Classic Halloween costumes from years past

It's no small task coming up with a memorable holiday costume. Certain costumes tie into popular culture, while others are classics that will never go out of style. Here's a look at pop culture costumes that were trendy in years past.

· 1976: Charlie's Angels: These empowered women crime fighters blew up on television and many girls wanted to be them in real life, and especially on Halloween.

· 1976: Rocky Balboa: The Italian Stallion burst onto the scene this year in the movie "Rocky," and who could resist lacing up their boxing gloves and emulating the long-shot prize fighter?

· 1977: Star Wars characters: From Luke to Obi Wan to Darth Vader, this hit movie permanently changed popular culture and inspired Halloween costumes for decades to come.

· 1978: Michael Myers: The familiar white (William Shatner-inspired) mask became well known this year and still makes its mark on Halloween festivities more than 40 years later.

· 1981: Indiana Jones: Harrison Ford made the archaeologist/adventurer so exciting in "Raiders of the Lost Arc" (and subsequent films) that it's easy to see why donning a fedora and brandishing a whip became so popular.

· 1982: Elliott and E.T.: Steven Spielberg's masterpiece of a young boy and his alien friend made this a popular year for anything that had to do with the film. This included riding bicycles while wearing red hoodies.

· 1983: Princess Leia: "Return of the Jedi" introduced audiences to different sides of Princess Leia, helping to solidify her popularity as a Halloween icon.

· 1984: Freddy Krueger: This "Nightmare on Elm Street" icon caused many nightmares in real life, and his blade-tipped glove and familiar striped shirt could be seen on kids across the nation.

· 1985: Hulk Hogan: Were you dressed as Hulk Hogan, brother? It's likely if you were a warm-blooded boy in the mid-80s, when Hulkamania was at its peak.

· 1986: Care Bears and California Raisins: If you were young in 1986, you might have dressed up as a cuddly Care Bear or a suave, singing California Raisin.