Sloth Costume Guide (The Goonies)
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Sloth, played by John Matuszak in The Goonies (1985), is the Fratelli brother kept chained in the basement who ends up saving the kids. His costume is simple clothing made memorable by two reveals: the Superman T-shirt under his ragged shirt, and the pirate hat he takes from One-Eyed Willy's ship at the end. Add a Baby Ruth candy bar and you have the three things everyone remembers.
The face is what makes or breaks it. Sloth has a heavily deformed face with one eye set lower than the other, a misshapen skull and a few crooked teeth. You can buy a full mask, or do a lighter version with makeup, a bald cap and a prosthetic eye. This guide covers both.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Easy with a mask; moderate with makeup
- Rough budget: $50–$110
- Time to put on: 15 minutes with a mask, 45+ with makeup
- What people recognise first: Superman shirt + pirate hat + 'Hey you guys!'
What you need
- Superman logo T-shirt — The classic red-and-yellow shield on blue. Buy it a size large so it hangs.
- Grey or faded button-up shirt to tear — Rip the front open and fray the hem so the Superman shield shows through. A thrift-store shirt is ideal.
- Brown suspenders — Worn over the torn shirt, one strap slipping off the shoulder.
- Baggy brown or khaki trousers — Dirty them with a little brown shoe polish or tea staining at the knees.
- Tricorn pirate hat — One-Eyed Willy's hat from the ending. Black with a worn edge; add a feather or a skull if you like.
- Sloth mask or bald cap + prosthetic eye — A full latex mask is the fastest route. For a makeup version, use a bald cap, a prosthetic eye piece on one cheek and a set of crooked costume teeth.
- Baby Ruth candy bar — Carry a real one, or a large printed prop. It's the thing Chunk gives him and the line people quote.
- Plastic chain and shackle — Optional, around one wrist or ankle, for the basement scene.
How to put it together
Shirts and suspenders
- Put the Superman T-shirt on first.
- Add the torn button-up open at the front so the shield is fully visible. Tear one sleeve shorter than the other.
- Clip the suspenders to the trousers and let one strap hang off the shoulder.
Face (makeup version)
- Fit the bald cap and blend the edge. Sloth has a tuft of thin hair; a little crepe hair on the crown is enough.
- Glue the prosthetic eye piece low on your right cheek and paint around it with greyish-pink tones so it blends.
- Shade one side of the forehead and jaw darker than the other to exaggerate the asymmetry.
- Put in the crooked teeth last, after you've finished eating and drinking.
Hat, props and voice
- Put the pirate hat on slightly crooked, over the bald cap.
- Carry the Baby Ruth in one hand. If you want a second prop, a length of plastic chain on the wrist works.
- Learn 'Hey you guys!' and the Superman-shirt reveal; pull the torn shirt open with both hands for photos.
About the character
Sloth is Lotney Fratelli, the youngest of the Fratelli brothers in The Goonies, directed by Richard Donner from a story by Steven Spielberg. He spends most of the film chained up by his family, befriends Chunk over a Baby Ruth bar, and later frees the kids, sails with them past the traps and shouts 'Hey you guys!' from the mast of One-Eyed Willy's ship.
John Matuszak, a former NFL defensive end who played for the Oakland Raiders, wore heavy prosthetic makeup that took hours to apply and included a mechanically controlled eye. The costume has stayed popular because the pieces are everyday clothes with one strong reveal, and because Sloth is the film's most loved character despite being its scariest-looking one.
Frequently asked questions
What does Sloth wear in The Goonies?
A ragged, torn shirt over a Superman T-shirt, baggy trousers held up with suspenders, and, by the end of the film, One-Eyed Willy's tricorn pirate hat. He is also seen in chains in the Fratellis' basement.
How do I do Sloth's face without a full mask?
Use a bald cap, a small latex prosthetic eye glued low on one cheek, crooked costume teeth and grey-pink face paint shaded darker on one side. It won't be screen-accurate, but with the Superman shirt and pirate hat the character is unmistakable.
Is Sloth a good couples or group costume?
Yes. Chunk is the obvious partner: a Hawaiian-print shirt, plaid trousers and a bag of snacks, doing the Truffle Shuffle. A full Goonies group adds Mikey, Data, Mouth, Andy, Stef and Brand.
Is a Sloth costume appropriate?
Sloth is a sympathetic hero, and the costume is affectionate rather than mocking. Keep the makeup in the cartoonish style of the film rather than realistic injury makeup, and you'll be fine.
Further reading
More Classic TV & Film costumes
- George Jetson Costume — Classic TV & Film
- Elroy Jetson Costume — Classic TV & Film
- Barney Rubble Costume — Classic TV & Film