Is it trivia night? Do you think you know everything about the 1980s? This was a time full of innovation, passion, and many timeless works of art and entertainment. People had big phones, big hair, Cabbage Patch Kids, Yuppies, and Rubik’s cubes. This decade was full of historic moments that shook the entire world.
Table of Contents
We uncover the pertinent and engaging trivia questions for music, television, movies, and pop culture during this time. When you complete this list, it will feel like you took a time machine to the 1980s.
80s Music Trivia
Groups like Guns N’ Roses, Def Leppard, and AC/DC ran the music this decade. 80s music trivia will slowly turn into a dance party because of this iconic musical period.
After the death of lead singer Bon Scott, what album did AC/DC release first?
Back in Black The song “Back in Black” was AC/DC’s seventh studio album. Because of Mutt Lange’s recommendation, Brian Johnson joined the group and did the song’s lead vocals.
Ric Ocasek was the lead singer for which musical group?
The Cars The group, which started in Boston, began in the later 1970s and remained active through 1988. The Cars got inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2018, and it created seven studio albums. The surviving members reunited in 2010 and created one more album together.
What 1983 Tom Cruise film featured “Old Time Rock and Roll” by Bob Seger?
Risky Business The famous scene features Joel (Tom Cruise’s character) lip-syncing and dancing around the house in his underwear and dress shirt, accompanied by Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock and Roll.”
Which song by the Bangles was the Hot 100 Number One song in 1986?
The John Hall Band John Hall also co-founded Musicians United for Safe Energy with Bonnie Raitt, Graham Nash, and Jackson Browne. Mr. Hall also earned a spot in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2007, working for the 19th congressional district of New York.
What unique milestone does Stevie Wonder’s hit “Part Time Lover” hold?
The first song to hold number one honors on four different Billboard charts The song “Part Time Lover” endured a week at the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts in the latter part of 1985. It was also the top of the Dance, R&B, and Adult Contemporary charts, becoming the first single ever to own the #1 spot on four separate Billboard charts.
Barbara Streisand’s “Woman in Love” was a top selling song in 1980, but who wrote it?
Barry and Robin Gibb Because of the BeeGees’ success in the 1970s, they wrote material for various artists. Streisand asked them to write an entire album for her, which eventually became “Guilty.” Barry and Robin’s song spent three weeks at the top of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts in the latter part of 1980.
Blondie’s 1980 single was also the theme song for the movie “American Gigolo.” Which song was it?
Call Me The song “Call Me” was the central theme for the 1980 film “American Gigolo.” Blondie and Deborah Harry carried this tune to #1 on the U.S. Billboard for almost six weeks this year.
Queen’s first song in 1980 was also her first Number One hit in the United States. Which song was it?
Crazy Little Thing Called Love This single was Queen’s first classic to make it to #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 charts. It spent four weeks at the top of the charts, and the band claims that the song only took a half-hour to record.
After its success in the 1970s Disco Craze, which KC and the Sunshine Band single was the first Number One Hit of 1980?
Please Don’t Go This song was the first single to hit #1 on the U.S. Billboard charts in the 1980s, and it endured one week at the top of these charts in January. “Please Don’t Go” was the band’s fifth and final number one song in their careers.
80s Movie Trivia
Action films were hot in the 1980s. Your team is in for a wild ride with these 80s movie trivia questions.
Which 1989 movie, set in Atlanta and directed by Bruce Beresford, covers the relationship between an African American man and a Jewish woman?
Driving Miss Daisy In this movie, Jessica Tandy stars as Daisy Werthan, while Morgan Freeman plays Hoke Colburn. The film spans over 20 years and begins when Miss Daisy’s son hires African American Hoke Colburn as the driver. At first, she was resistant, but the relationship blossoms into something special.
In which action film did Sean Connery join the cast?
Highlander Sean Connery joined the “Highlander” cast as Juan Sanchez Villa-Lobos Ramirez. Connery’s character taught swordsmanship but was killed by his antagonist, Kurgan.
What boxer did Robert DeNiro play in the excellent black and white film “Raging Bull”?
Jake LaMotta The movie itself failed to win an Oscar in any category, but Robert De Niro earned his first acting Oscar. To play a much older LaMotta, De Niro had to gain 60 pounds for the role. Thelma Schoonmaker also won an Oscar for editing the film.
What actor won an Oscar as Antonio Salieri in “Amadeus”?
F. Murray Abraham Besides Abraham’s Oscar, this film won eight total awards. Milos Forman won “Best Director,” and Peter Shaffer won for “Best Writing.”
Which business type were the Bauer brothers working in for the film “Splash”?
Produce Freddie and Allen Bauer specialized in fruits and vegetables for the family business. Before Tom Hanks accepted the Allen Bauer role, John Travolta, Dudley Moore, and Bill Murray all turned it down.
