149 Ultimate 80s Trivia Questions and Answers for Retro Fans

Do you remember the vibrant and unforgettable 1980s? Whether you lived through it or just love the era’s music, movies, and fashion, testing your knowledge can be a fun way to revisit those memories. In this article, you’ll find 80s trivia questions and answers that will challenge your memory and entertain you.

Perfect for a game night with friends or a solo challenge, these questions cover everything from pop culture and sports to technology and historical events. Get ready to dive back into the 80s and see how much you really know about this iconic decade!

1980s Trivia Questions and Answers

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80s Pop Culture Trivia Questions and Answers

Question 1: What popular arcade game was released by Nintendo in 1981?

Answer: Donkey Kong.

Question 2: Which 1980s TV show featured a character named “Fonzie”?

Answer: Happy Days.

Question 3: What iconic toy line featuring colorful, transforming robots was launched in the 1980s?

Answer: Transformers.

Question 4: Which actress starred in the 1984 film “Flashdance”?

Answer: Jennifer Beals.

Question 5: What iconic music video, featuring a wedding and an orange wedding dress, was released by Cyndi Lauper in 1983?

Answer: “Girls Just Want to Have Fun.”

Question 6: What popular 1980s toy featured small, colorful creatures with long, wild hair?

Answer: Troll Dolls.

Question 7: What 1980s TV show featured the adventures of a talking car named KITT?

Answer: Knight Rider.

Question 8: Which movie series, beginning in 1984, features a ghost-fighting team in New York City?

Answer: Ghostbusters.

Question 9: What iconic 1980s song by A-Ha featured a groundbreaking animated music video?

Answer: “Take On Me.”

Question 10: Which British royal couple got married in 1981, capturing the world’s attention?

Answer: Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer.

Question 11: What 1980s fitness icon is known for her aerobic workout videos and her catchphrase, “Feel the burn”?

Answer: Jane Fonda.

Question 12: Which 1980s sitcom starred Michael J. Fox as a young conservative named Alex P. Keaton?

Answer: Family Ties.

Question 13: What was the name of the 1980s MTV show that featured music videos and was hosted by “VJs”?

Answer: MTV’s Total Request Live (TRL).

Question 14: What popular 1980s movie featured the character Ferris Bueller, who takes a day off from school?

Answer: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

Question 15: Which toy line, featuring magical ponies with colorful manes and tails, became a sensation in the 1980s?

Answer: My Little Pony.

80s Music Trivia Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which 80s band is known for the hit song “Livin’ on a Prayer”?

Answer: Bon Jovi.

Question 2: What song by Madonna became a hit in 1984 and solidified her status as the “Queen of Pop”?

Answer: “Like a Virgin.”

Question 3: Which artist released the iconic album “Purple Rain” in 1984?

Answer: Prince.

Question 4: What is the name of the 1985 charity single that featured various artists and raised money for famine relief in Africa?

Answer: “We Are the World.”

Question 5: Which British band had a hit with the song “Don’t You Want Me” in 1981?

Answer: The Human League.

Question 6: What 1980s song by Michael Jackson includes the lyrics “The kid is not my son”?

Answer: “Billie Jean.”

Question 7: Which Australian band had a hit with “Down Under” in 1981?

Answer: Men at Work.

Question 8: What 1983 hit song by The Police includes the lyrics “Every breath you take, every move you make”?

Answer: “Every Breath You Take.”

Question 9: Which female artist sang “Time After Time” in 1983?

Answer: Cyndi Lauper.

Question 10: Which band released the hit song “Take On Me” in 1985?

Answer: A-ha.

Question 11: What 1980 song by Queen became an anthem for sporting events?

Answer: “Another One Bites the Dust.”

Question 12: Which band is known for the 1984 hit song “Jump”?

Answer: Van Halen.

Question 13: What 1986 song by Bon Jovi includes the lyrics “Shot through the heart, and you’re to blame”?

Answer: “You Give Love a Bad Name.”

Question 14: Which band had a major hit with “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” in 1983?

Answer: Eurythmics.

