All the Ways Pop Culture Hasn't Changed in the Decade Since 2005

Welcome to 2015. Hopefully it’s better than 2014, which was not bad, but also not great. But maybe the pop culture this year won’t be any different from last year. How much can we really change in a year? Let’s start by asking a different question:

How far have we actually come in a decade? Let’s look back at 2005.

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Movies:

In 2005, the biggest movie of the year was Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith. This year, the biggest movie of the year will be...Star Wars: The Force Awakens, probably. And another of 2005’s biggest movies of the year was Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s Mr. & Mrs. Smith. In 2015, we’ll watch Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie again in By the Sea (which Jolie directed).

But mostly, looking back, the biggest movies of 2005 are a blueprint for 2016: In 2005, we had Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Next year, we’ll have Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. In 2005, we had Batman Begins and King Kong. In 2016, we’ll have Superman v Batman and King Kong: Skull Island. And back then Will Smith played a superhero in Hitch. Soon, he’ll play a superhero in Suicide Squad. Basically, ditto.

As for the impending awards season, there’s really no precedent to go by for 2015. Things actually have changed have: In 2005, Jamie Foxx was nominated for Academy Awards for both Best Actor and Best Supporting Actor, for Ray and Collateral, respectively. (He won for the former.) We don’t think he’ll get the same honor for Annie and The Amazing Spider-Man 2, respectively.

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Music:

Take a lyrical journey with us on this blast from the past* (*2005): Do the songs “Hollaback Girl” and “Gold Digger” put a little boogie in your booty? Can you instantly recall the words to “Since U Been Gone” and “Behind These Hazel Eyes”? 10 years ago, the biggest songs of the year were from the likes of Gwen Stefani, Kanye West, and Kelly Clarkson.

But in 2015, the most anticipated albums are from...Gwen Stefani (who released her second single “Spark the Fire” recently), Kanye West (who just dropped a track “Only One,” with Paul McCartney), and Kelly Clarkson. How original, 2015! Then again, another of 2005’s hit songs was by The Pussycat Dolls and no one seems to care about them now.

More fun facts: In 2005, Maroon 5 won the Best New Artist Grammy over Kanye West. Which probably means Iggy Azalea will not win it this year. Maybe you will though, HAIM.

Britney Spears also won a Grammy in 2005 and had her first baby with husband Kevin Federline. In 2015, she is not nominated for a Grammy or pregnant, but will release new music, has a new boyfriend, and has a million dollar residency in Vegas. Different, but not too shabby.

Oh, and 2005 also marked the year that Destiny’s Child split. Probably for the best. Ten years later, we all still love Beyoncé the most.

TV:

In 2005, Grey’s Anatomy premiered and the world was immediately obsessed with it and all you ever heard anyone talk about was McThis and McThat. Not only is Grey’s still on the air, but now Shonda Rhimes has two other shows that are all anyone talks about: Scandal and How to Get Away With Murder.

2005 was also the year The Comeback premiered. In 2015, we saw the long-delayed second season of The Comeback come to a (perfect) close. And 10 years ago we were introduced to Rainn Wilson playing an eccentric curmudgeon on The Office. Soon, he will play against-type and playing an eccentric curmudgeon on Backstrom.

More quickies: In 2005, Craig Ferguson replaced Craig Kilborn as the host of The Late Late Show. In 2015, he’ll be replaced with another Euro host, James Corden. And in 2005 everyone was like, “WTF Ryan Murphy?!” watching Nip/Tuck. Now, we’ll all “WTF Ryan Murphy?!” watching American Horror Story: Freak Show.

Maybe we’re still in 2005 after all. Maybe nothing ever changes. Then again...

Celebs:

In 2005, Kim Kardashian barely existed in the public eye. In 2005, Kim Kardashian was just the daughter of a famous lawyer and a friend/closet cleaner/hanger on-er of Paris Hilton, who was 2005’s Kim Kardashian. She didn’t get Keeping Up With the Kardashians until 2006. Now, well. You know.

My, how the times change.

Plus, here are all the movie sequels we can’t wait to see this year!