Movie characters often wear absurd and humorous costumes to attend parties, and in some cases these looks can become more iconic than their everyday clothes. Not all movies can pull off a funny costume, since the jokes have to work in-universe and on-screen. This strips away the layer of ironic detachment that many comedies use, in which the characters don’t know that what they’re doing is funny.
Funny movie costumes mostly show up in comedies, since there aren’t many dramas which can spend time on a joke or a costume party. However, it’s often the case that these are exactly the types of movies which provide the best opportunities for a funny costume, because audiences aren’t expecting it, so it has even more of an impact. Some surprisingly emotional dramas have had funny character costumes just like comedies.
10Viago’s Blade Costume
What We Do in the Shadows (2014)
BeforeWhat We Do in the Shadowswas one of the funniest shows on TV, it was one of the funniest comedy movies of the 2010s. Taika Waititi andFlight of the Conchordsmember Jemaine Clement wrote and directed the vampire mockumentary together, and they also star as two of the vampires sharing a living space in Wellington, New Zealand. The plot focuses on the preparations for the “Unholy Masquerade,” a ball that invites vampires, zombies, and other ghoulish characters for a night to remember.
While deciding upon their attire for the Unholy Masquerade, Taika Waititi’s Viago steps out in a full Blade costume. Deacon quickly admonishes him for such an insensitive costume choice, since a vampire hunter isn’t exactly what a room full of vampires would want to see. Viago’s costume is also funny becausethe shiny leather is such a radical departure from his usual wardrobe, which is firmly rooted in the 17th century.
9Trillian’s Charles Darwin Costume
The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy (2005)
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxyis an adaptation of Douglas Adams' beloved sci-fi novel of the same name, and it remains something of an underrated gem. It could have and should have kickstarted an entire franchise, but 19 years later there are still no sequels. The movie stars Martin Freeman and Zooey Deschanel as two humans who get wrapped up in an absurd intergalactic adventure, but they meet at a costume party on Earth. Her costume is only slightly less esoteric.
Arthur first meets Trillian at a costume party where he is dressed as Henry Morton Stanley. Her costume is only slightly less esoteric.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxystarts out as a fairly grounded comedy, with Arthur’s life on Earth being set up before he is whisked away to space. He first meets Trillian at a costume party where he is dressed as Henry Morton Stanley, the explorer who found Dr. Livingstone in modern-day Tanganyika. Her costume is only slightly less esoteric as she dons a long gray beard to personify Charles Darwin, complete with a toy beagle to hint at Darwin’s ship, the HMS Beagle.It’s always funny to see characters eschewing the stereotypical sexy costumes in favor of something frumpy and hard to identify.
8Julian’s Kangaroo Outfit
Big Daddy (1999)
Big Daddyis one ofAdam Sandler’s funniest movies. It gives his comedic manchild persona the responsibility of raising a child of his own, and his unorthodox approach to parenting is consistently hilarious. Like most of Sandler’s comedies,Big Daddywas met with a slew of negative reviews, but it remains a delight for his fans. Dylan and Cole Sprouse share the role of Julian, and they show that they can get as many laughs as their adult co-stars.
Like most of Sandler’s comedies,Big Daddywas met with a slew of negative reviews, but it remains a delight for his fans.
As part of Sonny’s new parenting responsibilities, he decides to take Julian trick-or-treating on Halloween for the first time ever. When he rings the doorbell of a man who rudely rejects him, Sonny decides that the best course of action is to break into his house and essentially rob him so that Julian can get the treats he deserves.Julian is dressed in a bulky kangaroo costume, complete with boxing gloves, based on one of his favorite characters. This is a subtle way of showing how much Sonny cares about him, since making the costume wouldn’t have been easy, but it shows a genuine love and attention to detail.
7Meructio’s Drag Outfit
Romeo + Juliet (1996)
All the costumes inRomeo + Julietare exquisite, and they help bring Baz Luhrmann’s modern adaptation to life. It may be an unusual adaptation, but it’s one of thebestRomeo and Julietmoviesever, since it updates the story for a modern audience while maintaining most of what makes the tragedy so heartbreaking. One of the most famous scenes is the Capulet ball, which Luhrmann envisions as a lavish costume party.
The costume is already funny, but what really sells the scene is Harold Perrineau’s splashy, exuberant performance.
While Romeo’s knight costume and Juliet’s angel outfit are probably the most iconic,there are plenty of costumes which reveal how the characters see themselves.Tybalt is dressed as a seductive devil, while Capulet wears the finery of a Roman Emperor, or perhaps Bacchus the god of wine. Mercutio, ever the entertainer, takes the chance to wear an opulent drag look with glittering lingerie and a cape. The costume is already funny, but what really sells the scene is Harold Perrineau’s splashy, exuberant performance. He makes Mercutio a lovable character, which lends extra weight to his eventual death scene.
