These Cinematic Pumpkin-Carving Templates Will Be a Huge Hit

Whitney Coy
·3 min read

Sure, holiday traditions have their place. But there’s no reason to stick to the old-fashioned jack-o-lantern-style pumpkins of the past. Yes, there’s the nostalgia factor, but those carvings can be tough to execute (the faces seem to want to cave in), and even — dare we say it? — a little boring. Especially to little kids.

So why not step up your carving game with some movie jack-o-lantern templates? Because pumpkins inspired by some of their favorite characters are infinitely more exciting than a sad carving that’s barely recognizable as a face. And before you and your kids get all intimidated by how complicated an Elsa or Groot pumpkin might look, know this: They’re surprisingly easy to pull off.

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All kids have to do is choose a character, download and print the template, and get to carving. We’ve rounded up some perennial kid favorites sure to make Halloween a hit.

Finding Dory

These templates could turn out a-Dory-bly with the right carving knife and a little bit of patience. You know this is the kind of pumpkin art kids will talk about all year long.

Dory

Dory
Image: SheKnows Design

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Print Dory here.

Nemo

Nemo
Image: SheKnows Design

Print Nemo here.

Frozen

Image: Walt Disney Animation Studios/Walt Disney Pictures

Are Elsa, Anna and the rest of the Frozen gang pretty much a part of the family? Kids will squeal with delight when you light these characters up in pumpkin form outside your front door.

Anna

Anna
Image: SheKnows Design

Print Anna here.

Elsa

Elsa
Image: SheKnows Design

Print Elsa here.

Olaf

Olaf
Image: SheKnows Design

Print Olaf here.

The Lego Movie

Image: Warner Bros.
Image: Warner Bros.

They’re not just toys anymore. The Lego Movie brought your favorite boxy yellow characters to life, and now you can bring them home for Halloween with these templates.

Emmet B.

Emmet
Image: SheKnows Design

Print Emmet B. here.

Wyldstyle

Lego movie
Image: SheKnows Design

Print Wyldstyle here.

Despicable Me 

Image: Universal Pictures
Image: Universal Pictures

The world’s most cringeworthy villain-turned-super-dad is the perfect subject for your Halloween pumpkin! Have fun carving Gru and the mischievous minions with the kiddos.

Gru

Gru
Image: SheKnows Design

Print Gru here.

Laughing Minion

Laughing minion
Image: SheKnows Design

Print laughing minion here.

Minion

Minion
Image: SheKnows Design

Print minion here.

Purple Minion

Purple minion
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Print purple minion here.

Maleficent

In what will forever more be known as “The Angie Revamp” of Sleeping Beauty, we met Maleficent, aka the wicked queen. Turns out she wasn’t always so wicked — but what turned her heart to stone? You’ve got to love a good backstory.

Maleficent

Maleficent
Image: SheKnows Design

Print Maleficent here.

Guardians of the Galaxy

Sometimes the bad guys aren’t so bad. In Guardians of the Galaxy, those “bad” guys have to learn to work together to save the galaxy from total destruction. Pick your favorite guardian to display at Halloween, or carve them both and have a team of Guardians guarding your home.

Groot

Groot
Image: SheKnows Design

Print Groot here.

Rocket Raccoon

Rocket raccoon
Image: SheKnows Design

Print Rocket Raccoon here.

Want more traditional pumpkin carving templates? We’ve got you covered there too!

Originally published September 2014. Updated October 2023

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