- 6/23/2025
Everything old is new again! Join us as we count down the most surprising comebacks that took the world by storm. From nostalgic hobbies that surged during the pandemic to retro fashion pieces that returned to the mainstream, these revivals caught everyone off guard. Which unexpected resurgence surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments!
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00:00After school at Scorpio Rising and the kids are digging through the racks for treasures from
00:05another time. Welcome to WatchMojo and today we're counting down our picks for the top things in
00:11mainstream pop culture that had an unexpected resurgence. Here's why this antique format is
00:17coming back both in spite of and because of the digital music revolution. Number 10, retro fitness
00:27trends. Dusting off an old Jane Fonda workout video, you're not alone. Are you ready to do the
00:32workout? Both step aerobics, which Fonda was the queen of, and dance workouts in general were booming
00:39in the 90s and then fell off a bit before experiencing a resurgence. The rhythmic high
00:45energy moves and throwback vibes have people jumping back into their old exercise routines
00:50and others dipping their toes in for the first time. Point your toes. One, two, three, four.
00:59If you're in an aerobics class or you decide to try one, don't be surprised if you spot some retro
01:05leg warmers making a return too. Matter of fact, maybe it's you wearing them. Okay, let's add the
01:10arms and reach them to the side. Number nine, jigsaw puzzles. During the COVID-19 pandemic,
01:17people needed new ways or old ways to pass the time. One of the biggest comebacks,
01:23jigsaw puzzles. Jigsaw puzzles are providing a welcome relief for families looking to pass the
01:27time together and sales are skyrocketing. The history of jigsaw puzzles dates back to the 18th
01:33century. In 2020, puzzle makers like Seaco and Ravensburger saw sales skyrocket by at least 300%.
01:41How much of puzzle sales increased? Oh, three or 400%. Seaco's president even revealed that in just
01:48one day in March, the company sold more puzzles than it had the entire previous December. The puzzle
01:55shelves at various toy stores were cleaned out as retailers struggled to keep up with such an
02:00unexpected surge in demand. We're shipping out more than a full tractor trailer every day of completed
02:06orders. Number eight, knitting and crochet. Crochet is making a comeback and it's not just about granny
02:12squares and doilies. TikTokers are loving it. These two activities often associated with older
02:18generations have made a comeback for several reasons. The internet, social media, celebrities,
02:24and the COVID-19 pandemic. Sharing knitting and crochet content online has helped these crafts reach
02:30more people than ever before. And when stars like Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz, Brooke Shields,
02:36and Russell Crowe are spotted knitting, that can only help fuel a comeback for the ages.
02:41Oh, you've got a little tight stitch here. When it comes to the pandemic, knitting and crochet
02:45provided an escape from screens and a way to recharge from work-from-home burnout. The revival of
02:52these centuries-old activities has been massive. The Craft Yarn Council of America says within just two
02:57years, knitters between 25 and 34 years old jumped 150%. Number seven, Dungeons and Dragons. Once a
03:06cornerstone of the stereotypical idea of nerd culture, Dungeons and Dragons re-emergence, particularly
03:13its breakthrough into mainstream culture, has been exceptional. The dungeon master takes them through
03:18a strange castle this time, and they must respond to each situation he describes according to their
03:25characters. While many continued to play this iconic role-playing game in the decades following its
03:30release in 1974, 2017 saw the highest number of D&D players ever. And that was followed by a record-breaking
03:38sales year in 2018. Dungeons and Dragons, which turned 50 in 2024, has seen an explosion in popularity
03:45over the last 10 years. The hit Netflix series, Stranger Things, has played a significant role in D&D's
03:51substantial growth in popularity, given its thematic ties to the game and multiple scenes
03:56of characters playing it. Both in-person and online D&D sessions have soared, transforming the once more
04:02niche game into a global phenomenon. D&D's surge in popularity is 100% the people.
04:11Number six, Roller Skating. While the roller skate disco scene of the 1970s and 1980s might not be
04:18poppin' in the same way it was back then, roller skating in general made a significant comeback in
04:232020. Roller skating is back, and it's gone mainstream. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic,
04:30the early 21st century was a period of decline for the once uber-popular activity. Amidst the
04:36unprecedented, challenging times of the pandemic, roller skating offered an outlet for nostalgic fun.
