What will you be for Halloween 2025? Popular costumes range from spooky to superhuman

For 4-year-old Zane Thomas, going up and down the aisles of the Halloween Megastore was like being a kid in a candy store.

There were costumes for spooky ghosts, firefighters, soldiers, Dalmatian dogs, coyotes, Hulk Hogan — and somehow, Zane wanted to be all of them.

Last year for Halloween he was one of the "PAW Patrol" puppies, but this year his mother, Kaylie Wilson, was giving him more freedom to choose.

The mother-and-son duo from New Smyrna Beach recently did some early browsing for ideas, and Wilson said she secretly hoped Zane might settle on a "101 Dalmatians" costume so she could be Cruella de Vil, the notorious villain from the Disney movie, alongside him.

Welcome to the Halloween Megastore in Daytona Beach, where every day (at least September through October) is Halloween. The pop-up store at 1601 W. International Speedway Blvd. is stocked with a dizzying array of dress-up options, from the spectacularly macabre to the downright silly (hotdog in a bun suit anyone?)

Pyro, the store manager of the Halloween Megastore, poses in front of a wall of "Scream" masks as she talks about the wide variety of costumes the store has to offer, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. The shop is located at 1610 W. International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona.

"We literally have hundreds and hundreds of costumes," said Pyro, the store manager. "And I always say, if we don't have it here, we can make it."

So what's hot on shelves for this year?

Pyro said in a Sept. 30 interview that she thought it was too early to say what the most popular costumes would be this fall but, in general, "It's always scary, superheroes, ghost faces, skimpy costumes (for women) and lately, the Tik-Tok trend of (dressing like it's) the 2000s."

What are popular Halloween costumes for 2025?

Some of the trendiest costumes each year are often a nod to pop culture.

For example, among the costumes the chain store Spirit Halloween has predicted to be the most popular for 2025 are K-Pop Demon Hunters, Wednesday Addams and characters like Glinda and Elphaba from the soon-to-be-released sequel to "Wicked," according to a story published on Better Homes & Gardens' website.

As for the early 2000s idea, a trip to a thrift shop for low-rise jeans, velour tracksuits or chunky sneakers should make it easy enough to pull off. But Pyro said customers have also asked for pre-made costumes that reflect what was hot in pop culture at that time. There's no lack of inspo there — how about dressing up as a character in "Miss Congeniality," "Mean Girls" and "Napoleon Dynamite," or even JLo at the 2000 Grammy awards (remember the green Versace dress with the plunging neckline)?

What are scary Halloween costumes for 2025?

Pyro said the ghost face from the movie "Scream," like years past, will be a top-seller. And again, K-Pop Demon Hunters, Wednesday Addams and the Wicked Witch of the West from "Wicked" will all give spooky vibes.

What are superhero Halloween costumes for 2025?

HalloweenCostumes.com says characters from "The Fantastic Four" movie, which had a sequel in July, will be popular choices, such The Thing, The Human Torch and Sue Storm (also a good option for groups).

Classics like Thor, Deadpool, Superman, Wonder Woman, Harley Quinn and Green Arrow may also be found among the crowd of superheroes at any costume party, according to CostumeWall.com.

What are popular DIY Halloween costumes?

Say you were set on one particular off-the-shelf costume and it was either sold out or not in your size? Or maybe, you just can't find that certain something pre-made?

Either way, there are lots of do-it-yourself costumes you can throw together with a few things around the house and a little creativity.

Pyro said accessories are where it's at to pull an idea together on the fly.

"We've got wigs, jewelry, hats, makeup — you name it — and we can make it happen," said Pyro.

For some inspiration, check out this list of "93 Quick Halloween Costumes" from Today.com, which includes a bunch of items you can easily transform into such as a paper doll, a boba soda, a Barbie doll in a box and a box of ramen noodles.

"That's what people look for — to be something or someone else — for the day," said Pyro.

(This story was updated to clarify information attributed to Pyro).

This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: What will you be for Halloween 2025? Popular costumes range from spooky to superhuman