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From horror icons to viral toys, Halloween costumes take quirky turn in US

NEW YORK — Witches, vampires and superheroes may never go out of style, but Americans are looking to everything from horror movie characters to squishy stress toys for Halloween costume inspiration this year, as internet trends shape their choices. Topping Google's 2026 Frightgeist list of trending Halloween costume searches is Buddy the Unicorn, the seemingly cheerful but sinister character from…

From horror icons to viral toys, Halloween costumes take quirky turn in US

The 2026 Frightgeist list, compiled by Google, highlights the quirky and varied inspiration sources for Halloween costumes in the United States this year. While traditional favorites such as witches, superheroes, and princesses remain popular, especially among children, internet trends have propelled a range of unexpected characters into the spotlight.

Buddy the Unicorn from the horror movie "Buddy," NeeDoh stress toys, and characters from the games "Obsession," "Poppy Playtime," and "Minecraft" have all surged in popularity, reflecting how swiftly movies, games, and viral products can shape Halloween costume choices. The rankings are based on the greatest increases in online searches rather than the overall popularity of the costumes, underscoring the dynamic nature of Halloween costume trends in the digital age.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.

Also reported by 2 other outlets

Read the original at koreatimes.co.kr →

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