New costumes take their place among the classics

Some unfamiliar faces may appear at your door Wednesday evening, especially if you don't have young children to help you keep score.

Typical of past years, many trick-or-treaters are taking their cues from Hollywood's big and small screens this year, according to some area stores.

"Most costumes are driven by movie blockbusters," said Tonia Farinha, marketing director for Spirit Halloween stores, whose suburban locations include Addison, St. Charles, Elgin, Schaumburg, Palatine and Waukegan.

"Those are popular across the country."

The Hollywood connection may be obvious in some cases -- like Spider-Man, and Darth Vader and his storm troopers from the "Star Wars" series.

"Star Wars will always be popular," said Sonia Reyes, an employee at Spirit Halloween Superstore in Naperville.

"A lot of people wish Princess Leia was available."

But some might leave you stumped if you aren't tuning into the Disney Channel or hitting recent PG-13 movies.

So who are these other characters?

Favorites among the boys are pirates, especially Jack Sparrow from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies, and Optimus Prime from the recent "Transformers" blockbuster.

Several young caped wizards in round black spectacles also are bound to wave wands with hopes of working some "Harry Potter" movie magic, as the popularity of the book and movie series continues.

Thanks to singer Rob Zombie's recently released remake of John Carpenter's 1978 horror flick "Halloween," Michael Myers will be back to scare again via fans in white masks, originally William Shatner masks spray-painted white.

Don't confuse him with other ever-popular haunting characters: Jason, who wore a white hockey mask in the "Friday the 13th" movies; or Freddy Krueger's burned, fleshy mug seen in the "Nightmare on Elm Street" films, costume shop employees say.

Girl favorites, according to Wheaton's Party City manager and Spirit Halloween store reps, include cheerleader outfits from Disney's "High School Musical," and the title character in the Disney Channel TV series "Hannah Montana."

Don't fret, some familiar characters also are bound to make appearances.

Classic Disney princesses like Snow White and Cinderella and fairies like Tinker Bell remain popular, in addition to more recent animated heroines Belle from "Beauty and the Beast," Ariel from "The Little Mermaid" and Jasmine from "Aladdin."

"Princesses or fairies are always best-sellers for young girls," Farinha said.

For our four-legged friends, the costumes probably will be pretty obvious: Superman, a fire dog, witches, princesses and angels are popular.

You might even spot some parents embracing their inner child as they take their youngsters around for treats.

Party Central employee Yolanda Rodriguez reported that Transformers and Hannah Montana are runaway hits in the kids' department; adult picks at the Bloomingdale store, however, run the gamut, with no obvious front-runners.

Spirit Halloween employees say both living and dead celebrities are hot.

Beware, that blonde bombshell might be Marilyn Monroe -- or it could be more recently deceased Playboy pin-up Anna Nicole Smith.

If that blonde starlet is wearing a jailhouse jumpsuit, then you're looking at a hotel-heiress Paris Hilton lookalike.

And don't confuse the guys and gals draped in sheets for characters from the 1978 cult classic "Animal House." They would be King Leonidas and other Spartans from the "300" movie released earlier this year. Such costumes sold out in the Naperville Spirit Halloween store, employees said.

And Leonidas won't be the only king making appearances this Halloween: Burger King's icon is making a strong showing for the second year in a row, Naperville Spirit Halloween employees say.

"People like to live out their fantasies in costumes," Farinha said.