16 Halloween Costumes for People Who Don’t Want to Be ‘Barbenheimer’

Halloween is nearly here, and the pressure is on for those who aren't content with one of the thousands of Barbie and Ken costume options.

Of course, we all want to see the streets of America transformed into the literal streets of Barbieland, and we're sure to see plenty of film bro takes on Oppenheimer.

But this year also provided countless pop culture moments worth paying homage to, from the gay icons that are Sewer Boys to a pro-union Fran Fine and an absentee Annabelle Bronstein.

This Halloween, feel free to use some of these costume ideas from The Messenger staff.

Bra Collector Drake

After being hit by a phone a fan threw on stage on the opening night of his It's All a Blur Tour, Drake told his fans, "If you're gonna throw sh-- up here, just make it bras only please." And they came through. The rapper shared a photo of the massive collection of bras thrown on stage throughout the tour, posing in front of them with his arms outstretched. His dad even gifted him a bra the size of his body as a prank. "If this is real, don't know if I even wanna see them 'cause then I'll believe that aliens exist," said Drake on stage.

To pull off this look, all you need to do is braid your hair, throw on a pair of jeans, and round up some bras. (Bonus points if you can find Drake's "If assholes could fly, this place would be an airport" jersey.)

Alternatively, order the same six-foot custom bra Drake's dad gifted him and walk around holding it up in awe. There's still time to reach out to Toronto-based designer Zoba Martin for your own.

- Taylor Henderson

'Jackie-Fruit' From Yellowjackets

It's gonna be a long winter, so get toasty now in this tribute to one of TV's most shocking moments of the year.

Although the Yellowjackets cast told People that jackfruit was used in the cannibal scene for their late teammate Jackie Taylor (Ella Purnell), skip the produce and just beat your mug with some charred-looking makeup.

Top it off with some singed '90s casual threads from your local thrift store and an official Yellowjackets letterman jacket. Your friends are sure to eat it right up!

- Glenn Garner

Britney Spears' Prop Knife Routine

Britney caused quite a stir when she played with knives on Instagram last month. But after a wellness check, the pop icon assured her fans they were just prop knives.

For this look, pair your cutest peasant top with some bikini bottoms and accessorize with a choker. For full authenticity, hit up Hand Prop Room, the actual prop shop Spears supported for her now legendary dance.

- Glenn Garner

Rihanna's Halftime Pregnancy Reveal

Rihanna stunned the Super Bowl LVII crowd in February with a halftime performance showing off her signature stage moves, repertoire of hits and…oops, could that be a third party on board?

To sport her look (even if you aren't expecting a little pumpkin this fall), simply shop for an all-red ensemble consisting of a leotard, loose/comfy pants, and an oversized jacket you can coyly open and close to reveal as much or little as you like. Bonus points if you can convince your squad to trail you in matching white outfits.

- Wendy Geller

The Sewer Boys From Dicks: The Musical

The Sewer Boys are gay culture! What better costume than Backpack and Whisper, the breakout stars of A24's Dicks: The Musical, to show your friends just how messy you're ready to get this Halloween?

All you need is a diaper, a bald cap, some store-bought makeup and a whole lot of self-confidence. If going as a couple, carry around lunch meat to chew and spit at each other's faces... the A24 crowd will get it.

- Glenn Garner

Chiefs VIP Suite Taylor

Want to be the MVP of Halloween? Become a Kansas City Chiefs superfan just like Taylor Swift. We studied her gorgeous game-day look and quickly learned the outfit must include an off-the-shoulder Chiefs jacket from Erin Andrews' line.

As for accessories, we're enchanted to see the Grammy winner drinking Travis Kelce's Casa Azul tequila soda and eating chicken tenders with a side of Heinz's ketchup and seemingly ranch inside her VIP suite. It's a love story, baby, just say 'yes' to this style. 

- Mike Vulpo

Union Leader Nanny

The Screen Actors Guild (SAG-AFTRA) is still on strike, so if you’ve got the hair (or just the flair) for it, why not take a turn as SAG president Fran Drescher? Although the Nanny star’s real-life strike look is a bit too nondescript to be costume-worthy, fans can track down a rainbow gown and golden stole similar to her look on The Nanny’s famous 1994 "The Strike" episode.

Tease and spray your locks to the ceiling, add dangling earrings…and don’t forget to memorize the classic passage: "My mother had three rules: Never make contact with a public toilet, never ever ever cross a picket line, and —what was the third one? Oh yeah, never wear musk oil to the zoo."

