25 Totally Tubular Gen X Nostalgia Memes That Only True 80s Girls Will Understand (July 9, 2025)

Author image for Ely Bulnes
Ely Bulnes • Writer and Editor
Jul 9, 2025 4:00 PM EDT

Listen, I myself am no Gen X baby – although I absolutely wish I were. However, I do know my way around the 80s. I've watched my fair share of 80s classics – Terminator, The Neverending Story, and Labyrinth are some of my personal favorites. I think that the 80s were the best decade for music; there's a reason so many of the popular hits these days wouldn't sound out of place streaming from a boombox. The 80s had many of fashion fads that deserve to stay buried way back there, but plenty more that are still going strong to this day – hello, white sneakers?

However, most of my 80s knowledge actually comes from my mom. Born in the late 70s, she speaks fondly of a time where she could actually disconnect, where gas prices weren't so high, and where scratch-and-sniff stickers were a high-tech invention. If you grew up before Skynet took over the world, scroll down below to take a trip down memory lane!

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  • 01
    SON DINNER Mom doesn't feel like cooking tonight 80s starter kit FOR CHILI TOMATO Hamburger Helper ADD TO 1 LB. HAMBURGER Betty Crocker MACARONI, TOMATO SAUCE MIX WITH CHILI SEASONING One-skillet method Kraft Dinner Macaroni & Cheese CONTAINS KRAFT CHEDDAR New! SAVE 25c TUNA HELPER A good dietary source of protein www SPECIAL O SAFETY COLD RAIN PONCHO is datal SALISBURY STEAK WITH DEAR WHO PERSON CHIEBLAFY CAME @TOTALLYBOSROOM THE HOT MEAL IN A POCKET HOT POCKETS CROWAVE SAVE $140 on your next p
    via @genxhumor
  • 02
    Rick Astley will let you borrow any movie from his collection of Pixar films except one. He's never going to give you Up.
    via @genxhumor
  • 03
    I can feel the static cling shocks by just looking at these photos: MERMAID A perfect pile of Popples! Popples
    via @genxhumor
  • 04
    GREY POUPON DIJON HUSTARD WHEN I WAS A KID I THOUGHT THIS WAS THE EPITOME OF WEALTH AND SOPHISTICATION.
    via @genxhumor
  • 05
    How you should live your life: Madonna eating cheese curls while wearing lace gloves. TOOLIELD ALO UFFED cheez doodle
    via @genxhumor
  • 06
    Photographic evidence of why my generation is tougher than yours
    via @genxhumor
  • 07
    80'S PARENTS: HEY HONEY, I PICKED UP A CHILDREN'S MOVIE WITH A FLYING DOG. THE KIDS ARE GONNA LOVE IT PTSD UNLOCKED
    via @genxhumor

  • The Millennial version of Artax in The Neverending Story is Jess from The Bridge to Terabithia movie…

  • 08
    Hard to believe there was a time when this is all we needed 70 PARZIVAL RYLOS
    via @80s_foreverandever
  • 09
    I can literally smell this picture Memories of having a perm
    via @80s_foreverandever
  • 10
    Jack IN THE MUSIC BOX Scary jack in the box Adult equivalent PRESS SPOON AT SEAM UNTIL CAN POPS OPEN Grand Flaky Layers REFRIGERATED KEEP DOUGH NE 04629 Γατόμο DIRECTIONS SNOIL
    via @80s_foreverandever
  • 11
    Sad to see one of our '80's heroes living on the streets.
    via @genxhumor
  • 12
    Mosquitoes ME Moms in the 90s: SKIN SO SOFT ORIGINAL AVON AUTHENTIC SKIN SO SOFT bath oil 473ml 16 FL OZ (PINT)
    via @genxhumor
  • 13
    Oh, I really do miss Kansas, Toto... And Styx, Foreigner, Aerosmith, Boston, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin.
    via @genxhumor
  • 14
    Dirty Dancing is a different movie when you watch it as a parent. Baby's dad wasn't unreasonable. She was 18 and sneaking around with a Catskills dance instructor who has anger issues & looks like he's at least 40. Yes, you should be put in a corner. It's called time out you brat.
    via @genxhumor
  • 15
    WHO REMEMBERS M GOING TO THIS RESTAURANT?
    via @genxhumor
  • 16
    HAPPINESS IS WATCHING SATURDAY MORNING CARTOONS PENNY GARFIELD and Friends SMURFS Disney+ -GIJOE- @eightiesgirls
    via @eightiesgirls
  • 17
    Who could ever forget how cool they felt wearing one of these: HYPER Hypercolor. GENE HYPERCOLOR RRA GER ORPHIC COLOR HYPERCOLOR PERCOLO ETAMORPHIC-COLOR-SYSTEM @eightiesgirls TOUCH ME
    via @eightiesgirls

  • These shirts must've been really fun on highschool and college campuses. 

  • 18
    Lee TOOT TOOT BOCK RAIN @eightiesgirls EVEN OUR PENCILS WERE ON ANOTHER LEVEL:
    via @eightiesgirls
  • 19
    So many 80's & 90's kids thought being a marine biologist was the ultimate career, and I feel like this is why: @eightiesgirls
    via @eightiesgirls
  • 20
    FANCY TOILET PAPER NORTHOR FROM THE PAST: NORTHERN ROFT MORTHER ORTHERN ORTHERN NORTHER TISSUE-225 801-25400LEADAN @eightiesgirls
    via @eightiesgirls
  • 21
    WHEN YOUR FRIEND ASKED YOUR CRUSH ABOUT YOU ON THREEWAY WITH YOU ON MUTE: @eightiesgirls
    via @eightiesgirls
  • 22
    WHO REMEMBERS ARROW DUNE JAMIARY STUDENT NEWS @ POSTER! METICLEY SAY TREE LORY REASUR OF INCEA இய POSTER BMX! ORDERING BOOKS IN SCHOOL?
    via @80s_foreverandever
  • 23
    10 dollars 100 dollars as a kid as a adult
    via @genxhumor
  • 24
    More than 40 years later and I still don't know the name of this candy!
    via @80s_foreverandever
  • 25
    IF YOU CAN SMELL THAT D RIGHT POPPI GOO SCEN TOPS FF YOU'RE SCRATCH WAY GOOD! "GRAPE STUFF LOOKING S ROLLING! NOV SWE WORKER GOOD WE CAN BE FRIENDS! PPY
    via @80s_foreverandever

Tags

throwback retro childhood nostalgia 80s music Nostalgia Overload nostalgic 80s gen x 90s kids 90s memory lane nostalgia memes gen x memes 1980s
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