Cobra Kai Skeleton Costume
Strike first, strike hard, and look bone-chilling in this '80s classic.
The Cobra Kai Skeleton costume is the iconic Halloween outfit worn by Johnny Lawrence and his bully crew in the original 1984 film, The Karate Kid. It is a popular choice for movie fans and retro enthusiasts looking for a nostalgic, slightly menacing group look. The outfit consists of a form-fitting black bodysuit printed with white bones, complete with a matching hood and white face makeup.
- Difficulty
- Medium
- Time
- ~45 min
- Budget
- $30–70
Try it on
See yourself as Cobra Kai Skeleton
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What you need for a Cobra Kai Skeleton costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Cobra Kai Skeleton costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Black skeleton jumpsuit
A form-fitting black spandex or polyester unitard with a white skeleton bone print on the front and back.
DIY: Buy a plain black bodysuit and paint white bones on it using fabric paint or white felt cutouts.
Attached black hood
A tight-fitting black hood that covers the head and neck, leaving only the face exposed.
DIY: Use a black swim cap or the hood of a tight black sweatshirt tucked into the collar.
White gloves
Simple white cotton or spandex gloves to complete the skeletal hand look.
DIY: Use plain white winter gloves or paint bone details onto black gloves.
White face paint
Cream-based white face makeup to cover the entire exposed face.
Black makeup pencil
A black eyeliner pencil or face paint to draw the hollow eye sockets, nose cavity, and teeth lines.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Cobra Kai Skeleton costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Put on the black skeleton jumpsuit and zip it up securely.
- 2
Pull the black hood over your head, ensuring it fits snugly around your hairline and neck.
- 3
Apply a solid layer of white face paint to all exposed skin on your face, blending it up to the edge of the hood.
- 4
Use the black makeup pencil to draw large circles around your eyes, filling them in to look like hollow sockets.
- 5
Paint the tip of your nose black in a heart or triangle shape to mimic a nasal cavity.
- 6
Draw a black line horizontally across your lips and add vertical stitch lines to create a skeletal teeth effect.
- 7
Slip on the white gloves and step into simple black sneakers to finish the look.
Makeup & hair
Keep hair completely hidden beneath the tight black hood. Use high-quality white and black face paint to create a classic, clean skull face, ensuring the eyes are heavily blacked out for that menacing movie look.
Cobra Kai Skeleton for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Pair up with someone dressed as Daniel LaRusso in his shower curtain costume.
- group
- Have five friends wear matching skeleton suits to recreate the entire Cobra Kai gang from the high school dance.
- kids
- Available in kids' sizes as a comfortable, warm zip-up jumpsuit for trick-or-treating.
- Plus size
- Look for stretch-spandex skeleton jumpsuits which offer a flexible, comfortable fit for all body types.
Tips
- Use a makeup setting spray so the white and black face paint doesn't smudge onto your black hood.
- Wear thin, moisture-wicking base layers underneath the jumpsuit if you are wearing this in cold weather.
- Practice the skull makeup once before your event to get the eye sockets and teeth lines symmetrical.
Cobra Kai Skeleton costume FAQ
- What movie is the Cobra Kai skeleton costume from?
- It is from the 1984 movie 'The Karate Kid', worn by Johnny Lawrence and the Cobra Kai students during the high school Halloween dance.
- How do I do the makeup for the Cobra Kai skeleton?
- Cover your face in white face paint, then use black face paint to create large hollow eye sockets, a black nose tip, and vertical lines over your lips for teeth.
- Is the hood separate from the jumpsuit?
- Many commercial costumes include an attached hood, but if you are DIYing, you can buy a separate black spandex hood or balaclava.
Did you know? The iconic skeleton fight scene in the gym hallway was choreographed by Pat Johnson, who also played the chief referee in the film's final tournament.