Blast back to the era of leg warmers, synthesizers, and blockbuster movies with our totally tubular ‘80s Trivia’! Test your knowledge of epic hairdos, classic video games, iconic films, and chart-topping pop hits. Gather your friends, crank up the nostalgia, and crown the ultimate ‘80s trivia champion! Ready, set, go!
80s Trivia
Did you know these fun facts?
- In 1981, MTV debuted by airing “Video Killed the Radio Star,” instantly transforming music into a visual medium.
- Cabbage Patch Kids sparked such mania in 1983 that frantic parents lined up overnight to adopt these chubby-cheeked dolls.
- When Nintendo launched the NES in 1985, it not only revived the video game industry but sold over 60 million units worldwide.
80s Trivia Questions and Answers
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| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What year did the Chernobyl nuclear disaster occur? | ▶ 1986 |
| What 1980s haircare product was known for helping achieve the era’s signature big hair? | ▶ Aqua Net Hairspray |
| Which American music television network launched on August 1, 1981, revolutionizing the music industry? | ▶ MTV |
| In what year did the television series Miami Vice premiere on NBC? | ▶ 1984 |
| What was the title of Madonna’s debut album released in 1983? | ▶ Madonna |
| What year did Ronald Reagan begin his first term as President of the United States? | ▶ 1981 |
| Which song by The Buggles became the first music video aired on MTV on August 1, 1981? | ▶ Video Killed the Radio Star |
| Which 1984 hit song by Bruce Springsteen featured “U.S.A.” in its title? | ▶ Born in the U.S.A. |
| Who served as the lead singer of the British band Duran Duran throughout the 1980s? | ▶ Simon Le Bon |
| What 1982 teen comedy-drama directed by Amy Heckerling is set at Ridgemont High School? | ▶ Fast Times at Ridgemont High |
| Which major international sporting event was hosted by Los Angeles in 1984? | ▶ The Summer Olympics |
| What 1981 hit single begins “Just a small-town girl, living in a lonely world”? | ▶ Don’t Stop Believin’ by Journey |
| What is the name of the main character played by Michael J. Fox in the 1985 film Back to the Future? | ▶ Marty McFly |
| Which team won Super Bowl XX in January 1986 with a record 46–10 victory? | ▶ Chicago Bears |
| Which decade is often remembered for neon clothing, synthesizer pop, and big hair? | ▶ The 1980s |
| In what year did the sitcom The Golden Girls first premiere on NBC? | ▶ 1985 |
| In which year did Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative Party win a landslide victory in the UK general election? | ▶ 1983 |
| What was the title of George Michael’s debut solo album released in 1987? | ▶ Faith |
| What year did Andrew Ridgeley announce the breakup of Wham!? | ▶ 1986 |
| Which treaty did Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev sign in 1987, marking a thaw in the Cold War? | ▶ The INF Treaty |
| Which video game featuring plumber Mario debuted on the NES in North America in 1985? | ▶ Super Mario Bros. |
| What year did MTV launch, forever changing music television? | ▶ 1981 |
| Which NASA space shuttle made its maiden flight on April 12, 1981? | ▶ Columbia |
| Who released the 1982 album Thriller, the best-selling album of all time? | ▶ Michael Jackson |
| What 1985 charity concert was organized by Bob Geldof to fight famine in Ethiopia? | ▶ Live Aid |
| Which 1984 romantic comedy stars Tom Hanks as a man transformed into a woman? | ▶ Big |
| What 1983 film follows a steel-mill welder by day and exotic dancer by night? | ▶ Flashdance |
| Who sang the 1984 hit “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”? | ▶ Cyndi Lauper |
| What 1989 Nintendo handheld console launched with Tetris in its cartridge? | ▶ Game Boy |
| Which British band topped the charts in 1983 with “Every Breath You Take”? | ▶ The Police |
| In what year did the Berlin Wall fall, marking the end of an era? | ▶ 1989 |
| Which 1989 Disney animated film tells the tale of a mermaid princess? | ▶ The Little Mermaid |
| Who directed the 1982 sci-fi noir Blade Runner? | ▶ Ridley Scott |
| What 1986 film stars Matthew Broderick as a high-school slacker faking illness to skip school? | ▶ Ferris Bueller’s Day Off |
| Which 1988 film stars Julia Roberts as a waitress in a pizza shop? | ▶ Mystic Pizza |
| Who sang “Purple Rain” on the soundtrack of the 1984 film of the same name? | ▶ Prince |
| What handheld LCD game introduced by Nintendo in 1989 became a global phenomenon? | ▶ Game Boy |
| Which pop duo released the synth-pop hit “Take On Me” in 1985? | ▶ a-ha |
| What 1987 action film features the line “Say hello to my little friend”? | ▶ Scarface |
| Which 1984 movie features a team hunting ghosts in New York City? | ▶ Ghostbusters |
| Which toy craze of the mid-80s involved stretching colorful slime? | ▶ Mad Science Slime |
| What blockbuster 1980 film stars Robert De Niro as a boxer trained by Mr. T? | ▶ Rocky III |
| Who sang the 1989 hit “Like a Prayer”? | ▶ Madonna |
| Which Japanese car was transformed into a time machine in Back to the Future? | ▶ DeLorean DMC-12 |
| Which 1981 arcade game has you navigate a yellow circle through a maze eating pellets? | ▶ Pac-Man |
| What 1986 hit song by Kenny Loggins was featured in the film Top Gun? | ▶ Danger Zone |