6Karen’s Mouse Costume
Mean Girls (2004)
The big punchline in theMean Girlscostume party scene is Cady’s arrival as a zombie bride, or an"ex-wife"as she puts it. However, once again,Karen manages to steal the scene by doing very little. Aside from having to be dissuaded from flirting with her cousin, Karen also has the funniest costume at the party. Cady explains that women use Halloween to wear revealing outfits while half-heartedly pretending they’re dressed as animals. Karen sums this up with her mouse ears.
Mean Girlsis full of great quotes, and few are as memorable or funny as Karen’s"I’m a mouse… duh.“The irony of Karen thinking she’s more intelligent than anyone else is hilarious, especially since she seizes the opportunity to talk down to her friend. The 2024Mean Girlsmusical remake builds on the Halloween party scene with one of the movie’s most memorable songs, “Sexy”.
5Keith’s Octopus Costume
Love Actually (2003)
Love Actuallystill holds a place as one of thebest Christmas movies, even if some of its romantic storylines have come under increased scrutiny in recent years. One such storyline is the relationship between David, the British Prime Minister, and Natalie, his personal assistant. The power imbalance is questionable by today’s standards, butit’s hard to deny the endearing sweetness of their blossoming love for one another.
It’s an absurd subplot that questions the Hollywood endings of most other romcoms.
Like many of Richard Curtis' other movies,Love Actuallythrows plenty of hilarious obstacles in the path of its lovers. Just as David realizes his true feelings for Natalie and rushes over to her house to profess his love, he has to squeeze into a car with her and her younger brother, who is dressed as an octopus for a school nativity play that has far too many characters. It’s an absurd subplot that questions the Hollywood endings of most other romcoms.
4Bridget’s Bunny Costume
Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
Bridget Jones’s Diaryhelped bring the obscure British tradition of the"tarts and vicars"party to an international audience, except Bridget doesn’t get the memo that the party’s theme has been abandoned. This leaves Bridget as the only guest dressed in a provocative bunny costume, surrounded by the friends of her parents in far more respectable and conservative outfits. Her father also misses the change of plans, but his vicar costume is not as much of a problem.
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Coincidentally, 2001 also saw the release ofLegally Blonde, in which Elle Woods wears a bunny outfit to a party where nobody else is in costume.The key difference is that Elle Woods is the victim of a cruel prank inLegally Blonde, while Bridget’s mishap is a result of sheer bad luck. Furthermore, she is being humiliated in front of her parents' friends, not a room full of her more sympathetic college classmates like Elle Woods.
3Daniel’s Shower Costume
The Karate Kid (1984)
Daniel’s shower costume is one of the comedic highlights ofThe Karate Kid,and it highlights that the martial arts classic is a coming-of-age movie first and foremost. Although the plot obviously revolves around Daniel’s karate training and his rivalry with the Cobra Kai dojo, there are a lot of scenes which deepen his relationship with Ali. Scenes like the Halloween party are essential to raise the emotional stakes.
Daniel’s shower costume is one of the comedic highlights ofThe Karate Kid,and it highlights that the martial arts classic is a coming-of-age movie.
The shower costume offers Daniel a great way to hide in plain sight, but he can’t resist getting himself into trouble, and he incurs the wrath of the Cobra Kai dojo by spraying Johnny with water. At this point, the bulky, impractical costume becomes more of a hindrance than a help. After his appearances in theCobra Kaispinoff show, Ralph Macchio is set to return forKarate Kid: Legendsin 2025.
2E.T.’s Ghost Costume
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrialremains one of Steven Spielberg’s best movies, and it’s a perfect encapsulation of his penchant for mixing the spectacular with the sentimental. E.T. may come from a distant planet, but Spielberg makes him seem relatable and endearing. He often acts more like a pet or a child than most mainstream depictions of alien life. The scene when Elliott and his friends disguise E.T. in a Halloween costume to move him to the woods should be tense, but it’s also surprisingly funny.
George Lucas repaid Steven Spielberg’s tribute to Yoda inStar Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace.Members of E.T.’s species briefly appear as representatives in the Senate.
Spielberg uses a few POV shots to show the world from E.T.’s eyes beneath the sheet. This makes the whole plan seem even more risible, especially when E.T. comes face-to-face with a child dressed as Yoda, who had only appeared for the first time inThe Empire Strikes Backtwo years earlier. E.T. is such a cute character that he somehow seems endearing even when he’s entirely covered by a sheet. This draws more focus to his shuffling style of movement.
1Scout’s Ham Costume
To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)
To Kill a Mockingbirdis a serious drama about two children growing up in a town divided by a politicized court case. It’s the last movie that should have a funny costume, and this is exactly what makes Scout’s Halloween ham outfit so amusing. The impractical costume restricts her movement and her vision, and it’s helpfully labeled in capital letters in case anyone needed some help identifying what it’s supposed to be.
The ham costume isn’t played for laughs inTo Kill a Mockingbird.In fact, the way it restricts Scout is a vital plot point when she and her brother are attacked by Bob Ewell in the woods. It isn’t supposed to be funny, and that’s part of what makes it so hilarious. There’s something undeniably humorous about seeing Scout struggling to get up while dressed as a massive ham.Fortunately, the inadvertent comedy of the costume doesn’t detract from the movie’s many strengths, and it’s still a classic.
