December 2025 TikTok Trends: Viral Moments You Need to Know

What’s Trending on TikTok Now in December 2025

December on TikTok is a mix of holiday chaos and cozy sentimentality. While November leaned into soft lighting and slow living, this month turns up the volume with nostalgic finales, DIY countdowns, and over-the-top edits. From Zootopia 2 couple selfies to glitchy holiday mashups, TikTok is where creators are turning year-end vibes into viral content.

Want a quick snapshot? Here are the trends, sounds, and formats dominating December 2025—and how you can jump in.

Still riding the November wave? Many of those trends are overlapping and evolving this month—catch up on November's TikTok trend recap if you missed it.

Want more like this? Get biweekly TikTok trend insights, creative strategies, and real brand use cases in our Trend Report to turn social moments into marketing results.

Week of December 1, 2025 - Zootopia, Advent Calendars, and Stranger Things

Trend #1: Zootopia 2 Couple Selfies

Zootopia 2 is dominating the box office, and the cultural conversation has spilled onto TikTok in the form of a sweet, slightly cheesy couples trend. The film's central dynamic—Nick Wilde (the fox) and Judy Hopps (the bunny), two characters from wildly different worlds who found connection—has become a blueprint for real-life couples to celebrate their own unlikely pairings. The trend centers on recreating a series of selfies Nick and Judy take together in the movie, with couples mimicking the poses, angles, and playful energy of the original scenes. Set to Ed Sheeran's "Photograph," the format works especially well for partners from different cultural backgrounds, ethnicities, or personalities, echoing the film's core message about bridging differences. It's earnest, it's romantic, and it's got that Pixar-level sentimentality that TikTok can't resist. The fact that there's a CapCut template makes it even more accessible, lowering the barrier for anyone wanting to jump in.

Use the "Photograph" by Ed Sheeran audio and find the CapCut template for Zootopia 2 couple selfies (search "Zootopia couple template"). Recreate the selfie poses from the movie with your partner—close-up shots, playful angles, candid smiles, whatever mirrors Nick and Judy's dynamic. Film multiple clips or use existing photos that capture your relationship in similar framing. If you and your partner come from different backgrounds, cultures, or have contrasting personalities, lean into that parallel—it's what makes the trend resonate. Drop your clips into the CapCut template, sync them to the music, and let the edit do the storytelling. Add text if you want to label your dynamic or reference the movie directly, but the visuals and song usually carry the message on their own.

Trend #2: Stranger Things Then vs. Now

Stranger Things Season 5 just dropped, marking the end of an era, and TikTok is drowning in nostalgia. The show premiered in 2016, meaning fans who were kids or teenagers during Season 1 are now full adults processing the final chapter. This trend captures that emotional whiplash perfectly. Creators are using a carousel format set to Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" (the show's iconic Season 4 needle drop) to show the passage of time. The setup is simple but gut-punching: the first slide asks "Who's watching Stranger Things Season 5?" with a current photo of the creator, and the second slide reveals "Who actually watched it," featuring a throwback photo from 2016 when they were much younger, wide-eyed, and probably binge-watching in their childhood bedroom. It's a visual time capsule that taps into both personal growth and collective pop culture memory, and the bittersweet tone of the song amplifies the sentimentality.

Use the "Running Up That Hill" audio by Kate Bush. Create a two-slide carousel: Slide 1 should be a current photo of yourself with on-screen text reading "Who's watching Stranger Things Season 5" or a variation like "Me watching the final season." Slide 2 is the reveal—dig up a photo of yourself from 2016 (or around when Season 1 aired) and caption it "Who actually watched it" or "vs. who started watching in 2016." The contrast between the two photos should be stark enough to show the years that have passed. Keep the tone nostalgic and a little wistful—this trend works best when it feels genuine and reflective. No heavy editing needed; the simplicity and relatability are what make it hit.

