Nothing sells quite like nostalgia these days. From remakes, reboots, reunions, and more, everyone seems interested in rehashing the past. While there is an argument to be made that it’s just nostalgia bait, Hollywood is out of fresh ideas, or how some personalities turn their one-hit project into a personality trait for the rest of their lives, when done right, these throwbacks can hit in all the right spots.
The nostalgia factor is still real in 2026, but in a way that fells respectful to the original and was made for those of us who came of age in the 2000s. Our OG faves grew up with us, so these moments when they give us a callback or two feel extra special. From a Camp Rock sequel to Miley Cyrus reheating her Hannah Montana nachos, scroll down for these 2000s throwbacks in 2026.
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Healing Our Inner Child With the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special
What was long teased finally became a reality earlier this year when Miley Cyrus relived to the role that made her a household name with the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary special. In the one-hour-long program, Cyrus returned to the set of the hit Disney Channel show as she looked back and reflected on the series’ legacy and Hannah’s cultural impact, performed some of the fictional pop star’s biggest songs, and reminded many why Hannah remains loved to this day.
It was a treat for long-time fans that was made even sweeter with the release of the original track Younger You, which touched the heartstrings as it felt like Hannah was checking up on an older her and reminisced about the joys of her youth.
A New Era of Rockstars With Camp Rock 3
Anyone who grew up on Disney Channel original movies knows that Camp Rock and, to a certain extent, Camp Rock 2, are up there as some of the channel’s best movies. And after 16 years, viewers old and young returned to the musical camp with Camp Rock 3. The sequel features the Jonas Brothers reprising their roles as Connect 3. They are gearing up for a major reunion tour, but find themselves in a bind when their opening act drops out.
With time running out, they go back to where it all began to host a high-stakes competition for their new tour opener, one that could turn an unknown talent into the next big sensation. Aside from the Jonas Brothers, Maria Canals-Barrera and Demi Lovato reprise their roles (with Lovato having a quick but memorable cameo as Mitchie recreates one of her most iconic lines). This is Camp Rock for the new generation, and the new film reminded us how special the original will always be.
The Next Generation of Cheetah Girls Is on Their Way
Before there was High School Musical and Camp Rock, there was The Cheetah Girls, which followed four best friends as they navigated the ups and downs of being a girl group. The original and its sequel hold a special place in many hearts, and in 2027, viewers will reunite with the Cheetahs once more with the fourth movie in the franchise. But aside from just giving audiences more of the OG Cheetah Girls (which in itself is not a bad thing), the sequel welcomes a new generation of the girl group.
Titled The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen, the movie will see Raven-Symoné and Adrienne Bailon returning as Galleria and Chanel, respectively, with Sabrina Bryan making a special appearance as Dorinda. It follows Galleria and Chanel, alongside Galleria’s daughter Faith (Lea Sava Jeffries) and her three friends, Ruby (Kaileen Chang), Brooklyn (Sophie Lennon), and Dior (Carmen Sanchez), on a trip to Africa to volunteer at a wildlife sanctuary.
Along the way, these four teen girls test their friendship, find their voice, and discover the true Cheetah spirit as they save the preserve and ultimately take the stage as the new Cheetah Girls. The movie is currently in production in South Africa and is expected to be released sometime in 2027.
The Devil Wears Prada 2 Was Worth the Wait
While Hollywood tends to be reliant on sequels that just feel like the same thing, there are some movies that do it right. The Devil Wears Prada 2 is one such example. Over the past twenty years, the original film has become a modern classic and a must-see movie for any fashion lover. It continues to find new fans to this day, and in 2026, its long-awaited sequel fabulously graced cinemas to resounding success.
The filmmakers could have gone the easy route and mined the nostalgia for box office success. But impressively, especially for a legacy sequel, the movie isn’t just good but also actually has something to say. More than reuniting with our favorite Runway Magazine employees, The Devil Wears Prada 2 spoke to why media still matters today.
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place Ends With Its Final Season
Wizards of Waverly Place will always be that Disney Channel show. And continuing the iconic series’ story is the sequel show Wizards Beyond Waverly Place (yes, there is a sequel series). In case you didn’t know, the show is set 15 years after the events of the original series and follows Justin Russo, who’s now living a normal life with his wife and two sons, as he helps a young wizard-in-training named Billie at the behest of Alex. The show just ended its run with a third and final season this year, though through a four-episode arc, so it’s best to temper expectations.
A Victorious Spin-Off in 2026? Yes
While it premiered in 2010, Victorious has that 2000s energy to it in a sense that it was one of the few live-action Nickelodeon shows, such as iCarly, that helped define tween media for young millennials and older Gen Z. Not only has the show introduced us to actors who would go on to be big stars in their own right, but many of its tracks still hit to this day. In 2026, viewers will step into the halls of Hollywood Arts once more with a sequel and spin-off series starring Trina Vega.
The show will see Daniella Monet reprise her role as the older Vega sister as she returns to Hollywood Arts as a substitute teacher following a largely unsuccessful career as an actress. There, she mentors a new generation of students with the results being as chaotic as you’d expect. The series comes to Netflix this October.
Featured Image: MILEY CYRUS (via Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions
Miley Cyrus returned to the Hannah Montana set for a one-hour special reflecting on the show’s legacy and cultural impact, performing some of the character’s biggest songs and releasing a new original track, “Younger You,” reflecting on her youth.
Camp Rock 3 reunites the Jonas Brothers as Connect 3, 16 years after the original film, as they host a high-stakes competition to find a new opening act for their reunion tour. Maria Canals-Barrera returns, with Demi Lovato making a cameo as Mitchie.
The Cheetah Girls: Next Gen is set for release in 2027, with Raven-Symoné and Adrienne Bailon reprising their roles as Galleria and Chanel, joined by a new generation of Cheetah Girls played by Lea Sava Jeffries and others.
Yes. A Victorious sequel and spin-off series starring Daniella Monet as an older Trina Vega, now a substitute teacher at Hollywood Arts, premieres on Netflix this October, following a new generation of students.
Wizards Beyond Waverly Place is set 15 years after the original Wizards of Waverly Place, following Justin Russo as he helps a young wizard-in-training named Billie. The show ended with a four-episode third and final season.
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