Inside the Guide: Star Wars Halloween Costumes

The time for Halloween and trick ‘r treating doesn’t have to be spooky and scary. Luckily for those who just want the candy without the fright, there are tons of Halloween costumes that won’t elicit a scream. Some of the best from the last 40 years were the Star Wars costumes courtesy of Ben Cooper.

Though several companies have made costumes over the years, Ben Cooper is the name that is synonymous with the Star Wars Halloween costumes. Ben Cooper Inc. was one of the biggest costume manufacturers of the 20th century, primarily from the 1950s to mid-1980s. By taking a chance on licensed costumes from Star Wars, Disney, and comic book publishers, among others, they presented a new opportunity for kids to find costumes that were popular characters, yet still affordable.

Ben and his brother Nat Cooper founded Ben Cooper, Inc., in 1937. They started creating inexpensive costumes with thin plastic masks and one or two pieces of thin cloth or vinyl-like material, and kids loved them. The Brooklyn-based company gained control of the license to sell Disney costumes using Mickey Mouse as the vehicle to entice kids and families.

During their heyday, Ben Cooper acquired the license for Star Wars costumes in 1977 – and quickly sold out that year. The character masks could be seen through the window box packaging, on top of costume pieces which often depicted the character rather than what they wore in the movies. But for just a few dollars, kids could sport the looks of main characters like Luke, Leia, Darth Vader, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, and Yoda all the way to those with smaller roles like Boba Fett, Wicket, Admiral Ackbar, Klaatu, and Gamorrean Guard.

Though characters like Luke, Leia, and Darth Vader are primary characters in the series, their costumes were more readily available and average lower prices in the secondary market than some character costumes that weren’t made at the same volume.

A New Hope costumes for Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia average $40-$65.

A Chewbacca costume from A New Hope sells for $10-$65, while the rarer R2-D2 goes for $80.

The Empire Strikes Back Yoda and Darth Vader sell for around $30-$60.

There are a few valuable costumes from Empire, including Klaatu at $50-$75 and Admiral Ackbar at $75.

A Wicket costume from Return of the Jedi averages $45 and Boba Fett sees $10-$30

The Gamorrean Guard costume from Return of the Jedi is one of the rarer ones, selling for $80.

For more on Star Wars Halloween costumes and other series memorabilia, order a copy of The Overstreet Price Guide to Star Wars Collectibles at gemstonepub.com.