Trend #3: Stranger Things Mind Flayer Edit

The Upside Down is leaking into real life, and TikTok editors are making it look terrifyingly cool. With Stranger Things Season 5 freshly released, creators are channeling the show's most iconic villain—the Mind Flayer—by filming themselves outdoors against open skies and using CapCut or other editing apps to overlay the creature's massive, spider-like silhouette and eerie red atmospheric effects. The edits transform ordinary footage into something straight out of Hawkins, Indiana, complete with crimson storm clouds, ominous lighting, and that signature apocalyptic glow. Set to The Clash's "Should I Stay or Should I Go" (the show's nostalgic anchor song), the trend leans heavy into '80s vibes, with creators often rocking period-appropriate attire—denim jackets, high-waisted jeans, vintage band tees, scrunchies—and filming with friend groups to mimic the show's ensemble energy. It's part fan tribute, part technical flex, and it works because it captures the exact aesthetic that made Stranger Things a cultural phenomenon: retro nostalgia meets supernatural dread.

Film yourself or your group outdoors with a clear sky in the background—sunset or overcast skies work especially well for dramatic effect. Wear '80s-inspired clothing to match the Stranger Things era: think denim, vintage tees, retro sneakers, anything that feels authentically 1980s Hawkins. Use CapCut or similar editing apps to add Mind Flayer overlays, red sky filters, and atmospheric effects that make it look like the Upside Down is breaking through. Many templates are available if you search "Stranger Things Mind Flayer edit" or "Upside Down effect" in CapCut. Layer the footage over "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash, and sync your clips to the beat for maximum impact. You can add slow-motion, glitch effects, or color grading to enhance the supernatural vibe. The key is commitment to the aesthetic—both in your styling and your editing—to make it feel like authentic fan content rather than just a filter.

Trend #4: Advent Calendar Content

December on TikTok means one thing: 25 days of unboxing content, and advent calendars are the gift that keeps on giving. What used to be a simple chocolate countdown has evolved into a full-blown trend showcasing everything from luxury beauty products to custom-made emotional experiences. Creators are documenting their daily reveals—opening store-bought calendars from brands like Sephora, LEGO, or Target—but the trend has gotten more personal and creative. Partners are building DIY advent calendars for each other filled with inside jokes, love notes, favorite snacks, or small meaningful gifts. Parents are crafting elaborate custom versions for their kids, stuffing each day with toys, activities, or handwritten messages. The appeal is twofold: the daily ritual creates built-in content for the entire month, and the personalization aspect makes it deeply sentimental. Whether it's rating which brand has the best calendar, gasping over luxury skincare minis, or tearing up at a handmade gift from a spouse, the trend taps into anticipation, nostalgia, and the cozy chaos of the holiday season. It's low-effort, high-reward content that keeps audiences coming back every single day.

Choose your angle: are you opening a store-bought calendar daily, building a custom one for someone, or both? If you're documenting daily reveals, film yourself opening each day's door or box, showing genuine reactions to what's inside. Keep a consistent filming spot and style so your series feels cohesive across all 25 days. For DIY calendars, show the creation process—shopping for or gathering 25 small gifts, assembling the calendar structure (you can buy blank ones or make your own), filling each compartment, and the final reveal to your recipient. Capture their reaction on Day 1 and check in throughout the month as they open it. Add on-screen text labeling the day number and what's inside, or keep it mysterious until the reveal. Use cozy, holiday-themed music or trending seasonal sounds to set the vibe. The key is consistency—posting daily keeps your audience invested in the journey, whether it's a luxury unboxing or a heartfelt homemade countdown.

Trend #5: Money in the Grave x Last Christmas Mashup

Producer noteliwood just created the unofficial anthem of Christmas 2025, and TikTok can't get enough. The mashup—Drake's track layered over the instrumental of a classic holiday hit—has struck the perfect balance between hype and festive, turning every holiday moment into main character energy. The sound has exploded across every corner of the platform: creators are posting silly dance montages in Santa hats and ugly sweaters, cutting together memes about holiday chaos, documenting everything they demolished at their office party, or showcasing their full holiday glam—hair, makeup, and outfit rundowns. It works for travel content (airport fits on the way to see family), shopping hauls (Target runs for decorations), and even just vibing in your living room surrounded by twinkle lights. The mashup gives people permission to be both celebratory and a little cocky about the season, which is exactly the vibe December demands. It's catchy, it's versatile, and it's quickly becoming the sound of the year for Christmas content—the kind of audio that'll define holiday TikTok the way other viral sounds have dominated their respective seasons.