Question 15: What 1989 song by Billy Joel lists historical events and people from the previous four decades?

Answer: “We Didn’t Start the Fire.”

80s Movies Trivia Questions and Answers

Question 1: Which 1980s film features the iconic line “Nobody puts Baby in a corner”?

Answer: Dirty Dancing.

Question 2: What 1986 movie stars Tom Cruise as a fighter pilot named Maverick?

Answer: Top Gun.

Question 3: Which 1984 sci-fi comedy features the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man?

Answer: Ghostbusters.

Question 4: What 1982 movie features a young boy named Elliott who befriends an extraterrestrial?

Answer: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.

Question 5: Which 1989 film features the line “O Captain! My Captain!”?

Answer: Dead Poets Society.

Question 6: What is the name of the high school in the 1985 movie “The Breakfast Club”?

Answer: Shermer High School.

Question 7: Which 1988 movie stars Eddie Murphy as an African prince who travels to New York?

Answer: Coming to America.

Question 8: What 1986 fantasy film features David Bowie as Jareth, the Goblin King?

Answer: Labyrinth.

Question 9: In the 1984 movie “The Karate Kid,” what is the name of Daniel’s martial arts mentor?

Answer: Mr. Miyagi.

Question 10: Which 1985 movie is about a group of kids searching for pirate treasure?

Answer: The Goonies.

Question 11: What is the name of the villain in the 1981 film “Raiders of the Lost Ark”?

Answer: René Belloq.

Question 12: Which 1987 movie features the characters Westley, Buttercup, and Inigo Montoya?

Answer: The Princess Bride.

Question 13: What 1985 film stars Michael J. Fox as a teenager who turns into a werewolf?

Answer: Teen Wolf.

Question 14: Which 1987 sci-fi action film features the character RoboCop?

Answer: RoboCop.

Question 15: What is the name of the artificial intelligence system in the 1983 film “WarGames”?

Answer: WOPR (War Operation Plan Response).

80s TV Shows Trivia Questions and Answers

Question 1: What 80s TV show featured a character named Alex P. Keaton, played by Michael J. Fox?

Answer: Family Ties.

Question 2: Which 1980s sitcom is set in a bar in Boston and features the characters Sam Malone and Diane Chambers?

Answer: Cheers.

Question 3: What animated TV series featured a team of heroic cats with special powers, including Lion-O and Cheetara?

Answer: ThunderCats.

Question 4: Which 1980s TV show starred Tom Selleck as a private investigator in Hawaii?

Answer: Magnum, P.I.

Question 5: What 1980s TV show follows a group of Vietnam War veterans who become mercenaries, including characters like Hannibal and B.A. Baracus?

Answer: The A-Team.

Question 6: Which 80s sitcom features the Huxtable family and stars Bill Cosby as the father?

Answer: The Cosby Show.

Question 7: What TV show featured a talking car named KITT and starred David Hasselhoff?

Answer: Knight Rider.

Question 8: Which 1980s soap opera is set in the fictional town of Genoa City and features the Newman and Abbott families?

Answer: The Young and the Restless.

Question 9: What animated TV series featured characters like He-Man and Skeletor?

Answer: He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.

Question 10: Which 1980s TV show followed the lives of three siblings named Kevin, Wayne, and Karen Arnold?

Answer: The Wonder Years.

Question 11: What 1980s police procedural drama starred Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas as undercover detectives in Miami?

Answer: Miami Vice.

Question 12: Which 80s sitcom featured a group of alien puppets living in a suburban family’s attic, including the character ALF?

Answer: ALF.

Question 13: What 1980s TV show starred Tony Danza as a former baseball player turned housekeeper for a career-focused woman?

Answer: Who’s the Boss?

Question 14: Which 1980s TV series is known for its opening theme song “As Long As We Got Each Other” and features the Seaver family?

Answer: Growing Pains.

Question 15: What 1980s detective show featured a widowed father who solves crimes with the help of his daughter, starring Angela Lansbury?

Answer: Murder, She Wrote.

