63 Pop Culture Trivia Questions To Stump Your Team From The 1980s Decade

March 4, 2023
VHS tape of Beetlejuice Movie

Are you looking for a fun and engaging way to strengthen your team's bond while testing their pop culture knowledge? Then look no further than these 63 pop culture trivia questions from the 1980s.

From mullets to music, there are plenty of things that make the 80s an iconic period in our history. Whether you remember the 80s or are just a fan of the unique movies, fashion, music, and games that came out during this period, put your team's knowledge to the test while also building teamwork skills.

Get ready for a blast from the past as we explore some of the most iconic pop culture moments from the 1980s!

Man lying down with foot on boom box

General 80s Trivia

Trivia Question # 1: What does VHS stand for? (Answer: Video Home System)

Trivia Question # 2: What was the most popular video game of the 80s? (Answer: Mario Bros.)

Trivia Question # 3: What ancient Chinese toy was repopularized in the 80s? (Answer: The Hacky Sack)

Trivia Question # 4: What year was the Nike slogan ‘Just do it’ launched? (Answer: 1988)

Trivia Question # 5: Where was the 1986 World Cup held? (Answer: Mexico City, Mexico)

Trivia Question # 6: What year was the wreckage of The Titanic located? (Answer: 1985)

Trivia Question # 7: In 1983, which country was the first to build a Disneyland outside of the US? (Answer: Japan)

Trivia Question # 8: In 1983, how much did the first mobile phone to come out on the market weigh? (Answer: 2 pounds)

Trivia Question # 9: In what year did Prince Charles and Lady Diana get married? (Answer: 1981)

Trivia Question # 10: What was the name of the shuttle involved in the first fatal accident of a spacecraft in flight in 1986? (Answer: Challenger)

Trivia Question # 11: The 1981 poetry collection “A Light in The Attic” was written by who? (Answer: Shel Silverstein)

Trivia Question # 12: What is the name of the US volcano that erupted in 1980? (Answer: Mount St. Helens)

Trivia Question # 13: What 1981 video game was the first to tell a story during the game? (Answer: Donkey Kong)

Trivia Question # 14: In what year did the Berlin Wall fall? (Answer: 1989)

Trivia Question # 15: Which NFL team won the most Super Bowls in the 1980s? (Answer: The San Francisco 49ers)

Trivia Question # 16: What fruit candy with a balloon on the wrapper came out in 1985? (Answer: Airheads)

Trivia Question # 17: What US president served the most years in the 1980s? (Answer: Ronald Reagan)

Trivia Question # 18: What was Jane Fonda most famous for in the 80s? (Answer: Workout Videos)

Trivia Question # 19: What popular 80s hairstyle is shorter in the front and sides, but longer in the back? (Answer: Mullet)

Trivia Question # 20: What happened in the Ukraine in 1986? (Answer: The Chernobyl Disaster)

Trivia Question # 21: What does CD stand for? (Answer: Compact Disc)

80s Movie Trivia

Trivia Question # 22: What was the highest grossing film of the 80s? (Answer: E.T.)

Trivia Question # 23: What 80s film featured a group of high schoolers spending detention together? (Answer: The Breakfast Club)

Trivia Question # 24: What sort of car is used as a time machine in Back to the Future? (Answer: A DeLorean)

Trivia Question # 25: What is the name of the villain from Nightmare on Elm Street? (Answer: Freddie Kreuger)

Trivia Question # 26: What 1988 movie featured Matt Damon’s first film role? (Answer: Mystic Pizza)

Trivia Question # 27: What movie took home seven Academy Awards in 1985? (Answer: Out of Africa)

Trivia Question # 28: What is the name of the van that Scooby Doo and his friends drive? (Answer: The Mystery Machine)

Trivia Question # 29: What was the name of the boxer that Robert DeNiro won an award for playing in Raging Bull? (Answer: Jake LaMotta)

Trivia Question # 30: How many Oscars did Raiders of the Lost Ark take home? (Answer: five)

