2019 Halloween costume trends: Dinosaurs, evil clowns and … hey, what’s a ‘Descendant’?

It's <em> this</em> Descendant. Jeanine Bartel holds a "Disney Descendants Mal" doll from Hasbro at the North American International Toy Fair, Saturday, Feb. 14, 2015, in New York. — What the Google search-trend rankings do say is that, somehow, the "Descendants" is the fifth most popular costume nationwide and the No. 1 costume search around D.C. Who knew that the characters in the 2011 George Clooney film — in which a father of troubled daughters comes to terms with his comatose wife's infidelity — could be so terrifying?

<em>Not</em> this Descendant.

The cast, from left, Amara Miller, Nick Krause, George Clooney, Shailene Woodley and director Alexander Payne participates in a press conference for the film "The Descendants" during TIFF on Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011 in Toronto. — (A colleague tells me "Descendants" probably refers to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Descendants_(2015_film)" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Disney's fantasy adventure franchise</a>. Disagree. It's definitely the Clooney film, because complicated marital strife is<em> spoOoOoKyYyY</em>.)

A child in a witch costume. — Rounding out the top five in the D.C. area are a witch (No. 2); Spider-Man (No. 3); a dinosaur (No. 4); and Pennywise the clown (No. 5).

Attendees dressed as Spider-Man pose during New York Comic Con at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on Friday, Oct. 4, 2019, in New York. — Nationwide, it's a reshuffling, with Pennywise edging out the witch (No. 2); Spider-Man (No. 3); a dinosaur (No. 4); and "George Clooney" (No. 5).

Fernando Calleros, from San Diego, Calif., dressed as "Pennywise" poses on Day Two at Comic-Con International on Friday, July 19, 2019, in San Diego, Calif. — So that's Big Data's take. What does local retail say? Pennywise is indeed big, as are characters from "Game of Thrones," "Ghostbusters" and "Frozen," according to a source working at the Halloween City in Bethesda, Maryland. That employee wished to remain anonymous; one assumes he was wearing a mask when he said this. Side note: We are not quite clear whether Halloween City is an incorporated municipality in Bethesda or just a neighborhood. We've yet to confirm.

Sayayohn, dressed as Wonder Woman, and Dakotah Luster, dressed as Aquaman, pose for photographers on the second day of the 2015 Comic-Con International held at the San Diego Convention Center Friday, July 10, 2015, in San Diego. — Online, the definitive authority is obviously <a href="https://www.costumesupercenter.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Costume Super Center</a>. Their popular men's selections include <a href="https://www.costumesupercenter.com/products/grand-heritage-mens-pennywise-costume?via=Z2lkOi8vYnV5LXNlYXNvbnMvV29ya2FyZWE6OkNhdGFsb2c6OkNhdGVnb3J5LzU4OGI4ODllNjk3MDJkNzE5YzE2NDBhNw" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pennywise,</a> as well as superheroes such as Aquaman and Captain America. Popular women's costumes include (sigh) more superheroes, witches and something called a "Creepy Sister,"<a href="https://www.costumesupercenter.com/products/womens-creepy-sister-costume" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> who just looks bored. </a>

A Denver Broncos cheerleader wears a dinosaur costume for Halloween during the first half of an NFL football game against the San Diego Chargers, Sunday, Oct. 30, 2016, in Denver. — <a href="https://www.costumesupercenter.com/pages/groups-couples" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">There are similar classic and trendy options</a> if you wish to coordinate costumes with your boo or your bro. And, because it's a man's world, ladies still have the tedious option of dressing up as a "sexy" whatever instead of Dracula.

Blake Opstad from San Diego, CA, as "Rabbit Raider" from Fortnite on day two of Comic-Con International on Friday, July 20, 2018 in San Diego, CA. — On a budget? Save your money and dress up as <a href="https://www.costumesupercenter.com/products/jurassic-world-fallen-kingdom-mens-pteranodon-inflatable-costume?via=Z2lkOi8vYnV5LXNlYXNvbnMvV29ya2FyZWE6OkNhdGFsb2c6OkNhdGVnb3J5LzU3M2UyZTA5Njk3MDJkNGFjZDA0Mzg0ZQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">a pudgy dinosaur</a> or a <a href="https://www.costumesupercenter.com/products/light-up-stick-man-adult-costume-1?via=Z2lkOi8vYnV5LXNlYXNvbnMvV29ya2FyZWE6OkNhdGFsb2c6OkNhdGVnb3J5LzU3M2UyZTA5Njk3MDJkNGFjZDA0Mzg0ZQ" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">"neon stick light up man,"</a> whatever that is. Thrifty ladies could go as a <a href="https://www.costumesupercenter.com/products/sweet-eats-cupcake-adult-1?via=Z2lkOi8vYnV5LXNlYXNvbnMvV29ya2FyZWE6OkNhdGFsb2c6OkNhdGVnb3J5LzU3M2UyYmY1Njk3MDJkMjliMTAwMWIxYg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">pants-less cupcake</a>, a nun who <a href="https://www.costumesupercenter.com/products/the-nun-movie-deluxe-adult-costume?via=Z2lkOi8vYnV5LXNlYXNvbnMvV29ya2FyZWE6OkNhdGFsb2c6OkNhdGVnb3J5LzU3M2UyYmY1Njk3MDJkMjliMTAwMWIxYg" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">doesn't use moisturizer</a>, or the <a href="https://www.costumesupercenter.com/products/womens-burglar-babe-costume?via=Z2lkOi8vYnV5LXNlYXNvbnMvV29ya2FyZWE6OkNhdGFsb2c6OkNhdGVnb3J5LzU5MGEyMmQxNjk3MDJkMjY5NDE3NDM0Ng" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hamburglar on payday</a>. But why pinch pennies when you could make the safe choice and dress up as a demonic clown? Or, a sexy Clooney?

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A doorway survey of trick-or-treaters usually yields a mix of classic Halloween fashion and questions along the lines of, “Now, what are you, exactly?”

Knock-knock. Who’s there? Why, it’s …

A witch — and Pennywise the demonic clown.
A dinosaur — and an avatar from that Fortnite game.
A rabbit — and one of the “Descendants.”

Yes, Halloween costumes are a mix of bleeding-edge pop culture and … hang on. What in the devil’s name is a Descendant?

Google’s search-trend ranking of the most popular costumes, Fright Geist, doesn’t elaborate. See all of the rankings here.

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