Google’s Top Trending Halloween Costumes Are Here: ‘Obsession’ and ‘The Odyssey’ Join Unicorns and Squishy Toys
Halloween has transformed into an annual celebration of pop culture, with the costumes people search for reflecting their viewing, gaming, and scrolling habits from the past year. With Halloween approaching on Saturday, October 31, the quest for the perfect costume is officially underway.
Last year’s top searches featured ‘KPop Demon Hunters’, with characters like Rumi, Zoey, Mira, Jinu, and Baby Saja dominating Google’s rankings. However, this year’s trends showcase a different landscape, with horror, video games, and internet phenomena taking center stage.
On October 14, Google unveiled its annual Frightgeist site, revealing a diverse array of top trending costume searches. The list includes Nikki from ‘Obsession’, Agamemnon from ‘The Odyssey’, Buddy the Unicorn, Lily Lovebraids from ‘Poppy Playtime’, Oliver Tree, Verity from ‘Minecraft’, Carl from ‘Dungeon Crawler Carl’, Disco Scooby-Doo, NeeDoh, and Hazel Hook from ‘Descendants’. According to Google, horror movie characters, beloved TV and movie figures, and country legends are leading the charts, alongside some unconventional choices.
Nikki from ‘Obsession’ stands out as a prime example of a film making waves in costume culture. Curry Barker’s film, produced on a $750,000 budget, has grossed over $500 million globally, and Inde Navarrette’s portrayal of Nikki has sparked memes and viral moments. Her costume is relatively easy to recreate, featuring a red-and-black zebra-striped top, fake blood, and a wild grin, with NBCUniversal even offering official costumes for Nikki and Bear.
Buddy the Unicorn is the cheerful mascot from Casper Kelly’s horror film ‘Buddy’, while Lily Lovebraids is a toy-turned-villain from ‘Poppy Playtime: Chapter 5’. This aligns with another trend highlighted by Google, as mascot horror films and gothic horror movies rank among this year’s top trending searches.
Buddy the Unicorn leads Google’s list of the top trending new Halloween costumes for 2026:
1: Buddy the Unicorn from ‘Buddy’
2: NeeDoh
3: Nikki from ‘Obsession’
4: Agamemnon from ‘The Odyssey’
5: Lily Lovebraids from ‘Poppy Playtime’
6: Oliver Tree
7: Verity from a ‘Minecraft’ mod
8: Carl from ‘Dungeon Crawler Carl’
9: Disco-themed Scooby-Doo
10: Hazel Hook from ‘Descendants’
(Source: @Variety)— Geek Vibes Nation (@GeekVibesNation) October 14, 2026
Agamemnon from Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’ is the most intricate costume on the list. Benny Safdie’s armor drew comparisons to Batman’s suit when the trailer was released, and Nolan explained to Time that his research into Bronze Age records inspired a blackened bronze design. The costume designer aimed to convey Agamemnon’s elevated status compared to others.
This makes it a challenging costume to replicate. A recent roundup labeled it as advanced, perfect for those willing to invest significant effort into achieving a Greek warrior appearance.
The remaining entries reflect the fragmented nature of pop culture today. Verity is a viral ‘Minecraft’ horror web series and alternate reality game created by YouTuber ThatMob, which gained traction in July. Carl from ‘Dungeon Crawler Carl’ is based on Matt Dinniman’s book series about a former Coast Guardsman and his cat, which Peacock is adapting, and Spirit Halloween already offers an officially licensed Carl costume featuring his heart-print shorts.
Hazel Hook, the daughter of Captain Hook, comes from ‘Descendants: Wicked Wonderland’. Musician Oliver Tree makes the list due to his unique visual style, while Disco Scooby-Doo proves that the classic cartoon character remains timeless. NeeDoh, a squishy toy by Schylling, is perhaps the most unexpected entry, though its Nice Cube version is widely recognized.
Retailers are observing a similar trend in pop culture. Spirit Halloween’s trend report highlights looks from ‘Off Campus’, followed by favorites from ‘Toy Story 5’ and ‘KPop Demon Hunters’, with Greek-inspired gods and warriors also strong contenders. The chain has opened a record 1,575 stores this season, and Americans are expected to spend $13.5 billion on Halloween, according to the National Retail Federation.
The key takeaway is that a costume no longer needs to originate from a blockbuster franchise. A cult horror hit, a viral Minecraft narrative, a squishy toy, and a Nolan epic can all share the spotlight, making this one of the most unpredictable Halloween seasons in years.
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