10 Halloween Costume Ideas Inspired by the Movies of 2010

By Addie Strong
October 18, 2010

While everyone else is scrambling for last-minute costumes at Halloween megastores, skip the crowds and impress your friends with a more creative getup by channeling one of the year’s most popular movies. Here are a few do-it-yourself Halloween ensembles that you can easily put together with some great finds on eBay:

Avatar

Thanks to director James Cameron, the highest-grossing film of all time is also the inspiration for one of the most fun movie costume ideas of 2010. While you can't grow yourself an Avatar overnight, eBay can help you find some of the perfect Na'vi costume accessories to transform your look on Halloween.We found these from among 14,000+ listings with the term "Avatar."

Roll over items for details

Avatar

Cleopatra Braided Wig

(buy it now price, $20.64)

Sapphire Stick Rhinestones

(buy it now price, $3.99)

Spandex Blue Suit

(buy it now price, $16.99)

10 Halloween Costume Ideas Inspired by the Movies of 2010

(Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox)

A Cleopatra wig is the perfect stand-in for your Avatar’s braided and beaded ‘do.

Adhesive rhinestones will recreate the twinkly constellations seen on faces of the Na’vi.

Turn yourself blue in one easy step with the help of a full body suit costume. Just remember to cut a hole for your face and paint it blue, too!

The Town

There are plenty of things that you might find disturbing about Ben Affleck's latest crime-centric film "The Town," but the bank robbers' zombie and nun masks (worn as disguises during their heists) are probably the creepiest. In other words, they'll make a perfectly terrifying Halloween costume idea.

The Town

Nun "The Town" Movie Mask

(buy it now price, $39.95)

Skull Movie Mask

(buy it now price, $24.99)

Adidas Tricot Track Suit Jacket Pants

(buy it now price, $57.99)

(Photo courtesy of Warner Bros)

Who knew elderly nun masks could be the most spine-chilling ones we've ever seen?

And just in case that wasn't freaky enough for you, you can switch halfway through the night to the scary skull mask as seen in the film as well.

Doug MacRay, played by Ben Affleck, and his Charlestown, MA buddies wear tracksuits like a uniform during their downtime.

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

Much has changed in the eight years since Gordon Gekko went to prison for securities fraud. But has the jail time changed his antagonistic ways? Is greed still good? Well, it seems it is because total DVD and Movies sales on eBay for the original "Wall Street" have increased by over $7,000 this month compared to the last. Live the trend and dress up for Halloween as the pre-prison Gordon Gekko with some throwback finds from eBay.

Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps

Motorola Brick Phone

(buy it now price, $99.99)

Men's Gold Watch

(buy it now price, $165)

Holland & Sherry Blazer

(buy it now price, $69.99)

(Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox)

The last time Gordon Gekko held a cell phone, it was larger than his head. He collects the now-vintage piece when leaving jail. [Search terms: Motorola brick phone]

It's not a Rolex, but it'll give you that same flashy Gekko style with a much friendlier price tag.

In the new film, Gordon's character gets fit for a jacket made from Holland & Sherry fabric. Score one for yourself, too.

Alice in Wonderland

Two of Tim Burton's most awesome creations in this year's "Alice in Wonderland?" Johnny Depp's schizophrenic Mad Hatter and Helena Bonham Carter's otherworldly Queen of Hearts. Take a leap and fall down the rabbit hole yourself with these kooky Alice in Wonderland costumes. (Others seem to have the same idea, too: sales of items with the term Alice in Wonderland on eBay are up 65 percent in the past 30 days vs. the previous period.)

Alice in Wonderland

3 Spinning Pink Flamingo Birds Yard Ornament

(buy it now price, $14.86)

"Alice in Wonderland" Mad Hatter Hat with Hair

(buy it now price, $37.88)

Vintage Victoria's Secret Silk Robe

(buy it now price, $20)

(Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures)

Whichever character you choose, you're going to need a flamingo if you want to compete at croquet.

This two-in-one hat gives you Johnny Depp's orange Mad Hatter hair and his tall topper as well.

This sassy robe is fit for the Queen of Hearts. Not included? The Queen's giant head.

The Karate Kid

This year, you can have a current and a throwback Halloween costume in one when you dress up as the Karate Kid. Whether you're feeling more like Ralph Macchio or Jaden Smith, the costumes the same. Now you just have to perfect that roundhouse kick.

The Karate Kid

White Cotton Martial Arts Jacket

(buy it now price, $59.85)

Black Karate Pants

(buy it now price, $18.99)

Set of Four Checkered Bandana

(buy it now price, $6.95)

(Photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures)

Jaden wore a white kung fu shirt during a fight scene in this year's movie.