80s Fashion and Trends Trivia Questions and Answers

Question 1: What iconic 1980s trend involved wearing brightly colored, padded jackets and vests?

Answer: Neon outerwear.

Question 2: Which brand of athletic shoes became a cultural icon in the 1980s with the release of the Air Jordan line?

Answer: Nike.

Question 3: What type of pants, known for their high waist and baggy fit, were a major trend in the 1980s?

Answer: Parachute pants.

Question 4: Which colorful rubber bracelets became a major fashion trend in the 1980s, often worn in multiples?

Answer: Jelly bracelets.

Question 5: What was the name of the short, often brightly colored jackets with tight cuffs and waistbands that were popular in the 80s?

Answer: Members Only jackets.

Question 6: What 1980s trend involved wearing large, oversized sweaters often paired with leggings?

Answer: Slouchy sweaters.

Question 7: Which brand of jeans was known for its designer label and tight fit, becoming hugely popular in the 1980s?

Answer: Calvin Klein jeans.

Question 8: What accessory, popularized by Madonna, was commonly worn as a headband in the 1980s?

Answer: Lace headbands.

Question 9: Which type of sunglasses with large, squared-off lenses were a signature look in the 1980s?

Answer: Wayfarers.

Question 10: What type of synthetic fabric, often used in workout clothes and known for its shiny appearance, was popular in the 1980s?

Answer: Spandex.

Question 11: What trend involved wearing mismatched, brightly colored socks, often scrunched down?

Answer: Slouch socks.

Question 12: Which type of footwear, characterized by a flat sole and a thick strap, was popular among women in the 1980s?

Answer: Jelly shoes.

Question 13: Which brand of watches, known for their colorful and quirky designs, became a major fashion statement in the 1980s?

Answer: Swatch.

Question 14: What fashion trend involved wearing oversized blazers with exaggerated shoulder pads, often paired with skirts or jeans?

Answer: Power dressing.

80s Technology and Gadgets Trivia Questions and Answers

Question 1: What was the name of the first personal computer introduced by IBM in 1981?

Answer: IBM PC.

Question 2: Which home video game console, released by Nintendo in 1985, became a massive success in the 1980s?

Answer: Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

Question 3: What was the name of the first commercially successful graphical user interface (GUI) operating system, released by Apple in 1984?

Answer: Macintosh.

Question 4: What portable music player, introduced by Sony in 1979, became widely popular in the 1980s?

Answer: Walkman.

Question 5: What home computer, released in 1982, became one of the best-selling computers of all time?

Answer: Commodore 64.

Question 6: What was the name of the first mobile phone released by Motorola in 1983?

Answer: Motorola DynaTAC 8000X.

Question 7: Which electronic toy, introduced in the 1980s, featured a rotating puzzle that became a global craze?

Answer: Rubik’s Cube.

Question 8: What early video game, released in arcades in 1980, featured a yellow character eating dots and avoiding ghosts?

Answer: Pac-Man.

Question 9: What handheld gaming device, released by Nintendo in 1989, became a cultural phenomenon?

Answer: Game Boy.

Question 10: What was the name of the first camcorder that allowed people to record home videos, released by Sony in 1983?

Answer: Sony Betacam.

Question 11: What computer programming language, designed for education and simple to learn, was popularized in the 1980s?

Answer: BASIC (Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code).

Question 12: What early 80s tech gadget allowed people to make digital calculations and became a must-have for students?

Answer: Calculator watch.

Question 13: What technology, introduced in the 1980s, allowed users to send and receive messages electronically via computers?

Answer: Email.

Question 14: What was the name of the popular digital pet toy released in the late 1980s?

Answer: Tamagotchi (note: while Tamagotchi became extremely popular in the 90s, the precursor technology and concept began in the late 80s).

Question 15: What early form of the internet, developed in the 1980s, was originally a research project funded by the U.S. government?

Answer: ARPANET (Advanced Research Projects Agency Network).

80s Sports Trivia Questions and Answers

Question 1: Who won the gold medal in men’s basketball at the 1984 Summer Olympics?

