Halloween in Hollywood isn’t just a holiday; it’s a performance art piece. This year, stars didn’t just wear costumes; they committed to characters. From Lady Gaga’s biblical avant-garde look to Niecy Nash-Betts and Jessica Betts’ Kendrick Lamar–Serena Williams tribute, celebrities made October 31 their own red-carpet runway of chaos and creativity.
We love a good Pennywise, and Ed Sheeran didn’t disappoint. The singer was unrecognizable as Pennywise, stalking New York streets with a red balloon and the caption “In for a Penny.”
Lady Gaga kept it on-brand and off-planet, channeling both the Garden of Eden and its gardener, a nod to her latest album Mayhem. “Happy Halloween to all the grave diggers,” she posted, signing off like only Mother Monster can.
Victoria Justice turned the release of her spooky new single Love Zombie into a full-blown Halloween event in Los Angeles last week. “Sooo I threw a Halloween party & brought #LoveZombie to life,” she captioned on Instagram, sharing a carousel of photos from the night. The bash doubled as a mini Victorious reunion, with Justice posing alongside “Mutt” hitmaker Leon Thomas.
Janelle Monáe, always the costume queen, transformed into Dr. Seuss’s Cat in the Hat with full prosthetics and eerie precision.
Scream Queen Rachel Amanda Bryant showed her comedic side by pairing up with Grace Feigh as iconic MTV characters, Daria and Quinn. “Halloween 2025 was such a blast!! Loved being the Quinn to your Daria @gracefeigh!! Thanks for giving me an impromptu haircut as well 💖”
Niecy Nash-Betts and her wife Jessica Betts recreated Kendrick Lamar’s 2024 Super Bowl performance, with Niecy donning Serena Williams’ tennis whites and Jessica rocking Lamar’s denim-and-jacket combo. The couple even nailed their subjects’ dance moves — and their fans loved every second.
Keke Palmer proved that motherhood doesn’t kill cool. She and her son went full throwback as Snoop Dogg and Bow Wow from the “Bow Wow (That’s My Name)” music video. The result? Pure nostalgia with major swagger.
Meanwhile, Mindy Kaling paid homage to How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, slipping into Kate Hudson’s iconic yellow dress. Hudson herself approved, commenting, “Ahhhh! Yes!!!”
Paris Hilton kept her costume marathon alive, going from Toy Story to Peter Pan with her family — and serving solo tributes to Britney Spears and Michelle Pfeiffer’s Catwoman.
Coco Jones channeled Dreamgirls glamour, while girl group KATSEYE poked fun at themselves by recreating Mariah Carey’s music video looks after their viral VMA moment.
Meanwhile, Megan Thee Stallion launched #Hottieween in style, dressing as a modern-day Cupid to promote her new single “Lover Girl,” rainbow wings and all.
Aussie actress Kelly Pantaleoni put her fiery red hair to good use, dressing up as Batman’s nemesis, Poison Ivy. Her sidekick, a Poison Ivy in the making, is family member Miranda Varona.
Chloë Bailey gave mentor Beyoncé a run for her money as Foxy Cleopatra from Goldmember.
We love Twin Peaks. Miss you, David Lynch! Actress Megan Penn served up the Halloween goodies, dressing as Shelly from the Double R Diner.
And of course, Halloween royalty Heidi Klum made jaws drop again — this time as a full-scale, serpentine Medusa, complete with animatronic snakes and a forked tongue.
From Victoria Justice’s blood-stained bridal look to Kourtney Kardashian’s eerie Bride of Frankenstein, Hollywood proved once again that when it comes to Halloween, subtlety is dead and fabulous.
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