The Most Popular Halloween Candy the Year You Were Born
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We all have our favorite kind of candy. Some people prefer chocolate (Snickers or Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, anyone?), while others opt for pure sugar sweets, like Smarties or Nerds. But does your favorite align with the most popular candy from the year you were born—or right around then? We're here to help you find out.
Now, data for candy sales isn't super clear the farther you go back, so the most popular candies on this list earned the title for various reasons: If not the best-selling, they were either the newest candy on the market, candy that skyrocketed to popularity after some time on the market, candy that was made a household name by a movie or a public figure...you get the picture. And, as you'll see, we limited our list to years that had a true standout sweet.
Want to find out if your tastes align with what was popular in your birth year (or close to it)? See our list below—and try not to get too hungry!
1961: Swedish Fish
Still not sure why they're fish-shaped, but these delicious gummies came to America from Sweden in the 1950s—and by the early '60s, they had a huge fandom.
1962: Now & Later
Much to dentists' chagrin, this chewy candy was a hit with kids the year it launched. With a slogan of "Eat some now, kid," how could it not be?
1963: SweeTarts
SweeTarts were created by Sunline Candy Company as a neater alternative to Pixy Stix (you're welcome, parents).
1969: Fruit Stripes
Between the striped pattern and the zebra mascot, this gum easily found its fans when it launched this year.
1971: Laffy Taffy
Willy Wonka helped put this one on the map: The family film released this year had branded candies, like Laffy Taffy, under the Nestlé umbrella. The jokes on the back of each wrapper sealed the deal as a solid Halloween trade.
1973: Blow Pops
Another example of rebranding paying off: 'Triple Threat' suckers became Charms Blow Pops, and, well, who doesn't still love getting one at doctor's appointments?
1975: Pop Rocks
Despite having to do some damage control in the early '80s when rumors spread that the candy could make your stomach explode if consumed with a carbonated dink, Pop Rocks were a big hit when they came to market this year.
1976: Jelly Belly
In this very important year, Jelly Belly launched its first eight flavors: root beer, green apple, licorice, cream soda, lemon, tangerine, very cherry, and grape. This isn't the last you'll see of them though...
1977: Tootsie Roll
Tootsie Rolls had a moment in the late '70s, thanks to one catchy little jingle. Recorded by two kids, the highlight was "Whatever it is I think I see, becomes a Tootsie Roll to me."
1979: Twix
It's hard to believe there was ever a day Twix bars weren't in trick-or-treat bags. But, alas, these caramel bars came to the U.S. right before the '80s...and have been topping favorite candy lists ever since.
1980: Big League Chew
This was the year Big League Chew was born, and while the classic baseball design wasn't created until 1990, the candy was still immensely popular.
1981: Jelly Belly
Told you we'd come back to this one! We can chalk this one up to President Ronald Reagan—he loved them so much, he reportedly requested them for all his inauguration parties. In fact, according to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum, three and a half tons were on hand for the 1981 festivities.
1982: Reese's Pieces
Again, there's a pretty direct connection to the surge in popularity here: A little movie called E.T. famously featured the then-newish Reese's Pieces. The rest is history.
1983: Nerds
The candy with arguably one of the cutest mascots ever came onto the scene this year and has been a trick-or-treat mainstay ever since. The two-sided flavor packs are great for people that like options.
1984: Skittles
Skittles mostly became popular after introducing their "Taste the Rainbow" slogan in the early 1980s. By 1984, Skittles fever was out of control.
1985: Sour Patch Kids
These "sour then sweet" little guys came to the U.S. this year—and they remain a candy favorite to this day.
1986: Cella's Cherries
Tootsie introduced these candies of yore just one year before they soared to uber-popularity.
1989: Hershey's Symphony
The Hershey's bar you know and love got a creamier remix and was an instant hit.
1990: Hershey's Bars
This was the year Hershey's sent 144,000 heat-resistant chocolate bars to the troops serving in the Gulf War (something they also did during World War II).
1991: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Well, someone had the brilliant idea to put three times as many peanuts in Reese's as there had been in previous years, and the rest is history. Needless to say, it's not the last time you'll see them on this list.
1992: DOVE Chocolate Bars
M&Ms introduced those little DOVE chocolates you all know and love, and they were an immediate hit.
1993: War Heads
This isn't the original packaging, of course, but these wildly sour and sweet candies debuted in the U.S. this year—and it's safe to say they caught on.
1994: Hershey's Cookies 'n' Creme Bars
All bets were off when Hershey's dropped its best candy bar OF ALL TIME.
1995: Starburst Jellybeans
Starburst brought these into the world this year, and like many of the other things on this list, it didn't take long for them to become perennial classics.
1996: Jolly Ranchers
Hershey acquired Jolly Rancher this year and quickly capitalized on its popularity, going on to create additional flavors and varieties, including lollipops, gummies, and jelly beans.
1998: Baby Bottle Pop
Not sure why pop culture was obsessed with baby gear in the '90s, but pacifiers were worn as accessories and everyone had this powdered sugar candy in little baby bottles once they were introduced this year.
2000: Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans
If you don't know, there's no use in explaining it, honestly.
2001: Twizzlers
Do you remember this life-changing walrus commercial? Yeah, hence the ubiquitous Twizzlers that year.
2002: M&Ms
After 10 million people voted, purple was added to the M&Ms mix, joining red, yellow, orange, green, blue, and brown.
2005: Honestly, All Candy
Candy had quite the successful year. One hundred percent definitely unrelated to the immense obsession with Fifty Cent's "Candy Shop." One hundred percent.
2008: M&Ms
Using Twitter, The Atlantic was able to study which candies were the most popular (i.e., most talked about) from 2008 to 2012—both on and after Halloween. M&Ms had the most staying power that year.
2009-2012: Snickers
On that same list, Snickers stole M&Ms' top spot this year—and held onto the title through 2012.
2013: Butterfinger
'Twas this year that Nestle announced they and Bart Simpson would reunite for another (uber-effective) campaign. You know, "nobody better lay a finger on my..." That one.
2016: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
We knew we'd come back around to Reese's on this list at some point. The Halloween mainstay won the most votes across the U.S. this year in an Influenster survey.
2017: M&Ms
With so many flavors, M&Ms regained popularity this year, according to sales data from CandyStore.com.
2018-2020: Skittles
Using the same sales data the next year, Skittles was crowned the big winner three years in a row.
2021-2022: Reese's Peanut Butter Cups
Because the peanut butter and chocolate combo is completely irresistible, here we are again...for two straight years. Will it win again in 2023? Only time will tell!
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