The ’80s were full of big hair, bright colors, and unforgettable pop culture moments. If you’re like me, you often find yourself wishing you could go back to those simpler times when MTV actually played music videos and phone calls happened on devices attached to walls.

I can help you take a fun trip back to the decade that gave us iconic movies, catchy songs, and fashion choices we both love and regret.

This blog post offers a collection of 80s trivia questions and answers that will spark nostalgia and perhaps settle a few friendly arguments about who really knows the decade best.

Get ready for questions about movies, music, TV shows, and more that defined the 1980s.

These questions are perfect for your next game night or for testing your memory.

’80s: The Unforgettable Era

The 1980s stand out as a time when music, movies, fashion, and technology changed how we live today. I still smile when I think about those days of cassette tapes and video arcades. The bright colors and big hair styles made the 80s look like no other time in history.

Music in the 1980s brought us new sounds and stars. Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” album sold millions of copies worldwide. Madonna burst onto the scene and changed pop music forever. New types of music, like hip-hop and new wave, became popular during this decade.

Movies from the 80s still fill us with joy when we watch them today. Films like:

• “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”
• “Back to the Future”
• “The Breakfast Club”
• “Ghostbusters”

These movies told stories that made us laugh, cry, and think about life in new ways.

TV shows from the 80s brought families together each week. Shows like “Family Ties,” “The Cosby Show,” and “Cheers” became part of our weekly routine. We planned our schedules around these shows since we couldn’t record them easily.

The ’80s also saw the birth of video games and home computers. The Nintendo Entertainment System changed how we played games at home. Many kids got their first computer, often an Apple II or Commodore 64. These early machines sparked interest in technology that grew into today’s digital world.

Fashion in the 80s was bold and fun. Leg warmers, shoulder pads, and neon colors filled our closets. Teens wanted jackets like the one Michael Jackson wore in “Thriller” or shoes like those from “Back to the Future.”

Plunge Back: ’80s Trivia Questions and Answers.

