Hollywood hearts Halloween

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SCOTT JAGOW: It’s Friday the 13th. So maybe it’s time to start thinking about Halloween. You know who just loves Halloween? Hollywood. Rachel Dornhelm reports.

RACHEL DORNHELM: Forget boo! Yar is the Halloween cry this fall thanks to Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean.

Other top costumes also owe a nod to Hollywood. The season’s most popular outfits come from Superman, Curious George and V for Vendetta.

Mark Workman is with the entertainment marketing firm FirstFireworks. He says Halloween is a big deal because of the merchandising revenue.

MARK WORKMAN: But secondly it’s a big deal especially when you look at summer movies because the costumes are a big indicator, kind of helping the DVD sales.

Costume sales are expected to hit $1.8 billion this Halloween.

Workman adds a costumed holiday is the perfect fit for Hollywood, an industry that makes its money bringing viewers into fantasy worlds.

I’m Rachel Dornhelm for Marketplace.