Written by: Maya Paddon
If we really think about it, 2025 was a strange year in pop culture. Two numbers absolutely took over Gen Z vocabulary, fuzzy and over-priced dolls with creepy faces fueled social media trends and were collected in massive quantities, and Katy Perry somehow managed to both begin dating our former prime minister and literally leave the planet. Despite the weirdness that was 2025 in the pop culture universe, last year was truly unforgettable for all the bizarre, hilarious, iconic, and even controversial reasons.
Thus, before we officially say goodbye to 2025, let’s take a moment or two (or six or seven) to recap and reminisce about some of the biggest moments of 2025 in pop culture.
2025 and FILM
2025 was a major year for cinema lovers, with many new releases, featuring some very notable actors, hitting theaters or streaming services and gaining abundant attention this awards season.
Sinners was one of many blockbusters in 2025, starring Michael B. Jordan, Hailee Steinfeld, and Miles Caton, among others. Directed by Ryan Coogler, known for his work on Black Panther and the Creed films, Sinners explores themes of music and identity, using vampires to metaphorically represent the horrifying and enduring impacts of racism and oppression in society.
Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battler After Another was another big release in the latter half of 2025, gaining massive media attention for its underlying political statements and highly praised acting performances. Leonardo DiCaprio made his return to the big screen in One Battle After Another, portraying a deeply flawed, yet hilarious and loving ex-revolutionary who is searching for his lost daughter. One Battle After Another also featured numerous other big names, such as Sean Penn, Teyana Taylor, Benicio del Toro, and breakout star Chase Infiniti; all of whom are being eyed for Oscar nominations and other major acting awards over the next couple of months.
What was arguably the biggest film release in 2025 was KPop Demon Hunters, simply due to its massive fanbase and immediate success. A Netflix original, KPop Demon Hunters quickly became the most-watched film on the streaming service just two months after its release, capturing attention from all demographics. Since its Netflix premier in June, hit songs from the movie such as “Golden” and “Soda Pop” have gained massive popularity on social media, with “Golden” also becoming a radio hit and earning several nominations in the “Best Song” category for various award shows.
Other films such as Jurassic World: Rebirth, Zootopia 2, Avatar: Fire and Ash, and Wicked: For Good were amongst some of the most popular and highest-grossing movies in 2025, acting as long-awaited sequels and new films in major franchises. Meanwhile, movies like Marty Supreme, Hamnet, and Sentimental Value have furthered the growth of younger actors, such as Timothée Chalamet, Paul Mescal, and Elle Fanning.
2025 and TV
2025 was a big year in television, particularly for the young adult demographic. For instance, the third and final season of The Summer I Turned Pretty premiered in mid-July. Based off of the bestselling young adult novel series with the same name, The Summer I Turned Pretty gained significant global attention through its well-known soundtrack, meme-worthy scenes, quotable lines, and of course, the heated debates sparked by “Team Conrad” and “Team Jeremiah” fandoms.
The final season of Stranger Things also premiered in late 2025. Released in three parts and with eight episodes total, Stranger Things’ fifth season was highly anticipated, considering viewers had to wait three years between seasons four and five. While fans were incredibly divided on the show’s conclusion, there is no doubt that Stranger Things proved its cultural significance in 2025. From its nostalgic 80s music and aesthetics, to well-loved characters, to crashing Netflix multiple times, Stranger Things will almost certainly establish its legacy as a result of its massive popularity and unique combination of sci-fi, horror, and coming-of-age themes.
Other television shows such as The Pitt, The Studio, Severance, and The White Lotus quickly established large fan followings through their awards success and the release of new seasons.
Reality shows also gained abundant media attention throughout 2025. Dancing With The Stars featured numerous celebrities that further popularized the dance competition show, such as Jordan Chiles, Danielle Fishel, Alix Earle, and winner Robert Irwin. Other reality television shows like Love Island, Survivor, and The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives were amongst some of the most popular in 2025, creating new TikTok audios and becoming common topics of conversation online.
