The 1980s were a time of bold ideas and bigger dreams—but not all of them panned out. For every iconic item that defined the decade, there were plenty of duds that didn’t stand the test of time. Let’s take a nostalgic look back at some of the products that once sparked excitement but ultimately fizzled out, leaving us scratching our heads.
1. New Coke
Oh, New Coke. Coca-Cola’s attempt to “modernize” its classic formula in 1985 turned out to be a giant misstep. People were outraged at the taste, and nostalgia for the original skyrocketed. It didn’t take long for Coca-Cola Classic to return, proving you don’t mess with perfection.
2. Betamax
Sony’s Betamax was a sleek alternative to VHS, promising better picture quality. But it couldn’t compete with VHS’s lower price and longer recording time. By the late ‘80s, Betamax had faded into obscurity, leaving many people stuck with machines they couldn’t even use anymore.
3. Clairol’s Touch of Yogurt Shampoo
The idea of putting yogurt in shampoo sounded fresh and trendy, but the execution? Not so much. People weren’t thrilled about putting what felt like breakfast on their heads. The product quickly disappeared, but not before giving us one of the strangest beauty trends of the decade.
4. Atari 5200
Atari ruled the late ‘70s, but their 5200 console in 1982 was a major flop. The bulky controller broke easily, and the system didn’t work with old cartridges, alienating loyal fans. By the time Atari tried to fix the issues, Nintendo was already dominating the gaming scene.
5. McDonald’s McDLT
The McDLT promised a revolutionary way to keep your lettuce and tomato fresh and your burger hot by splitting them into two separate compartments. The issue? Nobody wanted to assemble their own burger, and the massive Styrofoam packaging became an environmental nightmare.
6. The Sinclair C5
This electric tricycle seemed futuristic in 1985, but its underwhelming speed and lack of safety made it a disaster. Plus, who wanted to pedal while sitting so low in traffic? It was a short-lived experiment that looked more like a toy than a real vehicle.
7. E.T. The Video Game
This 1982 game for Atari is infamous for how bad it was. Confusing gameplay and terrible design turned it into a symbol of gaming failure. Legend has it that unsold copies were buried in a landfill—a fitting end for a game that didn’t live up to the hype.
8. Pepsi AM
Pepsi marketed this cola as a breakfast drink for people who needed caffeine but didn’t want coffee. It turns out, most folks didn’t want cola with their pancakes, either. Pepsi AM fizzled out before anyone could figure out what they were thinking.
9. Reebok Pump Sneakers
Sure, the little pump on the tongue of these shoes was fun to fiddle with, but the supposed performance boost wasn’t all it was cracked up to be. They were overpriced and quickly lost their appeal once the novelty wore off.
10. LaserDiscs
LaserDiscs promised top-notch video quality, but they were bulky, expensive, and couldn’t record like VHS. Few people were willing to shell out for a system that felt more like a luxury than a necessity, and the format quickly faded into tech history.
11. Kodak Disc Cameras
Kodak’s Disc Cameras looked futuristic when they launched in 1982, promising simplicity and portability with their slim design and innovative film disc format. At first, people were intrigued by the idea of a compact camera that fit in a pocket, but the excitement didn’t last. The image quality was disappointingly poor, especially when compared to traditional 35mm film, and the disc format didn’t catch on with photo developers. By the late ‘80s, these cameras were little more than a passing novelty, collecting dust on shelves alongside their underwhelming prints.
12. Commodore 64’s C64GS
The Commodore 64 computer was a hit, but the company’s attempt at a cartridge-only gaming system in 1987 flopped. It lacked a keyboard and couldn’t play all existing games, alienating its loyal base and leaving the console to gather dust.
The 1980s taught us that not every bold idea is destined for greatness. But even these flops are part of what made the decade so unforgettable. Which of these missteps brings back the funniest or most frustrating memories for you?
