We're Closer To 2050 Than 2000, And Here Are 61 Moments In Pop Culture The Defined The Past 25 Years

    This is going to be a long one, so sit tight.

    It feels like a glitch in the matrix, but we are closer to the year 2050 than we are to 2000 and it's messing up my take on time MAJORLY.

    A LOT has happened in the last 25 years in pop culture. From Y2K to Labubu, there have been incredible moments in pop culture to remember for years to come, and at this point, I cannot count them on my fingers. What can I say: as a generation, we are just that iconic!

    Before we forget our roots (Britney Spears songs and low-rise jeans), let's revisit these 61 iconic and momentous pop culture events from the past 25 years:

    Grab a bucket of popcorn and enjoy!

    1. 2000: Jennifer Lopez wears THAT iconic green Versace dress to the Grammy awards.

    A woman in a low-cut, tropical-print gown poses on a red carpet with a Grammy backdrop

    2. 2001: The first movie of the Harry Potter series, Harry Potter and The Sorceror's Stone, releases.

    Three young actors in formal attire pose at a movie event with a fantasy theme backdrop and smiling people in the background

    3. 2001: Apple's iPod is introduced, marking the start of a technological revolution of portable mobile devices.

    Two Apple Store employees assist an older customer with an iPod device in a store setting

    4. 2001: Britney Spears performs I'm A Slave 4 U, with a Burmese python at the VMAs.

    Performer on stage with a snake draped around her shoulders, wearing a green embellished top and shorts with a blue skirt accessory

    5. 2002: Halle Berry wins the Oscar for Best Actress, becoming the first Black woman to win one.

    Person in floral gown holds an award, smiling, at a ceremony with a large gold statue in the background

    6. 2002: Britney Spears and Justin Timberlake split up, resulting in the iconic track, Cry Me A River.

    Two people seated, one wearing a turtleneck sweater, the other in a dress with a choker, smiling and leaning close together at an event

    7. 2003: Beyoncé goes solo with her debut album, Dangerously In Love, starting her legendary career and establishing herself as a pop culture icon.

    Performer on stage kneels in a fringed, sparkling dress and heels, surrounded by audience and bright lights, exuding energy and joy

    8. 2003: The iconic Madonna-Britney-Christina VMA kiss sets the stage ablaze.

    Three performers in stylish white outfits on stage; two are kissing, creating a memorable media moment

    9. 2004: Facebook is launched, heralding the dominance of social media on the human conscience.

    Smartphone displaying the Facebook logo on the screen against a blurred background

    10. 2004: Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction sparks controversy.

    Two performers on stage; one wears a leather jacket, and the other wears a casual jacket over a t-shirt

    11. 2004: Tina Fey's directorial debut, Mean Girls, was released, eventually becoming a cult classic.

    Four performers in Santa outfits on stage, smiling and posing side by side, in front of a "Winter Talent Show" sign

    12. 2004: The F.R.I.E.N.D.S. finale episode becomes the fourth most-watched TV episode of all time, with 52.3 million viewers.

    Five people from a sitcom stand in a living room. Two couples embrace, while another person watches with a neutral expression

    13. 2005: YouTube goes live, and the era of long-form videos begins.

    Play button symbol on a rectangular background, resembling the YouTube logo

    14. 2006: The film The Da Vinci Code released, and it sparked intense backlash and discourse, with many Christian groups worldwide calling it blasphemous.

    Three people on a red carpet in formal wear with suits and an off-shoulder dress, posing for a photo

    15. 2007: The first iPhone is released.

    A person holding a smartphone on stage, wearing a simple black turtleneck and glasses

    16. 2007: Keeping Up With The Kardashians debuts, marking a new genre within reality TV.

    Group of people posing outdoors for a "Keeping Up with the Kardashians" promotional image. Casual, stylish attire

    17. 2008: Iron Man hits theatres, marking the beginning of the MCU universe.

    A person in a suit exits a car on a red carpet; the same person is shown dressed in a metallic superhero costume

    18. 2008: Heath Ledger passes away at 28, and wins a posthumous Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for The Dark Knight.

    Audience at an award show watches a tribute to Heath Ledger, displayed on a large screen with his Joker image from "The Dark Knight."

    19. 2009: Barack Obama becomes the first Black president of the United States.

    A person is being sworn in, wearing a suit with a tie; another stands beside, holding a Bible. They are on an official platform with a judge present

    20. 2009: Kanye West interrupts Taylor Swift on stage as she accepts her award for Best Female Video, igniting a long-lasting feud between the two stars.

