And the pink movement continues. The top movie of the summer, “Barbie,” is not done yet with influencing economic activity. Top Google searches for Halloween costumes this year hint that the traditional orange and black associated with the holiday won’t be so prevalent as Barbie lands No. 2 as the top searched Halloween costume.
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Retailers have already honed in on the trend, with companies such as Walmart, Target and Party City selling their own versions of looks from the “Barbie” movie. Costumes such as Barbie in a doll box and cowgirl Barbie have popped up ready to purchase since the movie was released on July 21. Ken outfits inspired by the movie have also populated stores, with looks inspired by the rollerskating scene in the film and the white fur coat ensemble Ryan Gosling wore as Ken.
According to the National Retail Federation, Halloween spending is set to hit a record of $12.2 billion, and 1.8 million adults are expected to dress up in Barbie-inspired outfits for the holiday. For children, Barbie is the No. 7 top costume. This trend shows that movie and TV pop culture continues to reign its influence on Halloween costumes, which is a practice that started to bud in the 1920s and ‘30s.
The pink Halloween trend, which has been referred to as “Barbieween” and “Pinkoween” by influencers on social media, has already made its way into Halloween decor. Recently, a neighborhood in Utah decorated its entire street into a spooky replica of Barbie Land, adding in Barbie’s signature Dreamhouse and other pink elements with skeletons and a pink headstone.
The “Barbie” movie is the highest-grossing film in Warner Bros. (WBD) -) history, with earnings from the box office totaling to $1.3 billion globally. The release of the movie has even boosted the U.S. economy by contributing to a projected $3.1 billion in consumer spending and international ticket sales along with the movie “Oppenheimer” in the third quarter. Barbie toy sales have also increased by 25% in the U.S. between July and August. So it is no surprise that Barbie is set to dominate the Halloween season.
