Think you’re still keeping up with pop culture? Think again. These 10 moments, from iconic movie releases to technological breakthroughs, quietly slipped into “ancient” territory while we were busy living lives. These pop culture events will hit you right in the nostalgia (and maybe your lower back).
10. The Notebook Turned 20 Years Old
When The Notebook celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024, millennials everywhere had an existential crisis. The romantic drama starring Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams premiered in June 2004 and instantly became the ultimate tearjerker for an entire generation. Its longevity is remarkable, with the film still playing regularly on television two decades later.
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9. Mean Girls Hit Its 20-Year Mark
Mean Girls turning 20 in 2024 sent shockwaves through social media as millennials realized their high school years were ancient history. Lines like “On Wednesdays we wear pink” and “That’s so fetch” remain embedded in pop culture vocabulary. The movie even had a Broadway musical adaptation and a 2024 musical film remake, proving its enduring relevance.
8. Shrek 2 Celebrated Two Decades
Shrek 2 turned 20 in 2024, making millennials feel ancient about a movie they watched so many times growing up. The sequel premiered in May 2004 and became DreamWorks’ highest-grossing film ever. The film’s closing performance of “Livin’ La Vida Loca” remains dated to 2004, yet somehow the movie continues to resonate with Gen Z.
7. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Approaches 25 Years
Warner Bros. announced in 2024 that Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone will celebrate its 25th anniversary with a theatrical re-release in 2026. For millennials who grew up reading the books and watching the movies, this milestone is quite shocking. Many fans were children when they first experienced the magic of Hogwarts, and now they’re approaching middle age.
6. Lost Premiered 20 Years Ago
The mystery series Lost that premiered on ABC in September 2004 and celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024 is a sobering reminder of how television has evolved. Lost aired before the streaming era, when viewers had to wait weekly for new episodes and theorize together about the island’s mysteries. For fans who spent six years invested in the survivors’ journey, the 20-year milestone feels jarring.
5. The Original iPhone’s 18th Anniversary
The original iPhone launched in 2007, so we’re approaching nearly two decades since Steve Jobs revolutionized mobile technology. The device had no App Store, no copy-and-paste, and no 3G connectivity, yet it changed everything. The iPhone’s multi-touch screen and smooth interface made physical keyboards obsolete.
4. Batman Begins Turned 20 in 2025
Christopher Nolan’s Batman Begins celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2025, making comic book movie fans feel old about the film that launched the Dark Knight trilogy. Batman Begins introduced a darker, more psychologically complex take on the Caped Crusader that influenced countless superhero films afterward.
3. YouTube Launched 20 Years Ago
YouTube was founded in February 2005 and officially launched to the public in May 2005, celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2025. The first video, “Me at the zoo,” was uploaded on April 23, 2005, by co-founder Jawed Karim. Google acquired YouTube in 2006 for $1.65 billion, and today it’s the second-most visited website globally with over 2 billion users.
2. Friends Turned 30 Years Old
The popular sitcom Friends celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2024. This show about six New Yorkers navigating life, love, and careers ran for ten seasons and became one of the most successful sitcoms in television history. Despite ending in 2004, Friends remains popular through streaming, introducing new generations to Central Perk and making “How you doin’?” a timeless pickup line.
1. Avengers: Endgame Turned 5 Years Old
The film premiered in 2019, earning $2.798 billion worldwide and became the highest-grossing film of all time (temporarily). It brought together over a decade of Marvel Cinematic Universe storytelling in a three-hour conclusion that had fans sobbing in theaters worldwide. What makes this moment jarring is that five years feels like nothing, yet the MCU landscape has completely transformed since then.
