The 1980s stand out as a time of futuristic inventions, music makeovers, the surge of streaming services, and the evolution of gaming. But that decade’s legacy is even richer than that.
Notably, the 1980s marked the dawn of personal computing and the World Wide Web. It’s when the first web page made its debut and companies like Sony and Nintendo revolutionized the size of music players and gaming consoles.
So, how much do you really know about the ’80s? Let’s put your knowledge to the test with some iconic trivia questions spanning history, music, movies, and technology, from A to Z.
1980s General Trivia
- Who introduced Ms. Pac-Man?
Answer: General Computer Corporation - In which year was Jolt Cola first marketed?
Answer: 1985 - When did Prince Charles marry Lady Diana Spencer?
Answer: July 29, 1981 - When was Halley’s Comet first discovered via spacecraft?
Answer: 1986 - When was Chicken Nugget introduced by McDonald’s?
Answer: 1983 - How many Candles did John Hughes write for Molly Ringwald?
Answer: Sixteen Candles - Who created the emoticon :-)?
Answer: Scott E. Fahlman - In which disease did Bob Marley die?
Answer: Acral Lentiginous Melanoma - Who first recognized the AIDS virus in 1981?
Answer: Luc Montagnier and Robert Charles Gallo - What missile defense system did President Ronald Reagan announce in 1983?
Answer: Star Wars Program - In which year did Sally Ride go to space and become an inspiration?
Answer: 1983 - Where did scientists discover the first ozone hole?
Answer: Over Antarctica - Who created the first web page after the web browser invention?
Answer: Tim Berners-Lee - Which president signed the Chrysler Loan Guarantee Act?
Answer: Jimmy Carter - When was Red Bull originally introduced?
Answer: April 1, 1987 - What was the weight of the first commercial cell phone in the US?
Answer: 2.5 pounds (1.1 kilograms) - How many games were included in Nintendo’s first Game Boy?
Answer: 6 - In which year did Top Gun win its first Academy Award?
Answer: 1986 - Which company introduced the first disposable camera?
Answer: Fujifilm - Super Mario Land was a game from which console?
Answer: Game Boy Handled Console
1980s Automobile Trivia
- What was the first car to come with four-wheel steering?
Answer: Nissan R31 Skyline - Which company made the first people carrier car?
Answer: Renault - When did Dodge launch its first MPV?
Answer: 1983 - What was the first CD player made for cars?
Answer: CDX-1 - In which year was the first navigation system installed in cars?
Answer: 1981 - What was the first car to come with a CD player?
Answer: 1987 Lincoln Town Car - How many GNXs did Buick manufacture in 1987?
Answer: 547 - When did the Group B era start?
Answer: 1982 - How much horsepower did the first model GNX produce?
Answer: 276 horsepower - In which movie does the Porsche 928 appear?
Answer: Risky Business (1983)
1980s Technology Trivia
- Which Operating System did Microsoft buy from IBM?
Answer: MS-DOS - What was the first PC introduced by Apple?
Answer: Macintosh 512K - What was the first space shuttle launched into space in 1981?
Answer: Columbia STS-1 - When did Microsoft license a floppy disk system?
Answer: 1981 - When did Macintosh 512K replace Macintosh 128K?
Answer: April 1986 - What was the first pocket TV with a liquid crystal color display?
Answer: ET-10, or Epson Elf - When did Sony invent the Discman?
Answer: 1984 - What was the first gaming console made by Nintendo in Japan?
Answer: Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) - What was the first personal computer by IBM?
Answer: IBM 5150 - In which year did Sony rename the TPS-L2 to “Walkman”?
Answer: June 1980 - Which company developed the early ’80s handheld Game Boy console?
Answer: Nintendo - When did the first Nintendo ZX Spectrum come out?
Answer: April 23, 1982 - What was the first compact, analog flip phone introduced in the ’80s?
Answer: Motorola MicroTAC - What was the first calculator watch made by Casio?
Answer: C-80 - What was the world’s first animatronic toy made in the ’80s?
Answer: Teddy Ruxpin
1980s Music Trivia
- What was George Michael’s biggest solo hit?
Answer: Faith - What is the best-selling album of the 1980s?
Answer: Thriller - At what age did Bon Scott die?
Answer: 33 - Who is considered the “Queen of Pop”?
Answer: Madonna - What was the first 24-hour music TV channel launched in the ’80s?
Answer: Music Television (MTV) - In which year was “Purple Rain” released?
Answer: 1984 - When did Iron Maiden release their self-titled debut?
Answer: April 14, 1980 - What was the first album available on CD?
Answer: Billy Joel’s 52nd Street - What band is from Joshua Tree?
Answer: U2 - When did Metallica release “Master of Puppets”?
Answer: March 3, 1986
1980s Movie Trivia
- In which city was the movie Predator filmed?
Answer: Mismaloya, Mexico - Who created the special effects for the movie “Raiders of the Lost Ark”?
Answer: Industrial Light and Magic - What is the highest-grossing movie of the ’80s?
Answer: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial - Was the song “You Are the Best” in Karate Kid truly written for that movie?
Answer: Rocky III - Who is the sound designer for Star Wars?
Answer: Ben Burtt - Who originally played Marty McFly in Back to the Future (1985)?
Answer: Eric Stoltz - What movie started the PG-13 rating?
Answer: Red Dawn - In which movie did Noah Hathaway almost lose his eye in a fight scene?
Answer: The NeverEnding Story (1984) - What was Dolly Parton’s first movie as an actor?
Answer: 9 to 5 - For which movie did Meg Ryan turn down the role of Shelby in Steel Magnolias?
Answer: When Harry Met Sally
1980s Trivia for Kids
- In which year did McDonald’s serve its first pizza?
Answer: 1986 - Which professional boxer had his last fight in 1980?
Answer: Muhammad Ali - Who became the President of the United States in 1981?
Answer: Ronald Reagan - Who won the “Super Bowl Shuffle” in 1985?
Answer: Chicago Bears - Which NBA team won the most titles in the ’80s?
Answer: Los Angeles Lakers - Who directed the movie “Rain Man”?
Answer: Barry Levinson - What Cold War landmark was dismantled in the ’80s?
Answer: The Berlin Wall - Which 1980 Olympics is the movie Miracle based on?
Answer: The 1980 Winter Olympics - Who was the 1980 NBA Rookie of the Year?
Answer: Larry Bird - Which famous person died of AIDS in 1981?
Answer: Rock Hudson
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