12 Things Millennials Wish Would Make a Comeback

For millennials, nostalgia is a powerful force, calling back to a simpler time when Tamagotchis ruled the playground and Blockbuster was a Friday night staple. Though technology has advanced and trends have changed, there are some things millennials wish would make a serious comeback. Here are 12 blasts from the past that millennials would welcome back with open arms.

1. Blockbuster and the Magic of Movie Rentals

Friday nights at Blockbuster were a whole experience. Walking through aisles, holding VHS tapes (or, eventually, DVDs), and debating which movie to take home was a social event. There was nothing like the thrill of snagging the last copy of a new release or uncovering a hidden gem in the horror section. The anticipation of a movie night, complete with popcorn and possibly late fees, made the experience more memorable than endless scrolling on streaming services ever could.

2. Mixtapes and Burned CDs

In the era before playlists, making a mixtape or burning a CD for someone was practically a love language. It took time, effort, and planning to curate the perfect selection of songs that captured a mood or message. You couldn’t just hit “share”—you had to wait for each song to burn individually, adding an element of suspense and excitement. Millennials would gladly trade algorithm-driven playlists for a lovingly crafted mix from a friend or crush.

3. AIM (AOL Instant Messenger)

AIM was the birthplace of online friendships and teen drama, complete with cryptic away messages and usernames like “x0xSK8ERchickx0x.” Before group chats and DMs, AIM was where friendships blossomed and gossip thrived. Entire evenings could be spent chatting on AIM, carefully crafting away messages with song lyrics or obscure status updates. Millennials would love a return to the simplicity of AIM, where messages weren’t “left on read”—they were just ignored.

4. Flip Phones and the Sweet, Sweet Hang-Up Slam

Nothing quite compares to the satisfaction of slamming a flip phone shut to punctuate an argument or end a conversation with dramatic flair. Flip phones were iconic, and the satisfying “snap” when closing one was like mic-dropping in phone form. Plus, T9 texting made messaging an art form. In a world of endless notifications, a return to flip phones would offer a kind of simplicity—and drama—that smartphones can’t replicate.

5. Lisa Frank School Supplies

Colorful, sparkly, and absolutely over-the-top, Lisa Frank school supplies turned notebooks and folders into works of neon art. Unicorns, pandas, and rainbows adorned every page, making mundane homework feel a little more magical. Owning a Lisa Frank binder was a status symbol, and millennials would love a chance to relive the sheer joy of opening a Trapper Keeper filled with her technicolor wonders.

6. MTV Playing Actual Music Videos

Once upon a time, MTV actually stood for “Music Television” and showed music videos all day. From TRL to endless video rotations, MTV gave millennials a place to discover new artists and obsess over videos. Watching your favorite song’s video was an event, especially if it featured some groundbreaking choreography or dramatic storyline. Millennials wish MTV would go back to its roots, ditching reality shows in favor of music discovery.

7. Tamagotchis and Digital Pets

Managing a Tamagotchi was every millennial’s first taste of responsibility—and sometimes heartbreak when their pet “died” in class. These digital pets needed constant care and attention, adding a thrill of challenge and a lot of button-mashing. Digital pets taught millennials about commitment, guilt, and the importance of charging your device. They’d welcome a return to this low-stakes responsibility, which feels charmingly simple compared to today’s app-centered world.

8. The Scholastic Book Fair

Few things were as exciting as the Scholastic Book Fair rolling into your school with new books, posters, and novelty erasers galore. Armed with a few crumpled dollars, you’d browse colorful displays, picking out the latest Goosebumps book or maybe a glittery pencil case. It wasn’t just a chance to buy books; it was a magical literary escape and a rite of passage. Millennials would love to see book fairs make a comeback, especially since books seem even more special in our screen-saturated world.

9. Disposable Cameras and Surprise Photo Prints

Before every moment was Insta-ready, disposable cameras captured events without filters, edits, or previews. You had no idea how your photos would turn out until you picked them up from the photo lab days later. Blurry shots, random photo-bombs, and accidental selfies gave each roll its charm. Millennials would welcome the return of these little surprises and the joy of flipping through freshly printed photos with friends.

10. Saturday Morning Cartoons

Saturday morning was once a sacred time for cartoons, with shows like Animaniacs, Recess, and The Powerpuff Girls lighting up screens for hours. Armed with a bowl of sugary cereal, kids would gather to watch their favorite characters and get lost in the animated chaos. Streaming services offer convenience, but there was something magical about waking up early to catch a scheduled lineup that millennials would love to experience again.

11. Landlines and Memorized Phone Numbers

In the era before smartphones and contacts, every millennial had at least a handful of phone numbers memorized and could recognize a friend’s number at a glance. Landlines meant you had to talk to someone’s parents first, which made calling friends a bit of a social gamble. Millennials would love to bring back the simpler, unplugged feel of landlines, where “phone time” was intentional and waiting for a call had a real sense of anticipation.

12. Physical Copies of Magazines (With Actual Posters!)

Magazine culture in the ‘90s and early 2000s was more than just reading—it was a full experience. Magazines like Teen People, Seventeen, and Tiger Beat came packed with celebrity posters, quizzes, and tips on life and love. Flipping through glossy pages and tearing out posters for bedroom walls was a ritual that online content just can’t replace. Millennials would welcome the chance to grab a fresh, physical magazine and indulge in a bit of analog celebrity gossip.

Like our content? Be sure to follow us!