1. What does VHS stand for?
Video Home System

2. What was the most popular video game of the ’80s?
Mario Bros.

3. What ancient Chinese toy was repopularized in the 80s?
Hacky Sack

4. What year was the Nike slogan ‘Just do it’ launched?
1988

5. Where was the 1986 World Cup held?
Mexico City, Mexico

6. What year was the wreckage of the Titanic located?
1985

7. Which country built Disneyland first outside the US?
Japan

8. How much did the first mobile phone weigh?
2 pounds

9. When did Prince Charles and Lady Diana marry?
1981

10. What shuttle exploded mid-flight in 1986?
Challenger

11. Who wrote “A Light in The Attic”?
Shel Silverstein

12. Which US volcano erupted in 1980?
Mount St. Helens

13. What game first told a story onscreen?
Donkey Kong

14. When did the Berlin Wall fall?
1989

15. Which NFL team dominated the 80s?
San Francisco 49ers

16. What candy with a balloon appeared in 1985?
Airheads

17. Which US president served longest in the 80s?
Ronald Reagan

18. What was Jane Fonda known for in the ’80s?
Workout videos

19. What ’80s haircut was short front, long back?
Mullet

20. What disaster struck Ukraine in 1986?
Chernobyl

21. What does CD stand for?
Compact Disc

22. What was the top-grossing ’80s film?
E.T. Extra Terestial

23. What movie had teens in detention together?
The Breakfast Club

24. What car was used in Back to the Future?
DeLorean

25. Who is the villain in Nightmare on Elm Street?
Freddy Krueger

26. What 1988 film was Matt Damon’s debut?
Mystic Pizza

27. What 1985 movie won seven Oscars?
Out of Africa

28. What van does the Scooby-Doo gang drive?
The Mystery Machine

29. Who did De Niro play in Raging Bull?
Jake LaMotta

30. How many Oscars did Raiders of the Lost Ark win?
Five

31. Where did the “Last Christmas” music video take place?
Ski resort

32. Who was the cloaked villain in the Care Bears Family series?
No Heart

33. Who forgave his attempted assassin in 1981?
Pope John Paul II

34. Who was the first American woman in space?
Sally Ride

35. What California subculture said “gag me with a spoon”?
Valley girls

36. What depression drug debuted in 1988?
Prozac

37. What phrase is on the helmet in Full Metal Jacket?
Born to kill

38. What 1985 dystopian novel is set in Gilead?
The Handmaid’s Tale

39. What TV show did the Max Headroom hijack interrupt?
Doctor Who

40. What do Labyrinth and The Hunger have in common?
David Bowie

41. Who was The Smiths’ lead singer?
Morrissey

42. What ‘80s actor hosts “The Floor” today?
Rob Lowe

43. What 1980s gadget is known for its red viewer?
View-Master

44. What brand made the first handheld camcorder?
Sony

45. What fashion item did Madonna make popular?
Lace gloves

46. What toy’s slogan was “You can’t squeeze just one”?
Squeeze It

47. What video game console did Nintendo launch in 1985?
NES

48. What shoe became iconic from “Back to the Future”?
Nike MAG

49. What fast food mascot was purple and blob-shaped?
Grimace

50. Who released the album “Thriller”?
Michael Jackson

51. What sitcom featured the Huxtable family?
The Cosby Show

52. Who played the lead role in “Heathers”?
Winona Ryder

53. What was the name of He-Man’s pet tiger?
Battle Cat

54. What teen actress starred in “Sixteen Candles”?
Molly Ringwald

55. What was the name of ALF’s home planet?
Melmac

56. What 1980s arcade game featured ghosts and pellets?
Pac-Man

57. What was the first space shuttle to launch?
Columbia

58. What music channel debuted in 1981?
MTV

59. What catchphrase came from the show “Diff’rent Strokes”?
Whatchu talkin’ ‘bout?

60. Who sang “Like a Virgin” in 1984?
Madonna

61. What band’s frontman went vegetarian but kept “Meat” in his stage name?
Meat Loaf

62. What 1980s arcade game was originally named “Puckman”?
Pac-Man

63. What wall did Reagan famously tell Gorbachev to tear down?
Berlin Wall

64. What Polynesian sport gained popularity in the 80s?
Waka ama

65. What company founded in Maine is tied to bees?
Burt’s Bees

66. Who were the Celtics’ biggest NBA rivals in the 80s?
Los Angeles Lakers

67. What team was mockingly nicknamed “The Ain’ts”?
Saints

68. What continent is the title of Toto’s hit song?
Africa

69. What show holds the record for the most-watched finale?
MAS*H

70. What nuclear plant caused a disaster in 1986?
Chernobyl

71. Who is the “Jenny” reached at 867-5309?
Tommy Tutone

72. What cyclist appeared on Sports Illustrated in the 80s?
Greg LeMond

73. What ice cream was made with cryogenics?
Dippin’ Dots

74. What country issued a lion coin in the ’80s?
Israel

75. What John Hughes movie involved Saturday detention?
The Breakfast Club

76. What sitcom focused on Sugarbaker and Associates?
Designing Women

77. Who was nicknamed “Joe Cool” in the NFL?
Joe Montana

78. What country did LGSM support in the 80s?
United Kingdom

79. What 80s show had a talking car named KITT?
Knight Rider

80. What NES game used the Zapper gun?
Duck Hunt

81. What dog breed played direwolves in Game of Thrones?
Siberian Huskies

82. Tawny Kitaen appeared in videos for which band?
Whitesnake

83. What haircut is named after a dinnerware item?
Bowl cut

84. What Finnish band shares its name with wild dogs?
