26 Things From the Past We’d Bring Back in A Heartbeat

There were plenty of little joys that made us smile throughout the ‘90s and early aughts — the sweet, plasticky-smell of a brand-new VHS tape, writing on your classroom’s overhead projector with one of those fancy markers, taking a trip to the grocery store and not spending $100, and of course, breaking in a brand new CD. 

“Something about biting that cellophane off and frantically unwrapping it,” one Redditor recalled of the nostalgic experience. “Such a rush.” 

The tactile experience of opening a CD, flipping through the picture-filled liner notes and listening to it without ads blaring every two songs is one of many old-school trends we’d love to see make a comeback in 2025. 

Redditors mentioned other artifacts they’re hoping make a speedy return, including video rental stores, screen-less car consoles and calls with two human participants.