#2: New Coke (1985-2002)
The ’80s brought the bubbly battles of the Cola Wars. Coca-Cola, after a blind taste test said that customers preferred Pepsi, reformulated their drink. The result was New Coke, called that because of the “New” label on the can. To ensure that this formula change would age even poorer, they had Bill Cosby be its spokesman. Coca-Cola soon realized what should have been an obvious fact: if their customers wanted Pepsi, they’d drink a Pepsi, not a Coke.

Only three months later, Coca-Cola brought back the original formula. But New Coke stuck around longer than one might think, and it was changed to Coke 2, which lasted until 2002. Another sequel not as good as the original. However, New Coke was briefly brought back in 2019 due to a Stranger Things promotion. And that’s the best fate for it: a relic of the weirdness the ‘80s brought.