20 Things Everyone Did in 2016 That Feel Like a Lifetime Ago

Benedict Cumberbatch stepped into the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the Sorcerer Supreme, introducing folding cityscapes and reality-bending astral planes that pushed comic book visual effects into dizzying new dimensions.

Audiences flooded theaters in summer 2016 to reunite with Dory, Marlin, and Nemo. Ellen DeGeneres voiced the forgetful fish navigating a California marine institute, breaking domestic animated box office records.

Mel Gibson's visceral war biopic dramatized the true heroism of Desmond Doss, who saved seventy-five comrades atop the Maeda Escarpment without carrying a weapon. The film's intense battle sequences earned critical praise and Academy Awards.

Amy Adams captivated moviegoers as linguist Louise Banks attempting to communicate with mysterious visiting heptapods. The philosophical sci-fi puzzle surprised viewers with emotional depth and an unforgettable perspective on time.

Disney closed out 2016 with Moana, introducing an inspiring Polynesian voyager and Dwayne Johnson's demigod Maui. Songs like How Far I'll Go and You're Welcome became instant earworms for kids and adults alike.

Despite divided critical reactions, Suicide Squad left an indelible mark on 2016 pop culture. Margot Robbie's colorful portrayal of Harley Quinn inspired millions of costume enthusiasts and made baseball bats and dyed pigtails the costume of the year.

Rogue One proved standalone Star Wars stories could deliver genuine tension and sacrifice. Its final minutes, featuring Darth Vader cutting through a darkened rebel corridor with his crimson lightsaber, became an instant franchise classic.

Zootopia became a surprise billion-dollar blockbuster in spring 2016. Audiences fell for the unlikely partnership of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde while Shakira's uplifting track Try Everything dominated family playlists worldwide.

Starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone, La La Land swept holiday theaters with colorful cinematography and melancholic jazz tunes. Fans spent winter 2016 listening to City of Stars and debating the film's bittersweet final look.

In February 2016, Deadpool defied studio expectations by becoming an enormous commercial smash. Its fourth-wall-breaking humor and graphic action revitalized the comic book genre and opened the doors for darker superhero adaptations.

After years of viral memes tracking his Oscar snubs, Leonardo DiCaprio finally took home the statuette for his grueling survival performance in The Revenant, prompting celebratory social media reactions across the globe.

Captain America: Civil War forced moviegoers to choose between Steve Rogers and Tony Stark. The ideological conflict culminated in the legendary Leipzig airport clash, introducing Tom Holland's Spider-Man to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

The 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio delivered unforgettable moments that captured global imagination. From Usain Bolt grinning at track cameras mid-stride to Simone Biles dominating gymnastics, millions tuned in nightly for live sports spectacle.

Dropping quietly in July 2016, the Duffer brothers' nostalgic 1980s tribute became a viral sensation within days. Viewers stayed up all night to watch Eleven, the Upside Down, and a ragtag group of kids riding bikes through Hawkins, Indiana.

Following the massive popularity of the iPhone 6s in rose gold, the soft pink metallic shade took over consumer tech, jewelry, and interior design. Owning matching rose gold hardware became an instant status symbol across campuses and offices.

Long before electric rental scooters filled downtown streets, two-wheel self-balancing hoverboards were the hottest holiday gift. Celebrities rolled through airports on them until battery fire concerns swiftly banned them from airplanes and shopping malls.

Originating in Atlanta hip hop culture, the dab became inescapable in 2016. Athletes, politicians, and schoolchildren broke into the signature pose after goals, speeches, or minor daily victories until it officially reached meme saturation.

After a high school talent show video went viral, teenagers and adults spent countless hours trying to flip plastic water bottles so they landed perfectly upright on tables and flat surfaces, making a deafening classroom thud heard worldwide.

Set to Rae Sremmurd's Black Beatles, the Mannequin Challenge took social media by storm in late 2016. From high school students to White House guests, groups stayed frozen in elaborate poses while a single camera wove through the silence.

In July 2016, Niantic launched Pokémon Go, creating an unprecedented global phenomenon. Huge crowds swarmed parks and city centers at all hours to catch rare pocket monsters, sparking a summer of spontaneous outdoor community that has never quite been replicated.