Costume Guide
Shearling jacket, grey newsboy cap, knit scarf, aviator sunglasses, and the absolute certainty that the government is hiding something.
Murray Bauman is one of the most distinctive supporting characters in Stranger Things, Netflix’s hit supernatural thriller set in 1980s Hawkins, Indiana. Played by Brett Gelman, Murray is a former investigative journalist turned conspiracy theorist and private investigator whose paranoid exterior hides surprising warmth, unexpected combat ability, and an unmatched gift for being right about everything nobody wants to hear. His layered cold-weather look, anchored by a shearling suede jacket and a battered grey newsboy cap, is one of the most wearable and recognisable Stranger Things costume ideas available. The Murray Bauman costume is a strong choice for anyone who wants a Halloween look that reads as a specific, beloved character rather than a generic 1980s outfit.
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Pull on the thick navy tactical hiking pants first and lace up the brown cold weather boots. Layer the shearling lined suede jacket over a plain shirt or sweater and leave it partially open for Murray’s relaxed, lived-in fit. Wrap the knit long scarf loosely around the neck, letting it hang unevenly. Slide on the leather gloves, fit the winter ear warmers over the ears, and position the grey newsboy cap slightly to one side rather than straight on. The slightly off-centre cap is a small detail that communicates character immediately. Finish with the polarized aviator sunglasses.
Murray’s in-character register for Halloween is a combination of conspiratorial intensity and completely unsolicited honesty. Greet people with knowing nods. Refer to things in vague, alarming terms. Offer relationship advice nobody asked for with complete confidence. The character’s appeal is his certainty, and that costs nothing extra.
Layering for the Right Murray Silhouette
Murray Bauman’s look is defined by bulk and texture rather than sharp tailoring. The shearling jacket should be worn over a chunky knit sweater or a thick flannel shirt to build the layered, wrapped-up silhouette that is central to his aesthetic. Avoid wearing the jacket over a single thin layer as this produces a fitted look that reads as generic rather than Murray-specific. The visual weight of multiple layers under the suede jacket, combined with the scarf draped over the top, creates the bundled-up paranoid investigator profile that makes the Murray Bauman costume recognisable instantly. If the jacket fits a little snugly over the sweater, that is exactly right.
The Flamethrower Prop: Murray’s Most Iconic Moment
Murray Bauman’s most celebrated moment across all seasons of Stranger Things is his use of a flamethrower, a weapon he deploys with complete commitment and no prior warning. For Halloween events, a toy or prop flamethrower is the single most effective in-character addition to the Murray Bauman cosplay and guarantees recognition from any Stranger Things fan in the room. A bright orange water gun or a prop from a costume supplier works well. Hold it at the ready position throughout the event. Murray does not hesitate. Neither should you.
The Stranger Things Adults
The adult allies of Hawkins form one of the most recognisable group Halloween costume ideas from the entire Stranger Things cast. Murray’s layered investigator look alongside Hopper’s Sheriff uniform, Joyce’s anxious mother aesthetic, and Dr. Owens’s government scientist appearance creates a group that covers the full range of the show’s supporting cast. Each character has a distinctive look that requires minimal explanation to any Stranger Things fan, and the group dynamic of distrust, reluctant alliance, and shared survival experience gives the Halloween group an instant narrative hook.
Stranger Things Season 4 Crew
The Season 4 Alaska and Russian prison arc gives this group its specific narrative identity. Murray, Joyce, and the chaotic smuggler Yuri on a mission to rescue Hopper from a Soviet facility is one of the show’s most entertaining sub-plots, and the costume combination covers wilderness layering, 1980s casual, and eccentric criminal entrepreneur in a single Halloween group. A strong choice for a group of four who have all watched Stranger Things together and want a specific seasonal reference rather than a general show group.
Stranger Things Full Ensemble
Murray alongside the core group of Hawkins kids creates a cross-generational Stranger Things Halloween ensemble that covers the full visual range of the show. The contrast between Murray’s rugged adult layering and the kids’ 1980s casual school outfits makes for a visually diverse group with immediate crowd recognition. Each character has a dedicated fan base within the show, making this a strong option for a larger Halloween group of five where individual costumes are built around personal character preferences.
1980s TV Conspiracy Theorists
Four of television’s most beloved conspiracy theorists and paranormal investigators across different eras, united by a shared obsession with the truth and a distrust of official explanations. Murray’s Stranger Things look alongside Mulder’s FBI suit from The X-Files, Cooper’s FBI coat from Twin Peaks, and Kolchak’s rumpled reporter aesthetic from the 1974 original creates a Halloween group that rewards any television history fan in the room and works as a visually cohesive collection of dedicated believers who the authorities should have listened to from the beginning.
Every Stranger Things character Halloween costume guide on CostumeRealm, listed alphabetically.