Answer: United States.

Question 2: Which famous boxing match took place in 1988 between Mike Tyson and Michael Spinks?

Answer: Tyson knocked out Spinks in 91 seconds.

Question 3: What baseball team won the World Series in 1986?

Answer: New York Mets.

Question 4: Which football (soccer) club won the UEFA Champions League in 1984?

Answer: Liverpool FC.

Question 5: Who was the most successful Formula 1 driver of the 1980s, winning four World Championships?

Answer: Alain Prost.

Question 6: What tennis player won all four Grand Slam singles titles in 1988, achieving the “Golden Slam”?

Answer: Steffi Graf.

Question 7: What major sporting event was held in Los Angeles in 1984?

Answer: Summer Olympics.

Question 8: Which NFL team won the Super Bowl in 1985, famously known for their “Super Bowl Shuffle”?

Answer: Chicago Bears.

Question 9: Who won the men’s singles title at Wimbledon in 1980 in a classic match against Björn Borg?

Answer: John McEnroe.

Question 10: What American figure skater won gold at the 1984 Winter Olympics in Sarajevo?

Answer: Scott Hamilton.

Question 11: Which Canadian hockey player set numerous NHL records during the 1980s?

Answer: Wayne Gretzky.

Question 12: Who was the first American to win the Tour de France in 1986?

Answer: Greg LeMond.

Question 13: Which Major League Baseball player hit a record 49 home runs in the 1987 season?

Answer: Mark McGwire.

Question 14: Who won the women’s all-around gymnastics gold medal at the 1984 Olympics?

Answer: Mary Lou Retton.

Question 15: What famous marathon, known for its challenging course, was won by Alberto Salazar three times in the early 1980s?

Answer: New York City Marathon.

80s Toys and Games Trivia Questions and Answers

Question 1: What popular 80s toy featured a plastic oven that allowed kids to bake small cakes and cookies using a light bulb?

Answer: Easy-Bake Oven.

Question 2: What handheld electronic game, released by Milton Bradley in 1978, became a hit in the 80s and featured a series of colored buttons and lights?

Answer: Simon.

Question 3: What line of action figures, launched in 1982, featured characters like Duke, Snake Eyes, and Cobra Commander?

Answer: G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero.

Question 4: What 80s toy featured a rotating, multicolored, plastic puzzle cube that became a global craze?

Answer: Rubik’s Cube.

Question 5: What series of toy cars, introduced in 1984 by Hasbro, could transform from vehicles into robots?

Answer: Transformers.

Question 6: What was the name of the 1980s electronic learning toy by Texas Instruments that taught kids spelling and math through a speech synthesizer?

Answer: Speak & Spell.

Question 7: What 80s toy line featured small, collectible figurines with a unique scent and name, often inspired by food or flowers?

Answer: Strawberry Shortcake.

Question 8: What popular 1980s board game involves players buying, trading, and developing properties, aiming to bankrupt their opponents?

Answer: Monopoly.

Question 9: What 1980s electronic game by Parker Brothers involved players catching light sequences and sounds to win?

Answer: Merlin.

Question 10: What doll line introduced in 1983 by Xavier Roberts became known for its adoption certificates and unique fabric faces?

Answer: Cabbage Patch Kids.

Question 11: What popular 1980s video game system was released by Nintendo and included games like “Super Mario Bros.” and “The Legend of Zelda”?

Answer: Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

Question 12: What interactive 1980s toy featured a plush bear that could tell stories through a cassette tape player in its back?

Answer: Teddy Ruxpin.

Question 13: What 1980s game featured a tower of plastic blocks that players take turns removing without toppling the structure?

Answer: Jenga.

Question 14: What toy line, introduced in 1986, featured small rubber wrestlers and was popular among boys?

Answer: M.U.S.C.L.E. (Millions of Unusual Small Creatures Lurking Everywhere).

Question 15: What 1980s toy featured small, scented erasers in various shapes and designs, often traded among kids?

Answer: Smencils (Scented pencils).

