50+ Fun 80s Pop Culture Quiz Questions and Answers

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In this ultimate 80s pop culture quiz, we will test your knowledge of the most important moments of the 80s that made it into popular culture.

This includes references to movies, TV shows, history and more.

So, are you ready to discover how much you truly know about this decade? Let’s get started.

Round 1: Easy 80s Pop Culture Trivia Questions

1. Which American musician sang ‘Purple Rain’?
2. Who became president of the United States in 1981?
3. Which 80s TV shows induced us to detectives Sonny Crockett and Rico Tubbs?
4. Raiders of the Lost Ark is the first instalment of which movie franchise?
5. The USA and several other countries boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympic Games. Which country was hosting that year?
6. What make of car is the time machine in Back to the Future?
7. Complete the lyric from ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ by Whitney Houston: ‘Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody, with somebody….’
8. Which tech company produced the Walkman?
9. Which European capital city had its infamous dividing wall torn down by protestors in November 1989?
10. ‘Part of Your World’, ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls’ and ‘Under the Sea’ are all songs from which 1980s Disney movie?

Round 1: Easy 80s Pop Culture Trivia Questions and Answers

1. Which American musician sang ‘Purple Rain’? Prince
2. Who became president of the United States in 1981? Ronald Reagan
3. Which 80s TV shows induced us to detectives Sonny Crockett and Rico Tubbs? Miami Vice
4. Raiders of the Lost Ark is the first instalment of which movie franchise? Indiana Jones
5. The USA and several other countries boycotted the 1980 Summer Olympic Games. Which country was hosting that year? Soviet Union
6. What make of car is the time machine in Back to the Future? Delorean 
7. Complete the lyric from ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’ by Whitney Houston: ‘Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody, with somebody….’ who loves me
8. Which tech company produced the Walkman? Sony
9. Which European capital city had its infamous dividing wall torn down by protestors in November 1989? Berlin
10. ‘Part of Your World’, ‘Poor Unfortunate Souls’ and ‘Under the Sea’ are all songs from which 1980s Disney movie? The Little Mermaid

Round 2: 80s Pop Culture Multiple-Choice Questions

1. Though one of the most popular British sitcoms of the 1980s, ‘Allo ‘Allo is not set in the UK. Where does it take place?
   1. The United States
   2. France
   3. Germany
   4. Spain
2. British actress Joan Collins was so associated with which fashion trend during the 1980s that she referenced it in the title of her memoir?
   1. Leg warmers
   2. Track suits
   3. Shoulder pads
   4. Bodysuits
3. Which team won the Super Bowl four times between 1980 and 1990?
   1. The San Francisco 49ers
   2. The Washington Redskins
   3. Chicago Bears
   4. Los Angeles Raiders
4. Where did Madonna’s debut album peak on the US Billboard 200?
   1. 1
   2. 8
   3. 21
   4. 28
5. Which famous singer played the goblin king in the hit children’s movie Labyrinth? 
   1. George Michael
   2. Phil Collins
   3. Prince
   4. David Bowey
6. ‘Take On Me’ was the first song from which country to reach the top of the U.S. pop charts?
   1. Germany
   2. Sweden
   3. Norway
   4. Denmark
7. How did Apple announce their first ever desktop computer in 1984?
   1. On a Time Square billboard
   2. On a Super Bowl commercial
   3. In a music video with Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder
   4. During a David Copperfield magic show
8. Mike Tyson fought 58 times in his career. How many of those bouts did he win?
   1. 42
   2. 45
   3. 50
   4. 52
9. Which Michael Jackson song features the lyrics ‘Well, they say the sky’s the limit, and to me that’s really true’?
   1. Bad
   2. Beat It
   3. Smooth Criminal
   4. Man in the Mirror
10. Nominated for 9 Oscars and winning all of them, which movie was the most successful film at the Academy Awards from 1980 to 1990?
    1. Gandhi
    2. Amadeus
    3. Out of Africa
    4. The Last Emperor

Round 2: 80s Pop Culture Multiple-Choice Questions and Answers

1. Though one of the most popular British sitcoms of the 1980s, ‘Allo ‘Allo is not set in the UK. Where does it take place? B. France
2. British actress Joan Collins was so associated with which fashion trend during the 1980s that she referenced it in the title of her memoir? C. Shoulder Pads
3. Which team won the Super Bowl four times between 1980 and 1990? A. The San Francisco 49ers
4. Where did Madonna’s debut album peak on the US Billboard 200? B. 8
5. Which famous singer played the goblin king in the hit children’s movie Labyrinth?  D. David Bowey
6. ‘Take On Me’ was the first song from which country to reach the top of the U.S. pop charts? C. Norway
7. How did Apple announce their first ever desktop computer in 1984? B. On a Super Bowl Commercial
8. Mike Tyson fought 58 times in his career. How many of those bouts did he win? C. 50
9. Which Michael Jackson song features the lyrics ‘Well, they say the sky’s the limit, and to me that’s really true’? A. Bad
10. Nominated for 9 Oscars and winning all of them, which movie was the most successful film at the Academy Awards from 1980 to 1990? D. The Last Emperor

Round 3: 80s Pop Culture Quiz – True or False

1. The first episode of Saturday Night Live was aired on October 11, 1985.
2. Kiki’s Delivery Service was the first Studio Ghibli movie to have a theatrical release in the United States.
3. ‘Thriller’ was Michael Jackson’s first number 1 album.
4. In 1983, Sally Ride became the first woman to go to space.
5. In 1987, 20% of all mattress sales were waterbeds.
6. Bruce Lee auditioned for the role of Mr Miagi in Karate Kid but was rejected.
7. Dolly Parton wrote the song ‘9 to 5’ for a movie of the same name, which she also starred in.
8. Mr T. wasn’t a stage name. The actor and wrestler legally changed his name when he turned 18.
9. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is the only Star Trek movie ever to have been nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.
10. John Hughs wrote Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in 6 days because he wanted to finish it before an up-coming writers’ strike.

