20 Things That Were So Overhyped It’s Ridiculous
They promised us the future. Flying cars, fat-free ice cream that tasted good, and gadgets that could to change everything. From tech flops to fashion fails, you’d think some things would cure boredom forever. But when the excitement finally faded away, everyone wound up wondering what all the fuss was about. This list takes a nostalgic stroll through the most overhyped stuff boomers clearly remember getting way too excited about. It’s not that these things were bad exactly. It’s just that the buildup was insane, and the payoff felt like getting socks for Christmas.
Slap Bracelets
A fashion fad that snapped wrists and vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving bruises.
A fashion fad that snapped wrists and vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving bruises.
Power Rangers
A hit TV show and toy line with huge hype, but a quickly aging fanbase.
A hit TV show and toy line with huge hype, but a quickly aging fanbase.
Crystal Ball Phones
Clear plastic phones that looked cool but never caught on with the general public.
Clear plastic phones that looked cool but never caught on with the general public.
LaserTag
A game that promised futuristic fun but faded fast after the initial excitement wore off.
A game that promised futuristic fun but faded fast after the initial excitement wore off.
New Kids on the Block
A boy band that sparked massive fan hysteria but eventually lost its popularity.
A boy band that sparked massive fan hysteria but eventually lost its popularity.
Fidget Spinner
A toy that took schools by storm before disappearing almost as fast as it arrived.
A toy that took schools by storm before disappearing almost as fast as it arrived.
Who Let the Dogs Out
A catchy song that quickly became an annoying earworm stuck in everyone’s heads.
A catchy song that quickly became an annoying earworm stuck in everyone’s heads.
Waterworld
An expensive movie that failed to live up to expectations despite its ambitious concept.
An expensive movie that failed to live up to expectations despite its ambitious concept.
Y2K Bug
Widespread fears about the millennium caused panic but resulted in almost no real problems.
Widespread fears about the millennium caused panic but resulted in almost no real problems.
Atari ET
A rushed video game is widely known as one of the biggest industry failures.
A rushed video game is widely known as one of the biggest industry failures.
AOL Dial-up
The unmistakable internet sound that signaled slow connections and endless user frustration.
The unmistakable internet sound that signaled slow connections and endless user frustration.
Spice Girls
A manufactured pop group with catchy songs, but often criticized for their limited talent.
A manufactured pop group with catchy songs, but often criticized for their limited talent.
Laserdisc
A high-quality video format that failed because it was too expensive and not user-friendly.
A high-quality video format that failed because it was too expensive and not user-friendly.
Furby
Interactive toys that thrilled children but freaked out many with their strange voices.
Interactive toys that thrilled children but freaked out many with their strange voices.
Macarena
A dance that swept the globe before everyone grew tired of the repetitive moves.
A dance that swept the globe before everyone grew tired of the repetitive moves.
Tamagotchi
Virtual pets, needing constant care that soon lost their appeal among kids and teens.
Virtual pets, needing constant care that soon lost their appeal among kids and teens.
Segway
This personal transporter was hyped to change travel, but mostly confused riders and tourists alike.
This personal transporter was hyped to change travel, but mostly confused riders and tourists alike.
Crystal Pepsi
A clear soda that promised a fresh taste but soon vanished from store shelves for good.
A clear soda that promised a fresh taste but soon vanished from store shelves for good.
Beanie Babies
Plush toys turned into a serious collectible craze before the bubble finally burst and crashed.
Plush toys turned into a serious collectible craze before the bubble finally burst and crashed.
New Coke
A soda reformulation that shocked loyal fans and quickly became a marketing disaster nobody expected.
A soda reformulation that shocked loyal fans and quickly became a marketing disaster nobody expected.
