A Run Down Of Neil Patrick Harris And His Family Slaying Halloween Family Costumes Since 2011
They go all out each year, and it's amazing.
Neil Patrick Harris and his family have turned Halloween into a yearly event worth watching. While plenty of people enjoy costumes, few families commit to the kind of coordinated, movie-inspired looks that NPH, David Burtka, and their twins pull off every October.
From Peter Pan to classic horror, their outfits have grown more elaborate as Harper and Gideon have gotten older. The result is a long-running Halloween tradition that feels playful, polished, and very on-brand for the family.
Here’s a look back at their most memorable costumes, and the one everyone is still waiting to see next.
NPH, his husband David, and their twins Harper and Gideon have been delighting us with their Halloween costumes every year
nphThrough the years, we've had the joy of watching NPH and his family dress up in amazing Halloween costumes. What's remarkable is how they come up with different costumes each year.
Usually, the family chooses movies as their inspiration for costumes. They have already checked off The Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, and even Frankenstein from their list.
When they're not recreating movie characters, they choose a theme to dress to. Some of the themes they've explored include dressing up as iconic American actors of the 20th century and some of the most famous artists in the world.
Peter Pan (2011)
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The Wizard of Oz (2012)
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Alice in Wonderland (2013)
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Lenore Skenazy, president of the nonprofit Let Grow and the founder of the Free-Range Kids movement, said that while different families have different traditions, she was impressed by those who treat Halloween as an occasion to do something together and create amazing memories.
She believes that it's a great thing for families to have traditions like this. “Kids will remember this pretty much forever and may even pass it along to the next generation,” she said.
Frankenstein's Monster, Wolfman, The Bride of Frankenstein, and Dracula (2013)
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Halloween from Gotham City (2014)
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Star Wars (2015)
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Charlie Chaplin, Groucho Marx, Marilyn Monroe, and James Dean (2016)
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Traditions can help unite the family, strengthen relationships, and provide something for everyone to look forward to. It's also a natural way of teaching family values to kids and helping them discover their identity.
It's usually heartwarming to see celebrities, who are often overwhelmed with schedules, dedicating time to their families, as NPH does. This can inspire others to do something similar with their own families and establish their own traditions that would keep their bond strong even when the kids are all grown up.
Also, it’s hard not to think of when Hollywood’s biggest stars wanted the Earth to swallow them whole.
Harris Halloween Carnival of Curiosities (2017)
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Hitchhiking Ghosts (2018)
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The Burtka-Harris Boo-seum (2019)
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Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory 1971 Musical Movie (2020)
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“Oompa, loompa, doompety doo! We’ve got a family photo for you!” NPH greeted his followers. He also reminded everyone of the global pandemic and advised them to celebrate safely.
“This year, may you invent an October 31st that is spirited, safe, and scrumptious.”
“Invention, my dear friends, is 93% perspiration, 6% electricity, 4% evaporation, and 2% butterscotch ripple,” NPH continued. “Happy Halloween from the Burtka-Harris Crew!”
Classic Horror Films (2021)
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For 2021, the family decided to portray different characters from classic horror movies. “Frights, Camera, Action! This Halloween, may all your screams come true…” NPH wrote in his caption.
It seems like they went all out with that one. Now, we're really excited about what they're going to come up with this year.
Which of their costumes is your favorite?
After NPH’s Halloween costume wins, see which stars stole attention in Best-Dressed Stars At Oscars 2026.
