2019 Year in Review Survey | What Trend Most Defined the End of the Decade?

There were many fashion, entertainment, sports, and technology trends of 2019 - but what were America's favorites? Drive Research, a national market research company, surveyed over 600 people through their in-house panel to find out. Panel participants ranged in ages, genders, and geographies.

Here are the results of our 2019 Year in Review Survey!

2019 year in review infographic


Overall Interest in 2019 Trends

Below are the top categories our panel participants were most interested in:

  • Movies (78%)
  • TV (78%)
  • Music (74%)
  • Technology (69%)
  • Fashion (46%)
  • Sports (42%)
  • None of the above (1%)

Drive Research has some serious movie and television lovers in our market research panel. Below we’ll break down more insight into what the most anticipated movies are and what television shows are people are ready to leave behind in 2019.


Fashion in 2019

Athliesure was the most popular fashion trend in 2019 with 26% of respondents choosing this style of clothing. Can you blame them?

People get to wear comfortable clothing while they lay on the couch but appear as if they went to the gym two-hours prior. If working out is considered opening up the fridge in my athleisure clothing, then I am a fit goddess.

Rounding out the top three popular fashion trends in 2019 were animal prints (22%) and Gingham plaid (15%).


Technology in 2019 and Beyond

What technology trends are Americans most excited for in the new decade? 39% of respondents said 5G data networks. This was the most popular response. Second, was self-driving cars (26%), and the third most common response was Artificial Intelligence (19%).

I’m not going to pretend like I am a tech guru, however even I am very excited for the evolution of self-driving cars. If I had a self-driving car sitting in traffic would finally allow me to watch Game of Thrones from beginning to end.


Television in 2019

Speaking of Game of Thrones…the panel respondents of Drive Research would like people to stop talking about the HBO classic. However, it was not the show Americans are most annoyed hearing about.

Here is a breakdown of the top three shows most respondents are annoyed with:

  • Keeping Up with the Kardashians (31%)
  • Game of Thrones (24%)
  • The Bachelor/Bachelorette (20%)

I am an avid viewer of two of these shows. Don’t judge me.


Top Movies of 2019

2019 was certainly the year of reboots, but what reboot garnered the most excitement among the 617 respondents? The Lion King was overwhelmingly the most exciting reboot of 2019 according to over 1 in 3 of panel members (37%). Popular movie reboots also included Aladdin (18%) and Men in Black (12%).

Keep the Disney reboots coming! However, I don’t think my heart can see a live-action rendition of Mufasa being killed.

As for new movies that entered the box office this year, Avengers: Endgame caused the most excitement for moviegoers (26%). Avengers: Endgame was followed by Toy Story 4 (13%) and Joker (11%). Quite the variety!


Favorite Victories in Sports of 2019

2019 was the best of times and the worst of times for sports fans depending on who you speak to. Some fandoms rejoiced over national championships while others screamed at the TV as their dreams of making playoffs vanished before their eyes. But, hey! That’s the beauty of sports.

I think we can all agree that a top victory for those living in the United States was when the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team won the World Cup for the 4th time. The panel respondents agreed.

Sports fans were the most excited about the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team’s (34%) victory in 2019. This wonderful win was followed by the Washington Nationals winning the World Series (22%), and the New England Patriots (20%) winning the Super Bowl LI.


Favorite Music Hits of 2019

2019 gave us the precious gem of a woman that is Lizzo. I really can’t remember a time before she released her single, “Truth Hurts.” Why men great, till they gotta be great – am I right? 21% of panel respondents said this hit single was their favorite song to make it on Billboard’s Hot 100 list.

The second most liked song was “Old Town Road” by Lil Nas X Featuring Billy Ray Cyrus by 19% of respondents. Lastly, “Circles” by Post Malone was 14% of survey respondents' favorite track of 2019.

I’m not mad at these results!


New Year’s Resolutions

The start of the new decade has many people thinking about what habits they’d like to change and resolutions to set for themselves in 2020.

The most popular New Year’s resolution for 2020 is to save money. 1 out of 4 panel respondents surveyed, voted this to be their top resolution (25%). Other common and popular New Year’s resolutions included to exercise more (21%), and eat healthier (16%).

I’ll see everyone at the gym on January, 1st 2020…(but don’t hold me to that).

Rounding out the top responses was 14% of people said they don’t make New Year’s resolutions. It is likely these people either know they won’t stick to a change in lifestyle or they already feel as if they are the best versions of themselves. I can appreciate the self-awareness on either side of the spectrum.


Summarizing 2019 in One Word

Lastly, our national survey market research company asked our panel respondents what work most described their 2019. Common answers included:

  • Great
  • Fun
  • Exciting
  • Busy
  • Fast
  • Amazing
  • Crazy
  • Growth
  • Change
  • Stressful
  • Challenging
  • Hectic

All in all, it sounds like 2019 was a great year. Here we come 2020!


Contact Drive Research

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