The best-known Halloween characters are Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Ghostface, Pennywise, Dracula and Frankenstein's monster. Some come from 19th-century novels, others from horror films of the 1970s and 1980s.

Characters11OldestFrankenstein's monster, 1818NewestWednesday series, 2022DateSaturday 31 October 2026

Who are the best-known Halloween characters?

Halloween characters come from two places: the classic monsters of literature and the villains of horror cinema. Each character below is listed with the work it first appeared in and the look that identifies it. These characters are also the most worn Halloween costumes.

Halloween characters from horror films

Michael Myers

A person in a Michael Myers mask and navy overalls standing in a field.
The white mask and navy overalls of Michael Myers. · Photo: Nathan J Hilton, Pexels

The killer from John Carpenter's Halloween (1978), recognisable from his blank white mask and navy overalls. The series ran until Halloween Ends in 2022.

Freddy Krueger

A figure in a red and black striped sweater and a brimmed hat standing in smoke.
The striped sweater and brimmed hat of Freddy Krueger. · Photo: Daniil Kondrashin, Pexels

The character who kills in dreams in Wes Craven's A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984). He is recognisable from his burned face, red and green striped sweater, fedora and bladed glove.

Jason Voorhees

A woman in a Jason-style hockey mask and a green patterned bodysuit in tall grass.
A hockey mask, the mark of Jason Voorhees. · Photo: Luiz Ramírez, Pexels

The killer of the Friday the 13th series. The series began in 1980, and Jason's famous hockey mask first appeared in the third film, Friday the 13th Part III (1982).

Ghostface

A figure in a Ghostface mask and black robe holding a knife, in blue light.
The Ghostface mask and black robe. · Photo: Nathan J Hilton, Pexels

The killer from Wes Craven's Scream (1996), recognisable from the long white screaming mask and hooded black robe.

Chucky

A creepy doll with red hair, blue eyes and a scarred face in overalls.
A doll with red hair and a scarred face, the look of Chucky. · Photo: Erik Mclean, Pexels

The killer doll from Child's Play (1988), recognisable from his striped sweater, dungarees and red hair.

Pennywise

A man in white clown makeup with red lines running from his eyes and a red nose.
White clown makeup with red lines, the look of Pennywise. · Photo: Nathan J Hilton, Pexels

The clown from Stephen King's novel It (1986). Tim Curry played him in the 1990 miniseries and Bill Skarsgård in It (2017).

Halloween characters from classic literature

Frankenstein's monster

A couple in Bride of Frankenstein and Frankenstein's monster masks in a forest.
The green mask and flat head of Frankenstein's monster, with his bride. · Photo: Matt Barnard, Pexels

The creature Victor Frankenstein makes in Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein (1818). The familiar flat head and neck bolts come from Frankenstein (1931), with Boris Karloff.

Dracula

A smiling woman in a Dracula costume with a black cape, holding a jack-o'-lantern on a yellow background.
A black cape and a white shirt, the Dracula costume. · Photo: Gustavo Fring, Pexels

The vampire from Bram Stoker's novel Dracula (1897). The caped, slicked-back look comes from Dracula (1931), with Bela Lugosi.

Halloween characters that are not scary

Wednesday Addams

A woman in a black dress with a white collar and long plaits beside a lit red candle.
A black dress, a white collar and plaits make Wednesday Addams. · Photo: Alina Rossoshanska, Pexels

The daughter of the Addams family, from Charles Addams's cartoons that began in The New Yorker in 1938. Netflix's 2022 series Wednesday made her one of the best-known Halloween characters again.

Jack Skellington

A man in a blue suit with skeleton face makeup standing among bamboo.
A suit and skeleton makeup, in the spirit of Jack Skellington. · Photo: Ricardo P. Garfias, Pexels

The skeleton hero of The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), directed by Henry Selick and produced by Tim Burton, and the king of Halloween Town.

Monster High

A woman with a bright blue wig, pale makeup and a skull earring, in profile in a park.
A blue wig and pale gothic makeup, in the Monster High style. · Photo: Fredo Jaimes, Pexels

A doll line Mattel launched in 2010. Its characters are designed as the children of famous monsters: Frankenstein's daughter Frankie Stein, Dracula's daughter Draculaura and the werewolf's daughter Clawdeen Wolf.

How do you dress as a Halloween character?

The costume pieces and makeup for these characters are in Halloween costume ideas for men, Halloween costume ideas for women and Halloween masks. Halloween's origins and traditions are in what is Halloween.