The Best ’80s Trivia Questions to Test Your Memory of One of Pop Culture’s Greatest Decades

The '80s were a defining era in pop culture.This decade gave rise to the music video marvel that was MTV, iconic films that captured the hearts of generations, dance-floor tracks, bold fashion trends brighter than the stars, and historic moments the world will never forget.We traveled back to the future and lived on a prayer, all with hair that touched the sky, a Sony Walkman in hand, and a dream. Whether you grew up in the '80s yourself, or your parents experienced the decade first-hand and passed their knowledge down, how well do you know the ins and outs of one of pop culture's greatest eras? It's time to put your memory to the test with these '80s trivia questions!Movies & Pop CultureChristopher Lloyd In 'Back To The Future' | Universal Pictures/GettyImages1. What 1985 film featured a teenager who traveled through time using a specially modified vehicle?Answer: Back to the Future2. What 1984 comedy featured a team of scientists who investigated paranormal activity in New York City?Answer: Ghostbusters3. What 1986 film about fighter pilots featured the characters Maverick and Goose?Answer: Top Gun4. What 1985 adventure film followed a group of kids searching for hidden treasure?Answer: The Goonies5. Which actor played Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom?Answer: Harrison Ford6. What 1984 film featured a teenager learning martial arts from a wise mentor named Mr. Miyagi?Answer: The Karate Kid7. What 1987 romantic drama featured the characters Johnny Castle and Baby?Answer: Dirty Dancing8. What 1988 comedy featured a mischievous character who was brought back from the afterlife?Answer: Beetlejuice9. What 1982 film featured a young boy who befriended an alien stranded on Earth?Answer: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial10. What 1989 animated film introduced audiences to a young mermaid named Ariel?Answer: The Little Mermaid11. What 1985 film starred Michael J. Fox as a teenager who accidentally traveled through time?Answer: Back to the Future12. What 1988 action film featured New York police officer John McClane?Answer: Die Hard13. What 1986 film starred Matthew Broderick as a teenager who skipped school for an unforgettable day?Answer: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off14. What 1987 comedy featured Eddie Murphy playing multiple characters while searching for love in New York?Answer: Coming to America15. What 1988 fantasy comedy starred Tom Hanks as a young man who magically became an adult overnight?Answer: BigTelevisionABC's "Full House" | ABC/GettyImages16. What television series featured a talking car named KITT?Answer: Knight Rider17. What sitcom followed the Tanner family living in San Francisco?Answer: Full House18. What television series centered around a group of friends living in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana?Answer: This question should be removed — Stranger Things is not an ’80s show.Replacement Question: What sitcom featured the character Alex P. Keaton, played by Michael J. Fox?Answer: Family Ties19. What sitcom took place in a Boston bar where many regular customers gathered?Answer: Cheers20. What television show followed a team of former soldiers led by Colonel John “Hannibal” Smith?Answer: The A-Team21. What animated family first appeared as a regular series on television in 1989?Answer: The Simpsons22. What television drama followed students at Bayside High School?Answer: Saved by the Bell23. What television series starred Tom Selleck as a private investigator living in Hawaii?Answer: Magnum, P.I.24. What sitcom starred Bill Cosby as physician Cliff Huxtable?Answer: The Cosby Show25. What television series featured a character named Balki Bartokomous?Answer: Perfect StrangersMusic & MTVMTV Logo | Michael Ochs Archives/GettyImages26. What music television channel launched in 1981 and became famous for showing music videos?Answer: MTV27. Which artist released the 1982 album Thriller?Answer: Michael Jackson28. Which singer released the albums Like a Virgin and True Blue during the 1980s?Answer: Madonna29. Which musician starred in the 1984 film Purple Rain?Answer: Prince30. What British band had a worldwide hit with the song “Take on Me”?Answer: a-ha31. Which singer performed the 1983 hit “Girls Just Want to Have Fun”?Answer: Cyndi Lauper32. Which band released the 1987 album The Joshua Tree?Answer: U233. Which band recorded the 1987 hit “Livin’ on a Prayer”?Answer: Bon Jovi34. What 1985 charity single brought together many famous musicians to raise money for famine relief?Answer: “We Are the World”35. What 1985 concert event featured performances from major music stars in London and Philadelphia?Answer: Live AidToys, Video Games & TechnologyRubik's cube | Popartic/GettyImages36. What puzzle toy became one of the biggest worldwide crazes of the 1980s?Answer: Rubik’s Cube37. What arcade game featured a yellow character eating pellets while avoiding colorful ghosts?Answer: Pac-Man38. What Nintendo character first appeared in the 1981 arcade game Donkey Kong?Answer: Mario39. What home video game console helped revive the North American gaming industry in the mid-1980s?Answer: Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)40. What handheld gaming system was released by Nintendo in 1989?Answer: Game Boy41. What toy line featured characters such as Optimus Prime and Megatron?Answer: Transformers42. What toy line featured characters including He-Man and Skeletor?Answer: Masters of the Universe43. What toy featured colorful bears with different symbols on their stomachs?Answer: Care Bears44. What electronic toy allowed children to create glowing pictures using colored pegs?Answer: Lite-Brite45. What popular toy involved small plastic bricks used for building creations?Answer: LEGO46. What personal computer introduced by Apple in 1984 featured a graphical user interface and a mouse?Answer: Macintosh47. What portable music device helped people listen to cassette tapes while on the go?Answer: Sony Walkman48. What company created the video game character Mario?Answer: Nintendo49. What arcade game involved players controlling a spaceship to defeat waves of alien enemies?Answer: Space Invaders50. What home computer company released the popular Commodore 64 in 1982?Answer: Commodore’80s Fashion & TrendsFashion of the 1980's & 90's With Boombox | RyanJLane/GettyImages51. What hairstyle trend became famous for its large volume during the decade?Answer: Big hair52. What colorful fashion trend became closely associated with the 1980s?Answer: Neon clothing and accessories53. What type of athletic shoe became especially popular after being featured in many ’80s fashion trends?Answer: High-top sneakers54. What exercise trend became popular through home workout videos?Answer: Aerobics55. What sunglasses brand became strongly associated with the movie Top Gun?Answer: Ray-Ban56. What type of bracelets became a popular fashion accessory among kids and teens?Answer: Jelly bracelets57. What colorful clothing style used bright patterns and geometric designs during the decade?Answer: ’80s fashion / bold patterned clothing58. What dance style became widely popular through hip-hop culture during the 1980s?Answer: Breakdancing59. What fitness personality became famous for workout videos during the decade?Answer: Jane Fonda60. What type of jacket became strongly associated with the movie Top Gun?Answer: Bomber jacketMajor ’80s Moments & HistoryBERLIN WALL | NatalyaLucia/GettyImages61. In what year did MTV officially launch?Answer: 198162. What space shuttle disaster occurred shortly after launch in 1986?Answer: Challenger disaster63. What wall came down in 1989, becoming a symbol of the end of the Cold War?Answer: The Berlin Wall64. What major international sporting event took place in Los Angeles in 1984?Answer: The Summer Olympics65. Which royal couple married in a globally watched 1981 ceremony?Answer: Prince Charles and Princess Diana66. What charity event in 1985 raised money for famine relief in Africa?Answer: Live Aid67. What nickname was given to the economic and political reforms introduced by Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev?Answer: Glasnost and perestroika68. What disease awareness campaign became a major public health issue during the 1980s?Answer: AIDS awareness69. What 1989 event symbolized major changes in Europe and the Cold War?Answer: The fall of the Berlin Wall70. What technology format became popular in the 1980s for watching movies at home?Answer: VHSBonus ’80s Nostalgia QuestionsMovie time | Aleksandr Durnov/GettyImages71. What candy was famous for its small, crackling pieces that popped in your mouth?Answer: Pop Rocks72. What video rental company became a symbol of home movie nights during the late 1980s and 1990s?Answer: Blockbuster73. What cartoon featured four pizza-loving heroes who lived in the sewers of New York City?Answer: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles74. What phrase became associated with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles?Answer: “Cowabunga!”75. What television network launched in 1983 and became known for family-friendly programming such as The Disney Channel?Answer: The Disney ChannelHow many of these questions did you get right? Some were tough to guess, while others were so unmistakably '80s, you knew the answer right away!Test your knowledge further with our Mental Floss Quiz Around the World geography challenge! 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