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30 Things We Miss About the Early 2000s

Everyone reminisces about the 1990s. Yeah, it was a great decade. Many of our favorite movies are from that decade, and it was when music was revolutionized. We got bands like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Foo Fighters, Spice Girls, and so many more. It’s alright to miss the ‘90s, but what about the 2000s? Specifically, the early 2000s.

The early 2000s was a magical time period. It had the best movies, music, and life influences. The kids that grew up in the 2000s would forever be changed by the way the world was. It was a short period of pure happiness and carefree child-like experiences. Naturally, I miss everything from those years from the bleached denim to the bad highlights. However, some things hit me in the heart every time I think about the days gone by.

These are some sights, smells, and sounds that make me wish I could go back and relive the early 2000s all over again. If there were 30 things that I could bring back from that time, this would be them. Is there anything that you think should have made the list? Do you miss anything that’s on there now?

Click “Let’s Begin” to start the slideshow.

Blockbuster

Blockbuster

There was nothing quite like strolling the aisles of Blockbuster just to check out your favorite movie for the 100th time.

Rept0n1x, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Justin Timberlake's Curls

Justin Timberlake's Curls

I still don’t understand why he looks back on this hair era with embarrassment. He rocked it.

Dave Hogan/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Low Gas Prices

Low Gas Prices

Gas was almost always under $2 per gallon. You could fill up nearly any tank on $20. Now $20 isn’t a full tank for most vehicles.

FotoGuy 49057, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

MTV

MTV

When it was still worth watching and full of the original Real Worlds and tons of Carson Daly.

 

Pressestelle Viacom, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Youth

Youth

Oh sweet, sweet innocence. I’ll always miss my blissful ignorance about life.

(Image via Adobe)

Queen-of-Pop Britney

Queen-of-Pop Britney

I have never wanted to be like a celebrity as much as I did when Britney was a rhinestone-bikini-clad role model.

 

L. Busacca/WireImage/Getty Images

Early Social Media

Early Social Media

The early years of social media shaped so many personalities and paved the way for the new age of digital media. Myspace allowed users to express themselves however they wanted for the first time.

Paul Irish/omg myspace. eww./CC BY 2.0 DEED/Flickr

Unbreakable Phones

Unbreakable Phones

Remember when you dropped your phone and didn’t immediately panic? Me, too. Nokia brick phones were basically unbreakable.

reshoot - stock.adobe.com

SATC

SATC

Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda taught me what it was like to live in New York City – even if it was a little ridiculous at times. Where are the girls?!

Martamenchini, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

AOL Messenger

AOL Messenger

I spent hours chatting with my friends at school, but I couldn’t wait to get home to talk to them on AIM. #RIPAIM.

Brendan Dolan-Gavitt/AOL Instant Messenger/CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED/Flickr

All the Lils

All the Lils

Lil Kim. Lil Romeo. Lil Bow Wow. Easily the pinnacle of pop music. Oh how we miss you all.

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images; L. Cohen/WireImage/Getty Images

Lizzie McGuire

Lizzie McGuire

Lizzie is the definition of courage and bravery. She mixed prints, wore crazy colors, and her hair was always on fleek. The Lizzie McGuire Movie was everything we needed at that age.

Walt Disney Pictures/Buena Vista Pictures Distribution

The Weakest Link

The Weakest Link

You had to think fast or you’d be cut. I can still hear the host saying “You are the Weakest Link. Goodbye.”

Comic Relief/Getty Images Entertainment/Getty Images

All Denim Outfits

All Denim Outfits

So easy to put together. So comfy. JT and Brit were the ultimate fashion inspo, and we were all envious of their style.

Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage/Getty Images

Early Nickelodeon

Early Nickelodeon

Early Nick defined childhood for so many kids across the United States. From Angry Beavers to All That and The Amanda Show – it was all fantastic.

Albert L. Ortega/WireImage/Getty Images

Boy Bands

Boy Bands

Boy bands can’t stick around nowadays, and they don’t have the same flair N’Sync and Backstreet Boys had.

Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection/Getty Images

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston

Why couldn’t they stay together forever? They were #goals when the hashtag was called “pound.” Long live Braniston!

Kevin Winter/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Delia Fashion Catalogue

Delia Fashion Catalogue

Even if you didn’t order anything from the Delia catalogue, it was basically a wishlist of everything you wanted.

(Image via Delia)

Xtina's First Album

Xtina's First Album

Pure gold. Is any song as classic as “Genie in a Bottle?”

Vinnie Zuffante/Archive Photos/Getty Images

Not Being Recorded

Not Being Recorded

The 2000s were the days when you could do something stupid, and you didn’t end up on YouTube. There was no such thing as a “viral video.”

ookawaphoto - stock.adobe.com

Being Phone-less

Being Phone-less

I remember a day when everyone didn’t stare down at the phones all the time. Friends talked to each other and people didn’t panic when they didn’t have the cell with them.

Farknot Architect - stock.adobe.com

Mix CDs

Mix CDs

Giving your friend (or crush) a mix CD was the ultimate message. You filled it with songs you thought they’d like that expressed the perfect message.

Buzz Feed/Mix CD/CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED/Flickr

Original Movie Ideas

Original Movie Ideas

Tired of remakes and sequels? Same. The 2000s were the golden age of film that gave us great ideas like American Psycho, Mean Girls, Memento, Donnie Darko, Shaun of the Dead, and Almost Famous.

DreamWorks Pictures/Columbia Pictures/DreamWorks Distribution, LLC

Juicy Couture

Juicy Couture

Juicy was absolutely everywhere. You couldn’t walk down the street without seeing someone wearing a velour tracksuit.

PhotoNews International Inc./FilmMagic/Getty Images

LAN Parties

LAN Parties

Before Wi-Fi was such a huge thing, friends had to get tighter for LAN Parties. Everyone brought their console or PC and hooked it up to play together.

Phillip Stewart/2000 Quake3 LAN party/CC BY-SA 2.0 DEED/Flickr

Y2K Panic

Y2K Panic

The world was just fine, but that didn’t stop the massive panic. Who said computers weren’t capable of making it through 2000?

Best Buy, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Mall Culture

Mall Culture

Even if we didn’t buy anything, it was fun hanging out with your friends at the mall. Now, no one goes to the mall, and they’re starting to close down.

olenachukhil - stock.adobe.com

Aaliyah

Aaliyah

Aaliyah was already a star, but she could have been so much more. She was a great actress and singer, and we’ll always remember her.

Kevin Mazur/WireImage/Getty Images

Teen Movies

Teen Movies

The 2000s brought us some of the best teen movies that have ever graced the screen. Mean Girls, The Princess Dairies, Bring It On, Freaky Friday, and 13 Going on 30 were some of the best teen films ever.

Broadway Video/Paramount Pictures

Hanging Up Dramatically

Hanging Up Dramatically

Does anyone else miss slamming the phone down when they were angry? Pressing the end call button doesn’t have the same cathartic effect.

ARAMYAN - stock.adobe.com