If there was ever a time to be a millennial, it’s right now. Everything this generation grew up with and loved and adored, is coming back to give you all the nostalgia feels. It’s a phenomenon known as “millennial nostalgia,” and 2022 really fueled the “old is new again” fire.
According to Pew Research, millennials have officially taken over as the country’s largest living adult population, which means there’s plenty out there to share all of their favorite things with the rest of the free world.
It started with fashion trends, and the return of flannels and Doc Martens circa ’90s grunge, flared pants, scrunchies, and bomber jackets. Once we put that flannel on and laced up those Doc’s, we could hear the riff from “What’s My Age Again” by Blink-182 in our mind’s ear and it left us craving more.
In fact, music from the ’90s is more popular than ever right now, according to a recent survey by Axios. It’s played and streamed more than even current music. 2022 brought reunion tours with Rage Against the Machine, the Backstreet Boys, the Black Crowes and the Fugees, plus a major concert headlined by all our fave emo bands.
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From music we were streaming to shows, it’s been all about the reboot, with shows like Bel Air (inspired by the Fresh Prince of Bel Air), Wednesday (inspired by The Addams Family), Saved by the Bell, and even one of our favorite Saturday morning cartoons, Fraggle Rock.
That sense of nostalgia transitioned from small-screen to big-screen in a BIG way. The top 5 grossing movies of last year were all remakes or sequels, according to Box Office Mojo by IMDb Pro, led off by Top Gun: Maverick, a sequel 30-years later.
And this trend shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. Here are seven TV shows, movies, and concerts you can enjoy for a hefty dose of nostalgia this year.
1. Movie: Barbie
It doesn’t get much more nostalgic than Barbie. Although she’s been around since the late ’50s, she really reached her peak in the ’80s.
Through that decade, Barbie changed with the times and became a career woman, a fashion icon, and more than just a doll. The much-anticipated movie starring Ryan Gosling and Margot Robbie hits theaters in July.
2. Movie: Teen Wolf
Paramount+ is reviving the popular ’80s movie starring Michael J. Fox on Jan. 26th. It was revived once before, as a TV show, in 2011. This time, it picks up where the series left off, so fans can see what happens to werewolf Scott McCall.
3. Movie: Scream VI
We didn’t have to wait long for the next installment of our favorite ’90s slasher film. After its popular 5th installment was released last year, Scream is back — this time, in New York City, and without Neve Campbell.
4. Movie: Super Mario Bros.
If you didn’t spend the greater part of your childhood trying to rescue Princess Toadstool in the Mushroom Kingdom, are you even a millennial? The popular ’80s video game is coming to life on the big screen with the April release of Super Mario Bros. the movie.
5. TV show: That ’90s Show
Remember when we watched That ’70s Show and it seemed like such a throwback? Well, the cast is back but this time they’re living in the ’90s for a Netflix reboot called That ’90s Show.
The sitcom stars Topher Grace and Laura Prepon, with guest appearances from Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis, and Wilmer Valderrama. It premiers on Jan. 19th.
6. Concert tour: Janet Jackson
That’s Miss Jackson, if ya nasty. That’s right, Michael’s younger sister is back on tour after a four-year hiatus from performing. The “Together Again” tour is set to kick off in Hollywood, FL, in April, and the singer teased she has new music on the horizon, too.
7. Concert tour: Blink-182
While we’ve seen plenty of Travis Barker on Keeping up with the Kardashians lately, we’re super stoked to see the Blink-182 drummer back to doing what he does best, and back with his old Krew. (Sorry, we couldn’t resist).
The trio will headline a world tour starting in March, for the first time since 2015. They’ll hit up the “When We Were Young Festival” along with Green Day and Good Charlotte, and a new album (yay!) drops in October.
