K-Pop Phenomenon Meets Halloween
The excitement around “KPop Demon Hunters” is really making waves this Halloween in New York City. Costume shops are buzzing, with both kids’ and adults’ outfits from the hit Netflix animated film flying off the shelves at an impressive rate.
“Right now, the most sought-after costume is definitely KPop’s Demon Hunter,” shared Brian Clark, the owner of Abracadabra, a popular Halloween spot in Manhattan.
While children’s costumes from Netflix movies tend to dominate, the store also stocks adult sizes. Parents should expect to spend around $60 to $70 for replica outfits.
Jackie Spitz, who works at Abracadabra, commented that the K-pop Demon Hunter items were quite popular and noted, “We don’t have any more in stock.”
Isaiah, a seasoned employee at Village Spirit Halloween Outpost, echoed her sentiments: “Kids this year are definitely gravitating towards the KPOP Demon Hunter costume,” adding that all officially licensed versions for both kids and adults are now sold out online.
According to Google Trends, which analyzes data from employee accounts, the trending costume in the New York City area is Rumi from “KPop Demon Hunter.” Not too far behind are the Love Bu doll and several other characters from the film, including Mira, Zoe, and Jinwoo, who round out the top five.
The film’s popularity has even led to its stars illuminating the Empire State Building back in August. With a chart-topping soundtrack, it has become the most-watched animated original on Netflix.
As Halloween approaches, spending is expected to reach a record high of $13.1 billion this year, outpacing last year’s record of $12.2 billion, as reported by the National Retail Federation. Notably, about 71% of that spending is anticipated to go towards costumes.
In addition to the trending musical movie costumes, Abracadabra also offers classic choices. Clark mentioned that traditional cowgirl and witch outfits are selling well, along with masks of iconic horror figures like Michael Myers, Freddy Krueger, and Ghostface, which seem to have widespread appeal.
Joseline Ramirez, an 18-year-old employee at Abracadabra, identified Art the Clown from “Terrifier” as another popular pick, noting the swift sell-out of the Terrifier mask last year.
Regarding pricing, Ramirez remarked on the steep costs for more elaborate costumes. “If you’re aiming for a complete outfit, including the wig, expect to spend about $200,” she stated, adding that prices could even go beyond $300.
Joseph Williams, who has been with Abracadabra for four years, noted some buyers spend as much as $10,000—not just on costumes, but also on props and accessories that they rent, which adds to the total cost.
Dinae Anderson, a 29-year-old drag performer, shared that she had already spent nearly $250 on a vampire bride costume. She mentioned, “I could easily see myself spending another $50 here.”
Angelica Salvagori, a student from Italy, expressed her surprise at the pricing. “I expected a different price range coming from Italy,” she said. Planning costumes for a vampire and Lara Croft from “Tomb Raider,” the 21-year-old had hoped to spend around $50 to $70 but has found that, factoring in everything, her budget is being stretched.
