You are far from alone if your social media feed has been on a giant ferris wheel of of 2016 throwback since the beginning of 2026. You are neither on the boat alone wondering why that hideous snapchat dog and tiara filter, skinny-straight fit jeans era are seen somewhat cool and nostalgic again.
Blame the trend 2026 is the new 2016- a phrase turned social-media phenomenon that's taken over TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook since later 2025. A decade later, people are collectively nostalgic for a time when the internet felt lighter, funnier and certainly less curated.
Back in 2016, the dog and tiara Snapchat filters ruled everything. They showed up in group chats, celebrity selfies, and screenshots that are now being reposted with pride. It was the era of Vine humour which is now coming back as DiVine, Pokémon Go meetups that became a worldwide fest in itself, festival fashion, and pop culture moments that felt instantly iconic- the year Leonardo DiCaprio won Oscars for his film The Revenant, Calvin Harris and Taylor Swift broke up, Instagram launched its stories feature and Closer by The Chainsmokers became the song we could not stop singing.
This was all before we knew AI content and algorithm fatigue would take over our lives. That same energy defined the movies of 2016. The films from that year were bold, emotional, chaotic, and endlessly rewatchable—movies many of us first watched while scrolling Snapchat stories or hearing “Black Beatles” in the background. So if 2026 really is the new 2016, there’s no better time to revisit the films that captured that moment.
Here are the Best 2016 Films to Rewatch in 2026:
Madaari
Where to Watch: ZEE5
YouTube
Sully
Where to Watch: Prime Videos
YouTube
Psycho Raman
Where to Watch: ZEE5
YouTube
The Salesman
Where to Watch: Prime Videos
YouTube
Fitoor
Where To Watch: Netflix
YouTube
La La Land
Where To Watch: Netflix
YouTube
Dear Zindagi
Where To Watch: Netflix
YouTube
Captain American: Civil War
Where To Watch: JioHotstar
YouTube
Manchester by The Sea
Where To Watch: Netflix
YouTube
Lipstick Under My Burkha
Where To Watch: Netflix
YouTube
Moonlight
Where To Watch: Netflix/Prime Videos
YouTube
