Halloween Costume Trends Through the Years

Over the past three decades Halloween costumes have taken cues from Hollywood.

ByABC News
October 27, 2016, 6:39 AM

— -- Hollywood and Halloween have long gone hand in hand, with popular costumes inspired by some of Hollywood's top box office hits and celebrities over the past three decades.

Back in 1983, Princess Leia's iconic gold bikini captured the attention of everyone who saw “Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi,” and immediately became a hot Halloween costume of choice.

One year later, the horror film “A Nightmare on Elm Street” produced one of Hollywood’s, and Halloween’s, most frightful characters: mass murderer Freddy Krueger.

In 1988, costumers donned long black wigs in a nod to horror hostess Elvira in the comedy “Elvira: Mistress of the Dark.”

The early 90's prompted kids to kick butt and dress like their favorite TV show counterparts from “Sailor Moon,” “Power Rangers” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.”

From glow-in-the-dark to streaked with blood, variations of the mask from “Scream” went on the market after the film hit theaters in 1996.

“Star Wars” made a comeback in 1999, after Natalie Portman’s portrayal of the young Queen Amidala in “Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.”

By the millennium, everyone wore velour suits and said, “Yeah baby,” as the second Austin Powers film, “The Spy Who Shagged Me,” boosted the character’s popularity.

Scallywag Captain Jack Sparrow made his film debut in 2003’s “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” and out on the streets on Halloween.

Lady Gaga’s over the top looks, from her music videos to her walks on the red carpet, gave costumers lots to choose from as they channeled their inner "monster" and her unique apparel in 2010.

MTV's hit reality show "Jersey Shore," led to a "GTL" (Gym Tan Laundry) themed 2011. Fans of the show emulated Snooki, Mike “The Situation” and the rest of the crew.

Disney princesses and other characters have long been represented by little kids on Halloween, and 2014 saw an incredible amount of "Frozen" inspired Princess Anna and Princess Elsa costumes.

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