Use the noteliwood mashup audio (search "Money in the Grave Last Christmas mashup" or look for noteliwood's profile). Film whatever holiday content fits your vibe: silly dancing in Christmas pajamas, a montage of your holiday party spread, getting ready content with festive makeup and hair, outfit checks in your best seasonal attire, shopping trips for gifts or decor, or travel clips heading home for the holidays. The key is matching the energy of the sound—it should feel fun, confident, and celebratory. Use quick cuts and upbeat pacing to sync with the rhythm. Add on-screen text if you want to label what you're showing ("everything I ate at the holiday party," "my Christmas Eve fit," "flying home for the holidays"), but the sound is strong enough to carry most content on its own. The vibe should be festive but not overly precious—think more "I'm thriving this season" than "silent night." This is the sound for people who want their holiday content to hit different.

Trend #6: Black Friday Isn't Black Friday Anymore

TikTok is mourning the death of real Black Friday, and the nostalgia is hitting hard. Creators are posting memes and full-on rants about how the shopping holiday has lost its unhinged, door-busting soul. There's a collective longing for the chaotic energy of the 2000s and early 2010s—the viral videos of people literally fighting in Walmart over half-priced Xboxes, camping outside Best Buy at 3am, trampling through Target like it was The Hunger Games. People even lined up overnight outside Target this year for their "swag bags" promised to the first 100 customers, only to discover the bags contained a pack of UNO cards, mini shampoo samples, Nerds candy, and other clearance items—basically products they had too much of. The disappointment is palpable. Meanwhile, Lowe's actually delivered by giving one shopper at each store a certificate for a free appliance worth up to $2,000, proving some stores still understand the assignment. Now? Most "deals" are 25% off items that were already on sale three weeks ago. Creators are venting with side-by-side comparisons of old Black Friday footage versus today's lukewarm email promotions. But rising from the ashes are breakout creators posting handwritten notebook lists and detailed breakdowns of which sales are legitimately worth your time. It's half comedy, half public service, and entirely necessary in the oversaturated Black Friday noise.

For the nostalgic rant angle, film yourself venting about the decline of Black Friday—pull up old chaotic footage or reference the Target bag fiasco versus Lowe's actual giveaways. Use on-screen text to highlight specific grievances: "Black Friday 2008: literal fistfights over $200 TVs" vs. "Black Friday 2025: a bag of UNO cards after waiting overnight." Keep your tone exasperated, sarcastic, or genuinely disappointed. For the helpful creator route, grab a notebook or open your Notes app and compile actual good deals you've found—be specific with brand names, discount percentages, and why it's worth it. Film yourself flipping through pages or scrolling through your list, pausing on each deal long enough for viewers to screenshot. Add captions like "Black Friday deals that are actually good" or "I did the research so you don't have to." The key is authenticity: if you're ranting, commit to the bit; if you're helping, be genuinely useful. Both angles work because they acknowledge the same truth—Black Friday isn't what it used to be, and we're all processing that together.

Trend #7: Say Your Stupid Line (Tame Impala Trend)

Tame Impala's "The Less I Know the Better" has sparked a relatable TikTok trend where creators are using a specific lyric about Superman to introduce their most-used phrases and excuses. The format is simple but effective: creators lip-sync to the song's vocal line, and when the instrumental break hits, they cut to themselves acting out whatever line they're known for saying repeatedly. The go-to example? Lying in bed with on-screen text reading something like "sorry something came up and I can't come anymore"—the classic flaky friend excuse. But creators are getting creative with it: introverts showing themselves saying "I'm too tired," chronic overthinkers with "actually never mind," people-pleasers with "yeah that's totally fine!" when it's clearly not. It's become a self-roast format that calls out your own predictable patterns, and the nostalgic Tame Impala track gives it an unexpectedly emotional backdrop for what's essentially admitting you're unreliable.

Start by lip-syncing to the vocal portion while looking directly at the camera. When the instrumental break drops, cut to a clip of yourself acting out your "stupid line"—the phrase you say constantly, your go-to excuse, or whatever you're predictably known for. Add on-screen text that clearly displays the line so viewers can read it. The acting can be deadpan (lying in bed), dramatic (hand on forehead), or situational (texting on your phone). The key is that the "line" should be recognizable as something you actually say all the time—it works best when it's self-aware and a little embarrassing. Popular examples include flaking excuses, overthinking phrases, people-pleasing responses, or commitment-phobic deflections. Keep it short and sync the transition to the music for maximum impact.

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