    Taylor Swift holds an award in a sparkly dress, surprised, as a man gestures and talks on stage. Another woman in a short dress stands nearby

    21. 2009: The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, passes away.

    Performer singing passionately on stage, wearing a sequined jacket and white T-shirt, with one arm raised

    22. 2009: Slumdog Millionaire takes home 8 Oscars for Best Picture, Best Original Score, Best Director, Best Sound Mixing, Best Cinematography, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing, and Best Sound Editing.

    A large group of film cast and crew, dressed formally, celebrate on stage holding Oscars, showing joy and excitement

    23. 2009: James Cameron releases Avatar, which would go on to re-define 3D cinema by becoming the highest-grossing film ever—beating Cameron's own Titanic.

    A group of people in formal attire pose together on a blue carpet at an event

    24. 2010: One Direction is formed on X-factor, re-starting the boy band phenomenon.

    Five young men pose together, wearing casual outfits with jackets, tee shirts, and jeans, in front of a red carpet backdrop

    25. 2010: Instagram was launched.

    Smartphone displaying the Instagram logo and app interface, with a blurred colorful background

    26. 2012: The viral Korean song, Gangnam Style, is released by Psy, sending waves across countries—with 5.49 billion views on YouTube.

    Performer in a black sequin outfit dances on stage with male dancers in white suits, surrounded by cheerleaders

    27. 2012: Avengers and The Dark Knight Rises battle it out at the Box Office.

    Superheroes from two different comic universes depicted in dynamic action scenes, each prepared for battle amidst dramatic cityscapes

    28. 2014: Ellen Degeneres takes the most iconic selfie at the Academy Awards.

    Group of celebrities posing for a selfie at an event, smiling and cheerful, wearing formal attire including tuxedos and gowns

    29. 2014: Kim Kardashian's PAPER magazine photoshoot breaks the internet.

    Person in a glamorous, form-fitting sequin gown creatively pouring a bottle of champagne with an exuberant splash

    30. 2015: Zayn Malik leaves One Direction, breaking hearts everywhere.

    Person wearing a sleek suit with a satin lapel, looking forward with a neutral expression

    31. 2015: Selfie sticks are seen literally everywhere!

    A man and woman take a selfie with a smartphone on a stick in front of a historic building with statues

    32. 2016: Leonardo DiCaprio finally wins his first Oscar for Best Male Lead for The Revenant.

    Person in a tuxedo holding an Oscar statue, standing in front of a large Oscar award statuette

    33. 2016: Pokemon Go has everyone running on the streets, attempting to catch Pokemon on their phones.

    A large crowd walks under a canopy of trees, many focused on their phones

    34. 2017: The New York Times publishes an article on the investigation into Harvey Weinstein sexually harassing numerous actresses, and #MeToo movement takes over the world.

    Sign at a protest reads: "We roar today so our granddaughters won't have to #MeToo."

    35. 2018: Beyonce headlines at Coachella.

    Singer performs on stage wearing a pink blouse and denim shorts, surrounded by dancers in matching pink outfits and white boots

    36. 2019: The chaotic "Storm Area 51" meme was born. It started with an event on Facebook called "Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All Of Us," with over 2 million people RSVPing. It was a joke to raid the military base of the US, with the aim to uncover "aliens."

    Person in blanket raises hands near guardrail as others observe near fenced area at night

    37. 2020: Bong Joon Ho's Parasite becomes the first foreign language film to win Best Picture at the Academy Awards.

    Group of people in formal attire on stage at an awards show, some holding trophies, celebrating an apparent victory. Audience is visible in foreground

    38. 2020: WHO declares COVID-19 a global pandemic.

    Healthcare workers in protective gear attend to patients in a busy hospital ward. One patient lies on a bed receiving care

    39. 2021: Netflix releases Squid Game, and it was a HUGE success—with over 1.6 billion hours watched in the first month.

    The image shows a "Squid Game" promotional poster with contestants in tracksuits, a giant doll in the background, and the release date and platform details

    40. 2021: The F.R.I.E.N.D.S. reunion has us all reminiscing about our favorite moments with the cast.

    People sitting around a table engaged in a discussion, with papers on the table

    41. 2022: Will Smith slaps Chris Rock on live television during the Academy Awards.

    Two men on stage, one in a velvet tuxedo, the other in a suit, during an award show; one gestures toward the other

    42. 2022: Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's defamation trial is televised.

