The most popular Halloween costumes this year, ranked

A clear favorite among children, this costume was also at the top of last year's most popular list.

The Marvel comic-book hero has been around since August 1962, when he was first introduced in the book, "Amazing Fantasy #15." In 2002, he made his film debut with director Sam Raimi's "Spider-Man."

This fuss-free, low-effort costume is the second most popular among kids on Halloween, with 1.8 million children planning to dress as a ghost this year.

You could buy one from the store or cut old sheets to DIY it. The costume also doubles as a cover-up for your sweater, making it easier to trick-or-treat on cold days.

Thanks to popular Disney hits like "Moana" and "Frozen," being a princess is still in style.

Over the years, many celebrity children have also opted for a princess look, from John Legend's daughter Luna to Kylie Jenner's daughter, Stormi.

This Halloween favorite ranked fourth this year, with 1.6 million kids planning to dress as a witch.

It's long been a go-to option. In 2023, Google Trends mini-site Frightgeist also showed the costume was a favorite among kids.

Superhero costumes were the fifth most popular Halloween costumes in the kids category.

From Captain Marvel and Deadpool to Black Panther and Black Widow, there's a range of popular superheroes you can pick from. You can opt for a full-family makeover in a particular movie franchise or rock an individual costume.

This superhero was first introduced to the world in 1939 as part of "Detective Comics #27" in the story "The Case of the Chemical Syndicate." Eventually, the comics were adapted into feature films.

Folktales and stories surrounding vampires and their physical traits have been cultural conversations for centuries.

However, National Geographic reported that the most widespread beliefs about vampires originated from traditional ideas about how the dead — even when buried — could hurt those who were alive.

There are few other symbols so synonymous with the spooky season.

In 2021, "High School Musical" star Ashley Tisdale dressed her daughter, Jupiter, as a mini pumpkin.

Disney has produced more than a dozen princess-led films, from Sleeping Beauty to Cinderella, and it's not uncommon to spot little ones decked out as their favorite for Halloween.

Celebrities have gotten in on it too: "The Bachelor" contestant Jade Roper's matching mermaid outfits with her daughter, Emerson, or "One Tree Hill" actor Jana Kramer's Cinderella theme from 2023.

DC Comics' other superhero, Superman, introduced by the publishers in 1938's "Action Comics #1," is another favorite among kids.

The superhero's outfit is also easy to recreate at home with a blue shirt and red shorts over blue pants.

Adults love witchy costumes just as much as their kids do. This year, 5.8 million adults are planning to dress as a witch, per the National Retail Federation.

The vampire costume has been a favorite for years, thanks to its spooky history and because it's easy to put together. A cape, fake fangs, a touch of kohl under your eyes, and — voila! — you're trick-or-treating ready.

From black tutus to full bodysuits, there is a variety of cat costumes available on the market.

Vox reported cats have been associated with witches for many years. Folklore alludes to witches turning into cats at night, which explains the animal's allure during Halloween.

The adults love a good Batman makeover just as much as the kids. Batman's costume ranked fourth highest on the adults list.

Over the years, several celebrities have been spotted sporting the caped crusader's look, from singer Liam Payne in 2021 to Kanye West in 2012.

According to the World History Encyclopedia, many notions about pirates' appearances come from literature and their pop-culture representations, including "Treasure Island," and films like "The Pirates of the Caribbean."

This easy-to-wear costume ranked sixth most popular among adult costumes this year.

In the past, celebrities from Jennifer Garner to Lady Gaga have dressed as bedsheet ghosts.

Benjamin Radford, author of "Bad Clowns," told the BBC, "If you take a broader look at the history of the clown, they have always been an ambiguous figure."

That's because the character exists in a duality of funny and evil. Pop-culture representations have showcased it as a creepy character capable of murder and deceit, like Pennywise in Stephen King's 1986 novel "It."

In 2016, "Harry Potter" star Daniel Radcliffe dressed up as Spider-Man for Halloween, while "Game of Thrones" actor Maisie Williams reworked the traditional outfit to dress as Spider-Woman.

Zombies have been part of pop culture since the 1930s, appearing in films such as "White Zombie" and "Night of the Living Dead."

However, their presence in the social lexicon predates films and literature, starting with early mentions in the voodoo religion, where zombies were thought of as people revived by voodoo practitioners, History.com reported.

Given that "Beetlejuice Beetlejuice" was a huge box-office hit upon its release last month, we'll likely see some fans dressed as the iconic Beetlejuice or Deetz family characters over Halloween this year.

In the past, celebrities like The Weeknd and Travis Baker have worn the character's look.

Vox reported that dressing up your pets dates back to 309 BC China when an attempt at King Cuo's tomb excavation led to the discovery of two large dogs buried with jeweled collars still on.

Westward in France and England, precious jewels were used in collars made for royal dogs, as well as robes and jackets.

So, while it may seem like an Instagram-era phenomenon, pet couture has been around for a long time.

If you, like Miley Cyrus in 2015, are thinking of getting your pets a fast-food-themed costume, this could be the way to go.

The "Hannah Montana" star dressed up her pups in a variety of outfits, such as an ice-cream sundae, a hamburger, and a hot dog.

In 2022, "High School Musical" star Vanessa Hudgens dressed her dog in a bat-and-skeleton combo outfit.

Jennifer Garner wasn't the only one dressed as a ghost in 2022. She dressed her dog, Birdie, in a white shredded pillowcase with eye holes, ensuring the golden Retriever was twinning with her.

This Halloween, bumblebee costumes ranked as the fifth most popular pet costume.

Cat costumes aren't just adult favorites; they are also popular among pet parents.

Continuing the theme of dressing your pets as other, spookier pets for Halloween, the spider is seventh on the National Retail Federation's most popular pet costume list.

In 2021, Hailey Beiber dressed her dog, Oscar, as a spider.

In 2019, Amanda Seyfried ensured her dog was dressed for the day by accessorizing him with a witch hat.

Halloween is your pet's chance to experience the wild side, just like NBA player Kevin Love's pup did in her lion mane in 2019.

They could be the perfect little angels all year round, but for one day, you get to dress them as red-horned devils for the laughs.