Angela
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Argyle
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Billy Hargrove S2
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Billy Hargrove S4
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Chrissy Cunningham
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Demogorgon
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Dmitri Antonov
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Dr. Alexie
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Dr. Brenner S4
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Dustin Henderson S3
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Dustin Henderson S4
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Eden S4
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Eddie Munson
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Eleven
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Erica Sinclair S4
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Henry Creel
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Jake
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Jason Carver
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Jim Hopper S3
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Jonathan Byers S4
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Joyce Byers S1
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Joyce Byers
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Karen Wheeler S4
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Lucas Sinclair S3
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Lucas Sinclair S4
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Max Mayfield S2
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Mike Wheeler S3
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Mrs. Wheeler (Pool)
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Murray Bauman
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Nancy Wheeler
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Officer Callahan
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Robin Buckley (Scoops Ahoy)
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Robin Buckley S4
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Steve Harrington (Scoops Ahoy)
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Steve Harrington S4
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Steve Harrington S4 V2
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Suzie
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Suzie S4
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Ted Wheeler
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Tina
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Victor Creel
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Vickie
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Will Byers S3
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Will Byers S4
View GuideThe DIY Murray Bauman costume has two essential dedicated purchases: the shearling lined suede jacket and the grey newsboy cap. Everything else is either a low-cost addition or potentially already owned. Chunky knit scarves, leather gloves, and aviator sunglasses are common wardrobe items. Any sturdy dark hiking or cargo pant substitutes for the specific tactical style. Brown leather boots from existing wardrobe work perfectly. The ear warmers are an inexpensive addition. A DIY Murray stranger things costume using the jacket, cap, and scarf can be assembled for well under $100, and the individual clothing items all have real-world use beyond Halloween.
The Murray Bauman cosplay experience is significantly elevated by committing to the character’s specific personality traits. Murray is defined by three things: he is always right, he tells people things they do not want to hear, and he is unexpectedly kind underneath the paranoia. For Halloween, adopt a knowing expression and greet acquaintances as though you have been watching them and already know what they are about to say. Refer to any building as a potential surveillance location. Offer relationship advice immediately and without being asked. For the full effect, carry a notepad and scribble in it whenever something interesting happens nearby. Murray always has evidence. You should too.
For Halloween 2026, the Murray Bauman Halloween costume is eight pieces: shearling lined suede jacket, knit long scarf, grey newsboy cap, thick navy tactical hiking pants, polarized aviator sunglasses, winter ear warmers, leather gloves, and brown cold weather boots. The shearling jacket and grey newsboy cap are the two essential purchases. A prop flamethrower or notepad is a strong optional addition for full in-character effect.
Murray Bauman’s most quoted lines include his dry “You’re welcome” when nobody thanks him, his conspiratorial certainty that he is always right, and his surprisingly vulnerable admission “I’ve been alone my whole life.” For Halloween in-character delivery, combine a knowing, slightly paranoid look with completely unsolicited relationship advice and a habit of treating every small observation as significant intelligence. Murray’s register is blunt, perceptive, and warmer than he lets on.
Murray Bauman is a recurring character in Stranger Things, Netflix’s supernatural drama set in 1980s Indiana. Played by Brett Gelman, Murray is a former investigative journalist turned private investigator and conspiracy theorist who becomes an increasingly important ally to the main group across the series. He is known for his paranoid intensity, surprising combat skills including martial arts and a flamethrower, and his blunt honesty that frequently turns out to be completely correct.
Murray Bauman’s signature jacket is a shearling lined suede jacket that is the centrepiece of his layered cold-weather look. It is the most character-specific purchase in the Murray Bauman costume build and the single item that most clearly communicates the Murray stranger things aesthetic. Worn over a chunky sweater or thick flannel shirt, it produces the bulked-up, bundled investigator silhouette that defines the costume.
Yes. The Murray Bauman Halloween costume is a practical, wearable build. The shearling jacket is the most character-specific purchase. The grey newsboy cap is the second essential item. Scarves, gloves, boots, and aviator sunglasses are low-cost or potentially already owned. A DIY Murray Bauman costume can be assembled for under $120, and most individual pieces are practical clothing items with real-world use beyond Halloween.
Murray Bauman wears a grey newsboy cap that is one of the most instantly recognisable details of his look. The flat cap style fits both the 1980s period setting of Stranger Things and Murray’s slightly eccentric, lived-in personal aesthetic. Worn slightly off-centre rather than straight on, it communicates the character at a distance and is one of the most effective low-cost additions in the Murray Bauman fancy dress build.
Murray Bauman stands out among Stranger Things costume ideas because his look is fully wearable cold-weather clothing rather than a school uniform, lab coat, or specific character outfit. The shearling jacket, newsboy cap, scarf, and tactical pants read as a specific, beloved character rather than a generic 1980s costume. Murray Bauman cosplay is also a strong group costume choice alongside Hopper, Joyce, or the Hawkins kids, and the optional flamethrower prop gives it one of the best single-item conversation starters of any Stranger Things costume.