Round 3: 80s Pop Culture Quiz Answers – True or False

1. The first episode of Saturday Night Live was aired on October 11, 1985. False, it was first aired in 1975
2. Kiki’s Delivery Service was the first Studio Ghibli movie to have a theatrical release in the United States. False, that was Warriors of the Wind (1985)
3. ‘Thriller’ was Michael Jackson’s first number 1 album. True
4. In 1983, Sally Ride became the first woman to go to space. False, Soviet cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova went to space in 1937
5. In 1987, 20% of all mattress sales were waterbeds. True
6. Bruce Lee auditioned for the role of Mr Miagi in Karate Kid but was rejected. False
7. Dolly Parton wrote the song ‘9 to 5’ for a movie of the same name, which she also starred in. True
8. Mr T. wasn’t a stage name. The actor and wrestler legally changed his name when he turned 18. True
9. Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home is the only Star Trek movie ever to have been nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. False
10. John Hughs wrote Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in 6 days because he wanted to finish it before an up-coming writers’ strike. True

Round 4: Medium 80s Pop Culture Trivia Questions

1. Which celebrated movie composer wrote the score for Steven Spielberg’s E.T.?
2. What is the better known stage name of musician Farrokh Bulsara?
3. The hit 1982 Sci-Fi film Blade Runner is an adaptation of which 1968 novel?
4. Which band released the 1985 hit ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’?
5. Which country did Argentina beat in a 1986 world cup game with the infamous ‘hand of God’ goal?
6. Which Kate Bush album features ‘Running Up That Hill’, ‘Cloudbusting’ and ‘Wuthering Heights’?
7. M*A*S*H follows the antics of a team of military doctors during which war?
8. ‘I am the sun, I am the heir’ is the opening line of which song by The Smiths?
9. Which popular 80s TV show followed the antics of a middle-class African-American family living in Brooklyn?
10. What gaming console did Nintendo release in 1989?
11. Which band released the song ‘Built This City’ in 1985?

Round 4: Medium 80s Pop Culture Trivia Questions and Answers

1. Which celebrated movie composer wrote the score for Steven Spielberg’s E.T.? John Williams
2. What is the better known stage name of musician Farrokh Bulsara? Freddie Mercury
3. The hit 1982 Sci-Fi film Blade Runner is an adaptation of which 1968 novel? Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
4. Which band released the 1985 hit ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’? Tears for Fears
5. Which country did Argentina beat in a 1986 world cup game with the infamous ‘hand of God’ goal? England
6. Which Kate Bush album features ‘Running Up That Hill’, ‘Cloudbusting’ and ‘Wuthering Heights’? Hounds of Love
7. M*A*S*H follows the antics of a team of military doctors during which war? The Korean War
8. ‘I am the sun, I am the heir’ is the opening line of which song by The Smiths? How Soon is Now?
9. Which popular 80s TV show followed the antics of a middle-class African-American family living in Brooklyn? The Cosby Show
10. What gaming console did Nintendo release in 1989? The Game Boy
11. Which band released the song ‘Built This City’ in 1985? Starship

Round 5: Hard 80s Pop Culture Trivia Questions

1. Though better known as ‘Fonzie’ of ‘The Fonz’, what was Henry Winkler’s character in Happy Days’ real name?
2. NBA star Larry Bird had a famous rivalry with which other player?
3. Which TV show did Bruce Springfield guest star on in 1981?
4. Aged just 15, Naomi Campbell’s career took off in 1986 when he appeared on the cover of which magazine?
5. Who played Jessica Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote?
6. Which game was released with the tag-line ‘the new femme fatale of the game world’?
7. Complete the first line from Billy Joel’s ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’: ‘Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, …’
8. What was the title of Disney’s 1985 Wizard of Oz sequel?
9. Who beat Muhammed Ali when he returned to boxing for one last bout in 1980?
10. ‘Thank You For Being a Friend’ was the theme turn to which 80s TV show?

Round 5: Hard 80s Pop Culture Trivia Questions and Answers

1. Though better known as ‘Fonzie’ of ‘The Fonz’, what was Henry Winkler’s character in Happy Days’ real name? Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli
2. NBA star Larry Bird had a famous rivalry with which other player? Magic Johnson
3. Which TV show did Bruce Springfield guest star on in 1981? General Hospital
4. Aged just 15, Naomi Campbell’s career took off in 1986 when he appeared on the cover of which magazine? Elle
5. Who played Jessica Fletcher in Murder, She Wrote? Angela Lansbury
6. Which game was released with the tag-line ‘the new femme fatale of the game world’? Pac-Man
7. Complete the first line from Billy Joel’s ‘We Didn’t Start the Fire’: ‘Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, …’ Ronnie Ray
8. What was the title of Disney’s 1985 Wizard of Oz sequel? Return to Oz
9. Who beat Muhammed Ali when he returned to boxing for one last bout in 1980? Larry Holmes
10. ‘Thank You For Being a Friend’ was the theme turn to which 80s TV show? Golden Girls

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