Trivia Question # 31: What news network first launched in 1980? (Answer: CNN)

Trivia Question # 32: Who played Johnny Castle in the 1987 movie Dirty Dancing? (Answer: Patrick Swayze)

Trivia Question # 33: What is the name of the skyscraper that Die Hard is set in? (Answer: Nakatomi Plaza)

Trivia Question # 34: Who directed the 1980 movie The Shining?  (Answer: Stanley Kubrick)

Trivia Question # 35: Which film featured creatures that shouldn’t be fed after midnight? (Answer: Gremlins)

Trivia Question # 36: How many Star Wars films were released in the 1980s? (Answer: 2)

Trivia Question # 37: What animated Disney film was released in 1989? (Answer: The Little Mermaid)

Trivia Question # 38: What is the name of the protagonist in The Terminator? (Answer: Sarah Connor)

Trivia Question # 39: What 1987 science fiction film includes the line “Get to the chopper!”? (Answer: Predator)

Trivia Question # 40: What 1982 film gave Arnold Schwarzenegger his big break? (Answer: Conan the Barbarian)

Trivia Question # 41: What 1984 film did John Hughes take just two days to write? (Answer: Sixteen Candles)

Trivia Question # 42: How many kids did Carla have by the end of Cheers? (Answer: Eight)

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80s Music Trivia

Trivia Question # 43: What Billy Joel song featured over 100 different headlines from 1949 to 1989? (Answer: ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’)

Trivia Question # 44: Who was the first female artist to have over five million album sales? (Answer: Madonna)

Trivia Question # 45: What musician played the guitar solo in the Michael Jackson song ‘Beat It?’ (Answer: Edie Van Halen)

Trivia Question # 46: What famous reggae singer passed away in 1981? (Answer: Bob Marley)

Trivia Question # 47: What is the name of Rick Astley’s iconic 1987 song? (Answer: ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’)

Trivia Question # 48: What music artist divorced Sean Penn in 1987? (Answer: Madonna)

Trivia Question # 49: What was the name of Whitney Houston’s first platinum single? (Answer: ‘I Wanna Dance With Somebody’)

Trivia Question # 50: What is the name of the band who wrote 1981’s ‘Don’t Stop Believin’?’ (Answer: Journey)

Trivia Question # 51: What artist had a 1983 tour called “Serious Moonlight Tour?” (Answer: David Bowie)

Trivia Question # 52: Who wrote the 1983 song ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun?’ (Answer: Cyndi Lauper)

Trivia Question # 53: Who was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? (Answer: Aretha Franklin)

Trivia Question # 54: What artist won the 1981 best album of the year? (Answer: Christopher Cross)

Trivia Question # 55: What was the name of George Michael’s debut album? (Answer: ‘Faith’)

Trivia Question # 56: What launched in 1981 that changed the way people discovered music? (Answer: MTV)

Trivia Question # 57: Who is the lead singer of Duran Duran? (Answer: Simon Le Bon)

Trivia Question # 58: What is the name of the 1981 song featuring Queen and David Bowie? (Answer: Under Pressure)

Trivia Question # 59: What was the name of Bruce Springsteen’s 1984 album? (Answer: ‘Born in the USA’)

Trivia Question # 60: What band scored a top hit with the song ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go?’ (Answer: Wham!)

Trivia Question # 61: What was the last single released from Michael Jackson’s ‘Thriller’ album? (Answer: ‘Thriller’)

Trivia Question # 62: What movie was ‘Eye of the Tiger’ the theme song for? (Answer: Rocky III)

Trivia Question # 63: What band is known for ‘Livin’ On A Prayer’ and ‘You Give Love a Bad Name?’ (Answer: Bon Jovi)

Cassette tapes

We hope you enjoyed showing off your 80s knowledge and maybe even learned something new!  If you know a lot about 80s films and enjoyed showing off your film knowledge, you may also enjoy our 60 Movie Trivia Questions and Answers to Stump Your Co-Workers.


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