- Wendy Geller

Ariana DeBose's BAFTA Rap Look

So, you don’t want to dress up like Barbie, but your favorite color still happens to be pink? Ariana DeBose has got you.

The West Side Story actress went viral with her freestyle rap celebrating female nominees at the 76th British Academy Film Awards in February — and to mimic her look, all you'll need is a hot pink jumpsuit, a mic in one hand, and the attitude to "do the thing." Your friends will surely be calling you their "woman king."

- Wendy Geller

Waffle House Worker Lana Del Rey

Looking for a last-minute costume? Order up Lana Del Ray's viral Waffle House style. Put your hair in a bun, bust out a blue button-down and wear some gloves before you serve looks and breakfast essentials on Halloween night. Include a Waffle House name tag on your shirt and prepare to receive generous tips — or at least some extra candy.

- Mike Vulpo

Sidney Prescott on Vacation

Although Hollywood didn't give Neve Campbell her due this time around, Scream fans can still show their appreciation for her "final girl" character Sidney Prescott. This costume imagines how she was living her best life while Ghostface chopped everybody up in Scream VI.

For the look, you need only to pick your favorite version of Sidney and add a straw hat and a lei, then carry around a fruity cocktail with an umbrella. Don't forget to put that phone on airplane mode, you earned this vacation!

- Glenn Garner

Kevin James' King of Queens Meme

Keep it casual and comfortable when you dress as Kevin James' King of Queens character Doug Heffernan in this promo shot that the internet dug up and turned into a viral meme.

All you need is a dark cotton shirt to wear underneath an unbuttoned, pocketed flannel (perfect for the chilly fall weather) paired with your best denim blue jeans. The outfit will work best if you keep you hands in your jean pockets, shrug your shoulders and shyly smirk as often as possible. The more you look like you just stepped out of the late '90s, the better.

- Jenna Fanelli

Naked Attraction Contestant

If you want to emulate the scandalous British dating show that's taken the world by storm, you need a tall box in a bright color. You can paint the box all one color, or do a gradient with bright color on the edges and your skin color in the middle to give the illusion of it being opaque. Wear the box over bare legs.

For an extra bit of fun, you could slowly lift the box a little higher over the course of the night, but that might be tough on your arms.

- Lauren Piester

Todd 'Chants' Gregory From Jury Duty

If you're looking for a DIY costume that will really have your friends howling, you can channel the oddly inventive Todd from Jury Duty and harness a couple of small crutches to your bottom as Chants (a.k.a. Chair Pants). Bonus points if you find a friend to sport a Jorf t-shirt.

- Amanda Bell

Ariana Madix's Revenge Dress

Jaws were dropped when Ariana Madix showed up to the post-Scandoval Vanderpump Rules reunion in a daring, revealing, skin-tight bright red number that became instantly iconic.

While most of us don't have a couple thousand extra bucks to drop on the MONOT look (which is actually a jacket and skirt), the vibe is what's important. You can achieve a similar mic drop with some creative cutting of a red, cropped long sleeve shirt (like this one) and a long red maxi skirt (like this one).

- Lauren Piester

Cocaine Bear

This costume seems pretty self-explanatory, but let's not go racking up any unnecessary drug charges this Halloween.

If you don't wanna spring for a full bear costume, just opt for a brown sweat suit and a bear ear beanie. And for cinematic quality fake cocaine, the pros have been known to use powdered milk and baking soda, which you can carry around in a gallon Ziploc bag (but we wouldn't recommend snorting it).

- Glenn Garner

Samantha 'Annabelle Bronstein' Jones From And Just Like That...

If you want to embody the biggest, briefest moment of And Just Like That Season 2 (and don’t want to be in a situation for even an hour where you're not enjoying yourself), here are a few options.

This is a costume that works best if you don't want to or can't attend a certain shindig. If you do want to make an appearance, you'll need a red dress, a shiny jacket, a lime green bag, as many bracelets as you can fit on your wrist, and a cell phone that stays glued to your ear at all times.

If you don't actually want to attend the party, forget the costume and just give the host a call with this script: "My flight's three hours delayed, Carrie! I won't be able to make it in time! I was going to surprise you! The fog finally lifted, but the crew maxed out. Oh, I am f---ing furious!"

Have them spend the whole party holding up their phone and letting Samantha say goodbye to their "f---ing fabulous, fabulous flat."

- Lauren Piester