14 Birthday Themes That Were Everywhere in 2019

Updated on 12/17/2019 at 6:35 PM

Whether your kid's birthday is in January or July, their special day will sneak up on you so fast, it'll make your head spin. You might think you have a lot of time, but between making the favors, DIYing the decorations, and baking that three-tiered cake you've been dying to try, planning (far) ahead is essential. Thankfully, we've rounded up the top trends of 2019, so you can start making to-do lists (and those invitations) right now!

Dumbo

Since the live-action Dumbo came out in 2019, everyone's favorite elephant was the toast of parties. Even though the animated version is a little older, it's a classic way to get in on the theme.

Frozen

You might be thinking that the Frozen theme is so 2013, but since the highly anticipated sequel came out, we're just not ready to "let it go." Lean into the cold!

How to Train Your Dragon

How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World, the newest installment in the sweet and endearing movie franchise about a boy and his dragon, came out this year, making dragons a hot ticket (get it?). Sorry if you had to explain to your kid why you couldn't get them a real-life dragon for their birthday.

The Secret Life of Pets

The Secret Life of Pets returned in 2019 with a new sequel, meaning animal-lovers everywhere got to have these adorable pets front and center at their birthday parties.

Detective Pikachu

Detective Pikachu, the newest Pokémon movie that kids (and parents) loved, inspired some catchy party decor.

Sonic the Hedgehog

Throwing it back to the '90s, Sonic the Hedgehog was one of the best video games. Now, thanks to the movie getting released next year, this nostalgic birthday theme was a top pick.

Mowgli

After The Jungle Book got redone on Netflix, it's easy to see why this birthday theme took over. Baloo, Bagheera, and the whole jungle crew make for one exciting party.

Dora the Explorer

Exploring with Dora the Explorer was fun for all this year, thanks to a new movie that was released this past Summer.

Shrek

Also rebooted in 2019? Shrek! The not-so-mean ogre and internet sensation took parties by storm this year.

X-Men

The final installment of X-Men was released in 2019, meaning Wolverine cupcakes and Jean Grey costumes were a party staple for older kids.

Superhero

So many superhero movies came out in 2019 (Spider-Man: Far From Home, Captain Marvel, and Avengers: Endgame, just to name a few), so it's no surprise superheroes continued to reign supreme for birthday parties.

Wonder Woman

Of course, a superhero as amazing as Wonder Woman deserves her own slide. The lasso of truth makes any birthday party more fun.

Ralph Breaks the Internet

There's no stopping Ralph. After breaking the internet, he popped up at birthday parties all year long.

Pretty Pinks

Unicorns have had their day in the sun, so it was time to go back to palm trees and pretty pastels, which are perfect any time of the year.