He paired it with a pair of black karate pants.

The black and white graphic print on this cotton bandana is a nice nod to 1984's “Karate Kid.”

Sex and the City 2

The ladies of the Big Apple jetted out of town in 2010 and took a girls trip to the Middle East. Sequins, fancy turbans and harem pants ensued. Luckily the fashion trends created by the SATC gals may never go out of style if DVD sales are any indication: total sales of “Sex and the City2” in eBay's DVDs and Movies section jumped 56% this month compared to the previous period.

Sex and the City 2

Knot Head Band

(buy it now price, $8.49)

Topshop Sequin Harem Pants

(buy it now price, $28)

J'adore Dior 8 T-Shirt

(buy it now price, $15.99)

(Photo courtesy of Warner Bros)

This knotted headband will give you the look of a turban but in a more versatile style. The key here is to wear it around your head, not on top.

Carrie would go gaga over these Topshop harem pants that are dripping in sequins.

We adore Dior, and so does Sara Jessica Parker, whose Carrie Bradshaw character wore a t-shirt like this one while in Abu Dhabi.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Part of the fun of Halloween is getting to pretend you're someone else for a night. What identity would be more fun to try on than that of heroine Lisbeth Salander, the tough, feisty, mysterious and tattooed computer hacker of Stieg Larsen's hit book series? Just make sure you bring the attitude to match the outfit.

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

Dragon Armband Temporary Tattoos

(buy it now price, $4.69)

Calf High Motorcycle Boots

(buy it now price, $139.99)

Pixie Girl Wig

(buy it now price, $10.50)

(Photo courtesy of Music Box Films)

Replicate Lisbeth's dragon ink with some temporary tats of your own.

These motorcycle boots will help transform you into Lisbeth, and they'll also be your go-to boots for fall.

Run your hands through this wig a few times to give it that messy look Lisbeth sports.

The Princess and the Frog

Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White — they've all been done so many times before. But Tiana is Disney's latest animated princess, a girl growing up in Jazz Age New Orleans who shares a fateful kiss with a funky frog deep in the bayou. In fact, sales for Princess Tiana gear on eBay are up 6% in the last 30 days compared to the previous period. Bonus: If you're looking for a couple's Halloween costume, you can always try to get your better half to costume as the frog. (The key word here is try.)

The Princess and the Frog

Green Gown

(buy it now price, $59)

Crystal Tiara

(buy it now price, $16.95)

Pair of Stuffed Plush Frogs

(buy it now price, $9.99)

(Photo courtesy of Walt Disney Pictures)

This dress looks just like Tiana’s bayou ballgown; it even looks like it’s covered in lilypads.

What Disney princess costume is complete without her crown?

Just in case your significant other doesn't go for the frog costume idea, better have a couple of stuffed ones on standby.

The Twilight Saga

Depending on whether you're on Team Edward or Team Jacob, you might want to dress up for Halloween as either a sparkly, romantic vampire or a ripped werewolf with an unrequited crush. Fortunately, eBay's options have you covered for both.

The Twilight Saga

Silver Glitter Gel Face Paint

(buy it now price, $7.99)

Custom Fit Vampire Teeth

(buy it now price, $12.50)

Slit Ripped Tee

(buy it now price, $15.77)

(Photo courtesy of Summit Entertainment)

You'll feel as pretty as the Cullens when you put on this shimmery silver face paint.

These costume fangs adhere directly to your own teeth so you won't have as much trouble talking as you did with those old plastic ones.

Showcase your bulging werewolf muscles with this ripped shirt like Jacob's.

Shutter Island

Possibly the strangest movie of the year, Shutter Island's isolated mental institution provides plenty of fodder for those seeking an eerie costume for Halloween 2010. Just don't pull a Teddy Daniels and get so caught up in your new character that you forget your true identity …

Shutter Island

3 Hospital Gowns

(buy it now price, $21.99)

Costume Handcuffs

(buy it now price, $2.10)

Vintage Felt Mens Fedora

(starting bid, $9)

(Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures)

If you're a patient at Shutter Island, you're lucky if you're given a hospital gown to wear.

As one of the dangerous patients, you'll also be forced to wear handcuffs during your Halloween night stay on the institutional island.

In this drama set in 1954, Leonardo DiCaprio, as U.S. Marshal Teddy Daniels, and Mark Ruffalo, as his associate, wear period-appropriate fedoras and trench coats.

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