By Raisa Bruner
Viral videos continued to dominate the Internet’s cultural consciousness this year. Thanks to teens like Daniel (yes, the one with the white Vans) and the brilliant young minds behind the inescapable Mannequin Challenge, people were hooked on these mini-masterpieces. And they were everywhere.
Below, take a trip down memory lane with this compilation of the best viral videos of 2016. From Chewbacca Mom’s infectious laugh to the curious case of the water bottle flip, chances are, you’ve seen—or tweeted about—these ubiquitous clips, and they weaseled their way into your conversations and vocabulary. That’s just how the zeitgeist works.
Watch above.
More Must-Reads from TIME
- Cybersecurity Experts Are Sounding the Alarm on DOGE
- Meet the 2025 Women of the Year
- The Harsh Truth About Disability Inclusion
- Why Do More Young Adults Have Cancer?
- Colman Domingo Leads With Radical Love
- How to Get Better at Doing Things Alone
- Michelle Zauner Stares Down the Darkness
Write to Raisa Bruner at raisa.bruner@time.com