The Rules to Dressing in Costume for a Movie #3

To summarize, we're detailing the rules you need to follow should you want to dress up in costume or bring props to a movie. So far, we've said the rules are...

#1 - Go with friends
#2 - Know you're going to get some odd looks

Rule #3 is to anticipate the crowd. By that, we mean measure the likelyhood that others will dress in costume as well. If it's Harry Potter, X-Men, Twilight, Star Wars, Star Trek, or Rocky Horror Picture Show, I think you're very, very safe assuming that a plethora of others will be in costume as well. But these are all established properties. You might be the biggest Smurfs fan out there but I can guarantee you you'll be the only one dress up as Papa Smurf. And that just makes it a little awkward, weird, and creepy. And nobody wants that.



Avoid being the only one to dress in costume. Not that there's anything wrong with going against the grain and letting you're fan-freak flag fly. But perhaps a convention is a more appropriate venue to unleash your really cool ape costume from Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Take my word on this one.

The Rules to Dressing in Costume for a Movie #1

In my previous post, The Great Debate: Is Dressing Up for a Movie Premier Cool?, I clearly explained why is, indeed, cool to dress up or prop replicas and other merchandise to a movie's midnight showing.  However, I would say that this is not without some rules one should follow if one wishes to dress up for such an occassion. This is the first in a series of postings detailing what those rules are.

1) Don't go alone. It's always better to go to the movies with a friend or ten but this is especially true if you wish to dress up in costume. Why? Well, if you show up alone and you're dressed in a fully body Ewok suit, you might come across as a little creepy. Having friends with you signals that you're okay - it makes it easier for the rest of the movie audience to accept you're not a lone weirdo. It makes it easier for others to approach you.



Does this mean that all of your friends have to dress up as well? No. Absolutely not. Sure, it would be great if you could persuade your friends to all dress up like Green Lanterns but it's not necessary. Just being seen with a friendly group, even without costumes, is good enough.



So rule #1 is - Use the buddy system. Remember it for your own good!