major characters presents an even more perfect opportunity for a group/couple costume! Not only are Deadpool and Wolverine immediately recognizable, the celebrity cameos in this movie make for some additional awesome costume ideas.

7. My Lady Jane

My Lady Jane unfortunately did not get picked up for a new season, but it is such a fun show based on an exceptionally fun book. The show/book takes place in the Elizabethan Era (which gives a different opportunity for an old world costume from a different era than Bridgerton!) The clothing in this era was much more intricate than in Regency Era, so this is a fun option if you want to make a grand impression! Since this era is well known for Henry XIIIs rule, going as his 6 wives would make a great group costume!

8. Daisy Jones and the Six

If you’re looking for something closer to modern day but still vintage, Daisy Jones and the Six is the perfect choice! 70s fashion always makes for great costumes and there are a bunch of characters in this show that all have signature looks. This would make another great solo or group costume option.

9. Damsel

While Damsel wasn’t exactly a critical success for Netflix, the movie presents a great opportunity for a princess costume with an edge. The main character starts out as a damsel in distress but ends up rescuing herself and her kingdom. If you’re looking for a costume that is giving modern day Joan of Arc, this is it.

10. Argylle

Another movie that did not end up being a box office success was Argylle. Argylle does however have some really memorable characters with looks that would make for great costumes. The all star cast in the film definitely helps solidify its pop culture standing.

11. Umbrella Academy

The final season of Umbrella Academy came out in August and there are tons of costume options for fans of this show. Five is certainly one of the most notable characters on the show, but get a fake muscle shirt and you could make a great Luther Hargreeves, or go outside the box and dress up as one of the rivals of Sparrow Academy. There are tons of great options and inspo in the photo below!

12. The Boys

While we’re on the super hero topic, we have to talk about The Boys. All of the super heroes have their own look to them so this is another option for an epic group costume. You probably even have all the items you need in your closet to dress up as Billy Butcher or Hughie Campbell if you didn’t want to take the super hero route! Check out the photo below for inspiration.

13. Wonka

Even though Wonka came out last year, this is a costume and a world that will never fail to bring out some amazing costumes. There are familiar characters like oompa loompas and of course Willy Wonka himself, but new characters like those in the chocolate cartel would also make for great costumes. This is also a great opportunity to get creative and even dress up as different kinds of candy seen in the film!

I hope you enjoyed these book halloween costume ideas based on some popular book characters, Happy Halloween!