    Two people are shown side by side, each wearing formal attire. The individual on the left wears sunglasses and a tie, while the one on the right has a patterned jacket

    43. 2022: Argentina wins the Fifa World Cup, and Messi lifts the trophy—a day we had all waited for!

    Soccer team celebrates with gold medals and a trophy, cheering energetically on a victory stage

    44. 2023: The Barbenheimer summer has theaters swamped with fans, re-igniting our love for film once again.

    Left: Person in an elegant pink gown posing on a "Barbie" themed red carpet. Right: Four individuals in stylish attire posing at an "Oppenheimer" event

    45. 2023: The SAG-AFTRA strikes begin over labor rights, with 160,000 workers walking off the sets, demanding wage increases and better protection against AI.

    A large crowd of people hold signs saying "SAG-AFTRA On Strike" during a street protest, with a few photographers capturing the scene

    46. 2024: The rise of 'Brat' culture—thanks to Charli XCX! With her new album, everyone had a Brat summer and gave zero f**ks.

    A person energetically performs on stage, wearing a furry jacket and distressed jeans, surrounded by an enthusiastic crowd

    47. 2024: Taylor Swift's Eras tour is a massive success, grossing a record-breaking $2.07 billion!

    Singer in a long dress performs energetically on stage, surrounded by a stadium filled with lights

    48. 2025: Kendrick Lamar performs a historic routine at the Super Bowl Halftime Show, singing his iconic song Not Like Us—amid his feud with Drake.

    A performer in a blue sports jacket stands center stage, surrounded by dancers in red and white hoodies bending towards him

    49. 2025: SNL holds its 50th anniversary celebration with 15 million fans watching.

    A group of people in theatrical costumes energetically pose on a stage under a sign reading "New York to Ford: Who's Dead Now?" during a live show

    And now some of the unforgettable Desi pop culture moments:

    50. 2000: Kaho Naa... Pyaar Hai is released, marking the debut of Hrithik Roshan, propelling him into an overnight sensation.

    People dancing energetically in vibrant 80s-style outfits during an outdoor event. The scene features eclectic costumes and lively expressions

    51. 2000: Priyanka Chopra wins Miss World, and thus begins her journey to stardom.

    Person wearing an ornate gown and a crown, with a sash reading "World 2000," waves to the audience

    52. 2001: Karan Johar's Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham releases and sets Shah Rukh Khan's name in stone in Bollywood.

    People in traditional attire, celebrating with joyful expressions and dance, featuring a prominent man in the left image with others in a group on the right

    53. 2002: Lagaan is nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Academy Awards.

    Five individuals pose in front of a large Oscar statue. Three are standing, two are seated. They wear casual and business attire

    54. 2006: Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Rang De Basanti hits theatres, and would go on to influence protests and movements IRL.

    Five people stand in a relaxed pose, smiling. One wears a leather jacket, others wear casual shirts and t-shirts. Sky in the background

    55. 2008: Madhur Bhandarkar's Fashion, starring Priyanka Chopra, hits theatres, and goes on to win the National Award.

    Woman with long hair in a sleeveless gown, reclining on textured pillows, looking at the camera

    56. 2011: India wins the ICC World Cup with MS Dhoni as the captain of the Indian team.

    Cricket team celebrating with the World Cup trophy on stage, under a "Champions" banner, at a stadium event

    57. 2013: The legendary Indian cricket player, Sachin Tendulkar, retires from cricket.

    Cricketer in blue uniform raises a bat and helmet in celebration on the field

    58. 2023: Naatu Naatu from RRR wins the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

    Two individuals pose with awards. One wears a patterned tunic; the other is in a suit. They stand on a stage with "Oscars 95" signage

    59. 2023: Diljit Dosanjh brings Punjab to Coachella, becoming the first Punjabi singer to do so.

    Performer in traditional attire sings on stage with large flame effect beside them

    60. 2025: Royal Challengers Bengaluru finally lifted the IPL trophy after18 years!

    A cricket team in matching sporty attire celebrates, holding up a large trophy with joy and enthusiasm

    My fingers are hurting from typing up all of these momentous events. Wow—we have all lived through these amazing pop culture moments; it definitely feels like this ALL happened a few days ago. Now age is catching up to me. I do not know what 2050 holds for us—whether climate change will do its thing or not—but one thing is for sure: we will be getting some good cultural material to keep us going till then and have hope.

    I will be 46 in 2050—give me a moment to cry on that.