| What 1987 claymation music video featured a walking, talking glove? | ▶ Sledgehammer by Peter Gabriel |
| Which Sony product released in 1982 popularized the compact disc? | ▶ Sony CDP-101 |
| What 1980s sitcom centered on the Huxtable family? | ▶ The Cosby Show |
| Who voiced the character of Donatello in the 1987 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles cartoon? | ▶ Barry Gordon |
| Which action figure line launched in 1984 and starred He-Man? | ▶ Masters of the Universe |
| What 1982 film stars Harrison Ford as archaeologist Indiana Jones? | ▶ Raiders of the Lost Ark |
| Which band released “Sweet Child o’ Mine” in 1987? | ▶ Guns N’ Roses |
| What choreographed aerobics craze did Jane Fonda popularize in the early ’80s? | ▶ Fonda’s Aerobics Workout |
| Who sang “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” in 1985? | ▶ Tears for Fears |
| Which movie features the song “Footloose” by Kenny Loggins and was released in 1984? | ▶ Footloose |
| Which 1986 fantasy film features a young girl in a labyrinth ruled by a goblin king? | ▶ Labyrinth |
| What 1982 arcade game simulates tank combat in vector graphics? | ▶ Battlezone |
| What groundbreaking 1989 music video by Madonna featured religious imagery and controversy? | ▶ Like a Prayer |
| Which 1980 film features a karate kid trained by Mr. Miyagi? | ▶ The Karate Kid |
| Who directed the 1985 film The Color Purple? | ▶ Steven Spielberg |
| What 1987 romantic film stars Patrick Swayze as dance instructor Johnny Castle? | ▶ Dirty Dancing |
| Which iconic ’80s shoe was introduced by Nike in 1987 and named after a basketball star? | ▶ Air Jordan I |
| Who sang “In the Air Tonight” in 1981? | ▶ Phil Collins |
| Which 1980 movie depicted a rogue AI named WOPR that nearly starts a nuclear war? | ▶ WarGames (1983) |
| Which 1984 video game introduced the world to Alexey Pajitnov’s falling-block puzzle? | ▶ Tetris |
| Who released the 1988 album OU812? | ▶ Van Halen |
| What 1981 sci-fi film features a cyborg assassin sent to 1984 to kill Sarah Connor? | ▶ The Terminator |
| Which American TV series featuring a talking car premiered in 1982? | ▶ Knight Rider |
| What 1989 Michael Jackson film featured his hit “Bad”? | ▶ Moonwalker |
| Who sang the 1983 hit “Karma Chameleon”? | ▶ Culture Club |
| Which 1985 film follows a teen wrestling coach in Texas? | ▶ Vision Quest |
| What 1986 sitcom introduced the character Mr. Belvedere? | ▶ Mr. Belvedere |
| Which popular 1980s wrist accessory snapped onto your arm? | ▶ Slap bracelet |
| Who released the 1989 album Dr. Feelgood? | ▶ Mötley Crüe |
| What 1983 film stars John Travolta reprising his disco role from Saturday Night Fever? | ▶ Staying Alive |
| Which handheld calculator watch was a fad in the early ’80s? | ▶ Casio Calculator Watch |
| Who sang “Pour Some Sugar on Me” in 1987? | ▶ Def Leppard |
| Which 1984 film follows a group of detention-hall misfits spending a Saturday in school? | ▶ The Breakfast Club |
| Which 1986 pop duet pairs Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush in “Don’t Give Up”? | ▶ Don’t Give Up |
| What 1989 animated series featured the Transformers battling the Decepticons? | ▶ The Transformers |
| Who released the 1983 album Synchronicity? | ▶ The Police |
| What 1987 film features RoboCop protecting Detroit? | ▶ RoboCop |
| Which fashion craze of the ’80s involved wearing leggings under oversized t-shirts? | ▶ Leggings with off-the-shoulder sweatshirts |
| Who sang “Walk Like an Egyptian” in 1986? | ▶ The Bangles |
| What 1988 film directed by Tim Burton stars Michael Keaton as a masked vigilante? | ▶ Batman |
| Which 1985 RPG for the Commodore 64 pioneered party-based gameplay? | ▶ The Bard’s Tale |
| What 1986 toy featured troll dolls with bright hair? | ▶ Troll Dolls |
| Who sang the 1980 hit “Call Me,” the theme from American Gigolo? | ▶ Blondie |
| What 1983 shark film was released in 3-D? | ▶ Jaws 3-D |
| What 1983 arcade game stars Popeye rescuing Olive Oyl from Bluto? | ▶ Popeye |
| Which 1989 romantic comedy pairs Meg Ryan with Billy Crystal? | ▶ When Harry Met Sally… |
| What 1985 pop ballad begins “Hello, is it me you’re looking for?” | ▶ Hello by Lionel Richie |
| Which 1984 horror film slasher wears a hockey mask? | ▶ Friday the 13th |
| What 1989 buddy cop sequel brings back Axel Foley to Beverly Hills? | ▶ Beverly Hills Cop II |
| Who sang the 1986 charity single “That’s What Friends Are For”? | ▶ Dionne Warwick & Friends |
| What 1982 arcade game features a spaceship blasting meteors? | ▶ Asteroids |
| Who performed the original 1985 hit “Shout”? | ▶ Tears for Fears |
| What 1989 film sees the Ghostbusters return to save New York? | ▶ Ghostbusters II |
| Which 1982 Michael Jackson song begins with a door creaking open? | ▶ Thriller |
| What 1981 film features a talking car voiced by William Daniels? | ▶ Knight Rider (TV pilot movie) |
| What 1984 film follows a team of misfits battling paranormal forces in New York City? | ▶ Ghostbusters |
| Which ’80s TV show featured the character ALF, a furry alien from Melmac? | ▶ ALF (1986) |
| Who performed the 1981 hit “Bette Davis Eyes”? | ▶ Kim Carnes |
| Which 1987 video game popularized the “Contra code” on the NES? | ▶ Contra |