04:42Roller skating is going through a new renaissance right now, and since the pandemic began,
04:47skate sales have skyrocketed. More rolling was going on, whether it was in driveways,
04:52streets, or skate parks. Throw on some music too, and this retro vibe activity has allowed many people
04:58to have a blast. After seeing all the videos on YouTube and actually coming and being here,
05:03it felt like walking into a movie. Number five, Classic Arcade Games. Nostalgia is powerful,
05:10like really powerful. While video games have evolved in terms of graphics, complexity,
05:14and gameplay, classic arcade games were once thought to be fading away.
05:19You can get hooked on it. Are you? Yeah.
05:23After the golden age of arcade games in the late 1970s and early 1980s,
05:29arcades and coin-operated video games businesses began to lose their grip a bit.
05:33But the trends often change faster than the electronic light of the ray gun,
05:37and that makes the risk all that much greater.
05:39But it never quite reached game over territory. The simple gameplay and nostalgic charm of timeless
05:45classics like Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, and others left the door open for a revival. Many probably doubted
05:52the comeback, and understandably so, but the rise of barcades is proof that these classics are still
05:58alive and well.
05:59We say rediscover your childhood, but this time with adult beverages.
06:02Number four, Drive-In Theatres. From late March through mid-August of 2020,
06:08Drive-In Theatres generated over 80% of North American box office revenue,
06:13a stark contrast to the single-digit percentage in 2019.
06:17Last year alone, they posted a net income loss of $629 million.
06:21What changed? You guessed it, the pandemic.
06:24With traditional indoor theaters forced to shut down, Drive-Ins, once considered relics of the past,
06:30offered a safer, nostalgic alternative.
06:33The classic American experience is seeing a huge resurgence across the USA.
06:38Drive-Ins peaked in the 1950s and 1960s. Decades later, under unprecedented circumstances,
06:45they made an unexpected comeback. Some basically rose from the dead,
06:49and many kids and young adults got to experience moviegoing the way their grandparents once did.
06:55As the sun sets, grab your popcorn. The movie, Knives Out, is about to begin.
07:01Number three, Polaroid cameras. As cell phones with cameras have become ubiquitous in society,
07:07it would have been understandable for Polaroid cameras to remain a thing of the past,
07:11but not so fast. In 2001, the company declared bankruptcy. Seven years later,
07:17it halted production of its iconic instant cameras.
07:20It was the end of an era, or so it seemed.
07:23But even our phones didn't give us the same photographic experience as Polaroids.
07:27The ability to hold a physical picture, and a memory, in your hand, still held value.
07:33That became clear in 2020, when Polaroid made its long-awaited return with a new instant camera,
07:39bringing the retro, nostalgic phenomenon back with a bang.
07:43Then, when we press the shutter button, the camera will count down and take the photo.
07:48Is it doing it?
07:48Number two, vinyl records.
07:51Who ever thought vinyl records were dead?
07:54Admittedly, it seemed that way in the 1990s and early 2000s.
07:58The format hit its lowest point in 2006.
08:01With the rise of CDs, followed by digital downloads and streaming platforms,
08:06ways to listen to music have evolved over the decades.
08:09But in the 2010s, and even more so in the 2020s, vinyl records were selling in a way that made it
08:14feel like it was the 80s again. The revival wasn't just happening in one place either.
08:19We're talking multiple countries and continents.
08:22I think a lot of fans see buying things from their favorite artists as keeping those artists going.
08:28In 2017, Sony Music even announced it would be producing vinyl records again for the first time
08:33since 1989. The durability, engagement, and nostalgia of vinyl records turned out to be
08:40too potent to keep them quiet forever.
08:42Vinyl will continue to be a significant and growing part of the business.
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09:02Number 1. Vintage Fashion
09:05Fashion trends can catch on really quickly.
09:0890s nostalgia has never been bigger, especially among a generation that hadn't even been born yet.
09:15But oftentimes, they're not new styles, but old. So while it's not surprising to see something as
09:20dynamic and versatile as fashion change, there have been certain vintage clothing resurgences that
09:25have seemingly come out of nowhere. Whether it's scrunchies, fanny packs, or bell bottoms,
09:30just to name a few, time and time again, we've been shown that society can be pulled back in
09:35by cultural phenomena of the past.
09:37You're selling three times more fanny packs than me than any other month.
09:40Yes, I am.
09:41Not only that, but fashion trends can come back at any time, especially with social media,
09:46and the widespread circulation of pictures of celebs rocking throwback outfits. Maybe next time we
09:51shouldn't be so surprised about whatever throwback style makes a major comeback.
09:55The 90s have never looked better.
09:58What comeback do you think could be in the cards next? Let us know in the comments.
10:02It's one of the most polarizing names in fashion.
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