2025 and MUSIC
Many of 2025’s biggest music stars are still rising to fame as they gradually gained popularity over the course of the year. Artists like Olivia Dean, Sombr, and Alex Warren all released respective hit songs and will most likely continue to make strides in the music industry due to their early successes.
Other, more established artists furthered their musical success with new releases throughout the year. Lady Gaga’s Mayhem album debuted in early March, earning her a Grammy nomination a few months ago. Sabrina Carpenter released her latest album, Man’s Best Friend, in late August, featuring hit songs such as “Manchild” and “Nobody’s Son”, which quickly took over the radio and appeared all over TikTok. Other new albums, such as Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl and Bad Bunny’s Debí Tirar Más Fotos, were key releases, with Bad Bunny earning several awards for his most recent work and being selected as the upcoming Superbowl halftime performer.
2025 and SPORTS
For Canadians, baseball was arguably the most significant sport in 2025. The Toronto Blue Jays had a season to remember, placing first in the American League East and ultimately defeating the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners to advance to the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Despite a heartbreaking game seven loss for fans, the World Series run for the Jays was certainly memorable as they broke franchise records, defied their underdog status, and players of all positions contributed to each win. The Dodgers, on the other hand, celebrated their second World Series title in a row, with talents like Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and star pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto playing key roles in the team’s success.
Like the Dodgers, the Florida Panthers of the National Hockey League (NHL) won their second title in a row, defeating the Edmonton Oilers in six games to win the Stanley Cup. Meanwhile, other teams such as the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL) and the Oklahoma City Thunder of the National Basketball Association (NBA) clinched league titles in 2025.
Women's sports continued to grow exponentially, both in popularity and media coverage over the course of 2025. Some major highlights included the Las Vegas Aces of the Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) earning their third title in four years, 18 year old Canadian tennis star Vicky Mboko winning two titles and gaining massive media attention and new fans as a result of her early career success, and the Professional Women’s Hockey League (PWHL) expanding with two new teams in 2025.
2025 and FASHION
A wide range of fashion trends emerged throughout 2025. Pieces such as the mini jean skirt, Aritzia’s super puff jacket and sweat sets, butter yellow attire, as well as Hollister’s baby doll tops, camo print, and Y2K line quickly became staples of everyday wear.
The Y2K aesthetic was further popularized by girl group KATSEYE. Known for both their music and early-2000s clothing pieces, KATSEYE has influenced the rise of bold jewelry pieces, the straight eyebrow shape, and denim through their viral ad in collaboration with Gap.
Other notable pieces from 2025 included more cozy and casual clothing, such as cardigans, Uggs, and chunky scarves. Meanwhile, expensive, yet viral pieces such as the Marty Supreme jacket and Labubus were common accessories worn by major celebrities.
As for hairstyles, the French braid made a comeback, with loose curls, zigzag headbands, and the slick back quickly becoming go-to’s for everyday looks.
Other Unforgettable Pop Culture Moments From 2025
The pop culture world saw many new celebrity couples, engagements, and marriages throughout 2025. Katy Perry and former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau began dating in the summer of 2025, along with Zoe Kravitz and Harry Styles. Other couples took the next step in their relationships by getting engaged, like Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, and Zendaya and Tom Holland. Meanwhile, Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco tied the knot in 2025, as well as Hailee Steinfeld and Josh Allen.
There were also a decent number of pop culture controversies last year, creating memes and heavy debates online. For instance, the viral Coldplay ‘kiss cam’ incident, Sydney Sweeney’s contentious American Eagle ad, and Katy Perry’s space venture. While these moments were certainly sources of public discourse, they were undoubtedly memorable moments of 2025.
Ultimately, the pop culture universe is ever-changing, with big news, viral moments, and controversies emerging on a daily basis. Thus, there is no doubt that 2026 will feature even more trends, hit films, TV, and music, and newsworthy events we can look forward to!