16 Epic Things From the '80s That We Desperately Miss Today

The 1980s left behind a trail of bright colors, bigger-than-life style, and pop culture moments that still hit hard today. From neon fashion to unforgettable toys, the decade had a way of making even the most ordinary things feel larger than life.

For anyone who grew up then, the memories come back fast, from Saturday morning cartoons to arcade lights, mixtapes, and the kind of hair that could not be ignored. Even now, plenty of those trends still spark instant nostalgia, especially for people who remember when they were brand new.

Here are 16 things from the '80s that still make people wish they could bring them back.

1. Squeezit, Come Back.

What's sweeter than classic Ghostbusters movies? Tasty '80s drinks like Hubba Bubba soda, Squeezit, and Hi-C Ecto Cooler.

General Mills

2. Who doesn't love a muscle-bound blonde?

Twitter

3. Freezy Freakies made being out in the cold cool.

getfreezy.com

4. Remember Teddy Ruxpin? Did it hold a candle to Cabbage Patch Kids?

It's unclear whether the '80s toymakers were trying to make kids happy or scare them.

WorthPoint

5. Phones had cords and were modeled after popular characters like Mickey Mouse.

Carousell

6. Waterbeds were a thing, man. It was the '80s that spoiled us.

Throwbacks

7. The '80s had so many catchy jingles with memorable taglines.

Cult of Mac

And speaking of internet chaos, Chuck Norris’ legendary memes return as the internet mourns his loss.

8. They knew how to protect privacy!

You could clap your hands to turn your lights or television on or off without worrying that Google or Amazon might be listening.

YouTube

9. Men with giant hair was a thing...

What better way to get pumped up than driving down the highway with the windows open and your stereo blasting your favorite music?

Today, loud music makes people cringe, but back then, it was a thing... it was acceptable.

Twitter

10. With boomboxes, you could start a dance party with your friends anywhere...

Children today don't even know what a boombox is.

Twitter

11. Renting movies was a thing.

Before Netflix and chill became a thing, we used to rent movies at the local video store.

Twitter

12. Saturday mornings are for cartoons!

No one has any plans for Saturday because those days are reserved for Cartoon Network!

IMDB

13. Arcades may be dark and noisy, but to an '80s kid, they're the closest place to heaven on earth.

Rediscover the 80s

14. Mixtapes! Who's guilty?

Before Spotify and Apple Music, we sat by the radio and eagerly waited for our favorite song to come on so we could record it and create a mixtape.

Wikimedia Commons

15. The Golden Girls

Good sitcoms were the only pandemic that forced people to stay at home in the '80s.

Golden Girls Wiki

16. Unless you've slid across the dance floor in perfect Moonwalk formation or breakdanced, you can't dance.

You just can't.

Nostalgia Central

In Summary...

The '80s had some of the best movies, TV shows, and music. Star Wars, for instance, was released in 1977, but in the '80s, it became a huge hit with The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

Don't even get us started on Steven Spielberg classics like E.T., The Goonies, and the Indiana Jones movies. Are you feeling nostalgic already?

Take a deep breath and take some time off from the "cool young people movies" to relish the '80s classics. It is impossible to cover the contributions the '80s made to music in just a few paragraphs.

Some of the fashion clichés of that era can still be seen manifesting today.

If you wonder why people walk around in yoga pants today as if they are actual clothes, it might be the fault of the '80s when people rocked insanely tight spandex as everyday wear.

There is so much to love about the '80s.

Some of these throwbacks still feel impossible to replace.

Want more “good old days” chaos? See the vintage photos where your grandparents’ safety was basically optional.