Which iconic 1988 movie features a cross-country road trip for two brothers, Charlie and Raymond Babbitt?
Rain Man The film won “Best Picture” in 1988. Dustin Hoffman won “Best Actor,” and Barry Levinson earned an award for “Best Director.” The director stars in “Rain Man” when he plays a psychiatrist toward the end of the film.
Which 1984 film by John Hughes only took two days to write?
Sixteen Candles John Hughes was able to power out this script in just under 48 hours. It came so easy to him because he gained real-life inspiration from one of his best friends.
Which actress played the main character in the 1982 film “E.T.”?
Drew Barrymore A tribe of aliens visited Earth, and one of them gets stranded. Elliot, a 10-year old boy, befriends the alien and tries to help it find a home. Drew Barrymore plays his younger sister, and Steven Spielberg directed the film.
Who brought seaweed and raw fish to lunch in the movie “The Breakfast Club”?
Growing Pains After debuting in 1985, the show endured for seven seasons. “Growing Pains” covered the life of the oldest son Mike Seaver, and then the show shifts to the younger siblings.
Which show, hosted by Mario Cantone, involved trivia questions and a maze?
Steampipe Alley “Steampipe Alley,” which aired between 1987 and 1993 on WWOR, became a classic. Mario Cantone continued to star on numerous television shows and developed a successful comedy career.
Which sitcom featured a collection of teenagers, including Charlie Moore?
Head of the Class Howard Hesseman played Charlie More, who was the teacher in the show. “Head of the Class” highlighted a group of honor students in high school, and the show aired between 1986 and 1991.
How many kids did Carla have by the end of the show “Cheers”?
Walter Cronkite Walter Cronkite said this phrase many times on the CBS Evening News. He retired in 1981, which he later said was too soon. Dan instead replaced him shortly after. Katie Couric assumed the position after Rather in 2006.
Who was the leading character in the 1980s sitcom “Silver Spoons”?
Ricky Stratton Actor Ricky Schroder starred as Ricky Stratton. He was a mature 12-year old boy who lived with his father, an immature wealthy man. The boy teaches his dad how to parent, while his dad teaches him how to have fun.
At the beginning of the series “Roseanne” in 1988, where was the main character, Roseann Conner, working?
Plastics factory Tom Werner and Marcy Carsey, who produced “The Cosby Show,” also created “Roseanne.” They cast Roseanne as an opposite character as Clair Huxtable. Claire was an affluent attorney, while Roseanne worked various blue-collar jobs throughout the show.
Who’s the Boss? The show aired between 1984 and 1992. Tony Danza and daughter Sam move in with an affluent advertising executive, Angela, to be the housekeeper.
Which show ran throughout 1988-1990 and was highlighted by the Peanuts gang?
“This is America, Charlie Brown” Snoopy, Charlie Brown, and the Peanuts Gang showed up through various primetime programs. But they did not earn their series until the late 1980s. This show featured them reenacting many American historical events.
Which 1979-1984 show featured compelling interviews with people who had unusual talents or jobs?
Real People Sarah Purcell and Fred Willard hosted the show. Mark Russell and Byron Allen also hosted, and the show was sometimes referred to as “More Real People.”
80s Pop Culture Trivia
80s pop culture trivia provides a fun twist to the game. These questions will give the team an entertaining discussion and bring out some interesting answers.
Which softer, sculpted dolls were sometimes originally referred to as “The Little People” in the 1980s?
Reese’s Pieces Steven Spielberg originally picked M&M’s to feature in the film, but Mars Inc. declined because E.T. might scare kids. Hershey’s jumped on the opportunity, and their candy’s sales increased by 300%.
What was the most popular video game in the 1980s?
Mario Bros The game came out in 1985, and it quickly became America’s top game on the charts. Tetris and Duck Hunt were close behind in second and third.
Many 1980s kids grew up on VHS videocassette recorders. What does VHS stand for?
Video Home System The VHS was released commercially in the later 1970s. By the next decade, it was the primary home video technology system in Japan and America. Once DVDs arose in 1997, VHS sales sharply decreased.
John Landis directed which iconic Michael Jackson music video in the 1980s?
Susan majored in English with a double minor in Humanities and Business at Arizona State University and earned a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Liberty University. She taught grades four through twelve in both public and private schools. Subjects included English, U.S. and world history and geography, math, earth and physical science, Bible, information technologies, and creative writing.
Susan has been freelance writing for over ten years, during which time she has written and edited books, newspaper articles, biographies, book reviews, guidelines, neighborhood descriptions for realtors, Power Point presentations, resumes, and numerous other projects.
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This was the best of the 1980s category. Thank you.