80s Political and Historical Events Trivia Questions and Answers

Question 1: Who became the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in 1979 and served throughout the 1980s?

Answer: Margaret Thatcher.

Question 2: What space shuttle disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, resulting in the deaths of seven astronauts?

Answer: The Challenger disaster.

Question 3: Which U.S. President was shot in an assassination attempt on March 30, 1981, but survived?

Answer: Ronald Reagan.

Question 4: What major nuclear disaster occurred in the Soviet Union on April 26, 1986?

Answer: The Chernobyl disaster.

Question 5: Which wall, a symbol of the Cold War, began to be dismantled on November 9, 1989?

Answer: The Berlin Wall.

Question 6: What significant global health crisis was first recognized in the early 1980s?

Answer: The AIDS epidemic.

Question 7: What war between the United Kingdom and Argentina took place in 1982 over disputed territories in the South Atlantic?

Answer: The Falklands War.

Question 8: Which South African anti-apartheid leader was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984?

Answer: Desmond Tutu.

Question 9: What U.S. Supreme Court case in 1986 addressed the issue of sodomy laws and their constitutionality?

Answer: Bowers v. Hardwick.

Question 10: Which Caribbean island nation was invaded by the United States in 1983 in an operation called “Operation Urgent Fury”?

Answer: Grenada.

Question 11: What 1985 event saw the concerted effort of musicians around the world to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia?

Answer: Live Aid.

Question 12: Which iconic Soviet leader came to power in 1985 and introduced policies of glasnost and perestroika?

Answer: Mikhail Gorbachev.

Question 13: What international agreement, signed in 1987, aimed to phase out substances that deplete the ozone layer?

Answer: The Montreal Protocol.

Question 14: What event, starting in 1989, led to the massacre of pro-democracy demonstrators in Beijing, China?

Answer: The Tiananmen Square Massacre.

Question 15: What famous 1987 speech by U.S. President Ronald Reagan included the phrase, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!”?

Answer: The speech at the Brandenburg Gate in West Berlin.

80s Literature Trivia Questions and Answers

Question 1: Who wrote the 1981 novel “Midnight’s Children,” which won the Booker Prize?

Answer: Salman Rushdie.

Question 2: What 1983 novel by Alice Walker won both the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award?

Answer: The Color Purple.

Question 3: Who is the author of the 1984 dystopian science fiction novel “Neuromancer”?

Answer: William Gibson.

Question 4: What 1985 novel by Margaret Atwood is set in a totalitarian society and focuses on themes of women’s rights and autonomy?

Answer: The Handmaid’s Tale.

Question 5: What popular fantasy novel, written by Terry Brooks and published in 1982, is the first book in “The Heritage of Shannara” series?

Answer: The Sword of Shannara.

Question 6: Who wrote the 1988 novel “The Satanic Verses,” which led to a fatwa calling for his assassination?

Answer: Salman Rushdie.

Question 7: What 1987 novel by Tom Wolfe explores the lives of New York City’s elite and was later adapted into a film?

Answer: The Bonfire of the Vanities.

Question 8: Which author wrote the 1981 horror novel “Cujo”?

Answer: Stephen King.

Question 9: What 1982 novel by Isabel Allende tells the multi-generational story of the Trueba family?

Answer: The House of the Spirits.

Question 10: Who is the author of the 1985 science fiction novel “Ender’s Game”?

Answer: Orson Scott Card.

Question 11: What 1986 novel by Stephen King features an evil clown named Pennywise?

Answer: It.

Question 12: Which 1988 autobiographical graphic novel by Art Spiegelman won a Pulitzer Prize and depicts the Holocaust?

Answer: Maus.

Question 13: Who wrote the 1989 novel “The Joy Luck Club,” which was later adapted into a successful film?

Answer: Amy Tan.

Question 14: What 1984 novel by Julian Barnes explores the life of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and George Edalji?

Answer: Arthur & George.

Question 15: Which 1989 novel by Kazuo Ishiguro tells the story of an English butler named Stevens?

Answer: The Remains of the Day.