Dingo

85. Who was the UK Prime Minister for all of the 1980s?
Margaret Thatcher

86. Who was the 40th President of the U.S.?
Ronald Reagan

87. What 1981 assassination attempt targeted a sitting president?
Ronald Reagan

88. What economic plan was dubbed “Reaganomics”?
Supply-side economics

89. What phrase did Reagan use to describe the USSR?
Evil Empire

90. What space defense initiative was nicknamed “Star Wars”?
Strategic Defense Initiative

91. What first lady promoted the “Just Say No” campaign?
Nancy Reagan

92. What scandal involved selling arms to Iran?
Iran-Contra Affair

93. What movie role did Reagan famously play in 1940?
George Gipp

94. What famous line did Reagan say in Berlin in 1987?
Tear down this wall

95. What disease did Reagan publicly address in 1987?
AIDS

96. What was Reagan’s job before politics?
Actor

97. Who was Reagan’s vice president?
George H. W. Bush

98. What year did Reagan begin his first term?
1981

99. What iconic pop duo released “Sweet Dreams” in 1983?
Eurythmics

100. What 1982 Spielberg film starred a friendly alien?
E.T.

101. Who broke the glass ceiling on the U.S. Supreme Court in 1981?
Sandra Day O’Connor

102. What music channel launched in 1981 and changed the game?
MTV

103. Who was the first American woman in space?
Sally Ride

104. What device let people play music on the go in 1980?
Sony Walkman

105. Who was elected U.S. President in 1981?
Ronald Reagan

106. What virus infected Apple II computers in 1982?
Elk Cloner

107. What collectible toy line exploded in 1982?
Cabbage Patch Kids

108. What hairstyle trend involved huge teased hair?
Big Hair

109. Who released “Sweet Child o’ Mine” in 1987?
Guns N’ Roses

110. Who moonwalked to fame with “Billie Jean”?
Michael Jackson

111. Who sang “Total Eclipse of the Heart”?
Bonnie Tyler

112. What song made Rick Astley a star in 1987?
Never Gonna Give You Up

113. Which band released “Pour Some Sugar on Me”?
Def Leppard

114. Which band dropped “Back in Black” in 1980?
AC/DC

115. Who was known as the “Material Girl”?
Madonna

116. Which band released “Synchronicity” in 1983?
The Police

117. What album did Michael Jackson release in 1982?
Thriller

118. Who played Marty McFly in Back to the Future?
Michael J. Fox

119. What AI almost caused war in WarGames?
Joshua

120. Who played Indiana Jones?
Harrison Ford

121. Who directed E.T. in 1982?
Steven Spielberg

122. Who played Jack in The Shining?
Jack Nicholson

123. Who starred as John McClane in Die Hard?
Bruce Willis

124. What program did Reagan propose for space defense?
Star Wars

125. Who played Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop?
Eddie Murphy

The Reagan Era

• Ronald Reagan won the 1980 presidential election against Jimmy Carter by a wide margin, taking office in January 1981.
• In March 1981, just months into his presidency, Reagan survived an assassination attempt by John Hinckley Jr. outside a Washington hotel.
• The early 1980s saw a serious economic recession with high unemployment and inflation rates across the United States.
• Reagan introduced his economic policy, often called “Reaganomics,” which focused on tax cuts, reduced government regulation, and controlled the money supply.
• By 1983, the U.S. economy began to recover, starting a period of economic growth that lasted through most of the decade.
• The Reagan administration increased military spending significantly during the Cold War with the Soviet Union.
• In 1983, Reagan announced the Strategic Defense Initiative (SDI), a proposed missile defense system nicknamed “Star Wars” by the media.
• Reagan won his second term in 1984 by defeating Walter Mondale in one of the biggest landslides in U.S. election history.
• The Iran-Contra affair came to light in 1986, revealing secret arms sales to Iran with profits going to support rebels in Nicaragua.
• Reagan met several times with Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, improving U.S.-Soviet relations during his second term.
• In 1987, Reagan gave his famous speech at the Berlin Wall, challenging Gorbachev to “tear down this wall!”
• The stock market crashed on “Black Monday” in October 1987, but the economy recovered relatively quickly.
• The Berlin Wall fell in November 1989, marking a symbolic end to the Cold War that Reagan had fought throughout his presidency.

Wrapping it Up

Remember those neon-colored days filled with arcade games, MTV videos, and unforgettable movie lines? Our expedition through this vibrant decade reminds us why these memories remain so special decades later.

Trivia isn’t just about testing knowledge; it’s about connecting with a time when phones had cords and computers were the size of suitcases. These questions bridge generations, letting those who lived it relive fond memories while introducing younger folks to a fascinating era.

Ready for your next step?

Grab these 80s trivia questions and answers for your upcoming game night. Challenge parents, older siblings, or anyone who claims expertise about this iconic decade.

Time to dust off those memories and see how much of this radical decade you truly remember!