BIGGEST NEWS EVENT OF THE YEAR
The biggest news event of 2024 wasn’t Donald Trump’s election victory, but the very public assassination attempt on his life. The dramatic footage of him rising from the ground, blood on his face and an arm raised in defiance, became an overnight meme and an iconic “hero shot.” Honestly, I don’t believe he would have won the election as decisively—if at all—without that moment. It solidified his image in a way nothing else could have.
WEIRDEST NEWS OF THE YEAR
Back in January, as the clock struck midnight, rumors began swirling online about an alien invasion at a mall in Miami. Videos surfaced showing a massive police presence and alleged sightings of 10-foot-tall humanoids roaming the shopping center. As the year unfolded, we were bombarded with news of UFOs, secretive congressional hearings, and whispers that the government knows far more than they’re letting on. By Thanksgiving, the skies were buzzing with drones, and wild theories about “space wars” were everywhere.
Yet here we are, alive and well, with Earth intact. Whatever’s above us—well, they’re here too.
SCANDAL OF THE YEAR — AND NEXT YEAR TOO
Diddy. We need to say no more.
The Dumbest Pop Culture Trend of the Year
Brat Summer. The so-called “brat trend” was a fleeting blip on the pop culture radar, with its bizarre mix of green, vibrant fashion and a media-driven narrative of rebellion. Thankfully, it was short-lived and left behind little more than cringe-worthy memories.
Sports of the year
You’d think the most magical sports moments of 2024 would have come from the Paris Olympics, right? Wrong. The standout moment wasn’t a record-breaking performance or a heartwarming victory—it was an awkwardly bad attempt at Olympic breakdancing. And if that wasn’t strange enough, the year’s most talked-about sports event was Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson. Not because of the fight itself, but because it cracked open the door to a behind-the-scenes reality we’ve all suspected: boxing might be more like professional wrestling than we thought.
Travel of the year: Time
While the alien drones dominate this category, another strange phenomenon captured our attention: a mysterious monolith in the Las Vegas desert. The shiny, reflective structure appeared out of nowhere, baffling police and sparking comparisons to similar monoliths that had popped up worldwide in previous years. The mystery faded quickly, but it was fun while it lasted. Even weirder? Back in May, TikTok user Alec Schaal went viral for claiming a mysterious time traveler vanished inside his shed. That story, too, was short-lived but wildly entertaining.
Horror of the year
Nicholas Cage delivered a fantastic performance in Long Legs, while Josh Hartnett shone in Trap—though the latter wasn’t as strong a film. However, the year’s biggest horror moment came with Terrifier 3. The film had audiences scratching their heads, trying to understand why it resonated so deeply. Maybe it was the over-the-top bloodletting in a world already saturated with gore?
MOVIE OF THE YEAR
This might surprise you: the movie of the year is none other than Joker 2. Yes, it was hated by critics, mocked by fans, and ridiculed for its music choices. But mark my words—history will be kinder to this film. In a decade or two, Joker 2 will be recognized as one of the greatest movies of our time. Sometimes, the best art is the most polarizing.
Most fun movie of the year
It maybe was not the MOVIE OF THE YEAR but it was certainly the most fun *both times we went*
The Biggest Tech Development of 2024
Biggest tech of the year
This might sound silly, but the biggest tech milestone of 2024 was AI finally learning how to generate realistic human hands. For years, AI-generated art was plagued by bizarre appendages with three or seven fingers. Those days are over. By the end of 2025, you likely won’t be able to tell the difference between AI-generated images and reality.
Weather of the year
2024 was a year of extremes: record-breaking heat, devastating tornadoes, and hurricanes that ravaged parts of the Southeast. Texas saw the largest hailstone ever recorded, and San Francisco had a freak tornado. Meanwhile, a persistent drought in the Midwest fueled wildfires in areas that rarely see them. It was a chaotic year, and we’re told climate change—and possibly pole shifts—might be to blame.
Netflix of the year
The best series of 2024 was Baby Reindeer. Billed as a dramatic true story, it captivated viewers with its intensity. However, the real twist came when we learned that much of its supposed documentary-style narrative was entirely fabricated. That meta-layer of storytelling made it even more compelling.