The Best 80's Trivia Questions [Includes Music & Movies]

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Whether you were born in the 80’s or wish you were, you can be a master of 80’s trivia questions! Share with your family to create a memorable evening together.

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The 80’s were a time unlike any other. My kids think it’s really fun to explore the era that my husband and I were born in. It was a different world back then! We like to pair 80’s trivia with an 80’s themed party (with big bell bottom pants and even bigger hair!), any long ride in the car, or gathered in the living room on any given Friday night.

For more trivia, check out The Best Trivia Games, 300 of the Best Trivia Questions, and Trivia Questions for Teens.

Why I Love Trivia Games

Trivia has been a great answer to the question: what can we do in the car and around the table? Trivia gives our family something to talk about and oftentimes, it leads to many other conversations!

How to Play Trivia

Each right answer is worth one point. Each team gets ten questions to answer then we switch to the other team. The first team to reach a specific number of points wins! We change the specific number of points based on how much time we have, how old the kids are that are playing with us, and how many questions we have available. The only rule is no yelling!

Benefits of Trivia Games

Decreases stress: playing a game can be soothing and also distract us from the things that are weighing us down, making trivia an excellent way to decompress.
Fosters communication: anytime we together and talking, I count it as a win!
Teaches teamwork: when we play trivia in teams, we learn to work together to help a teammate understand the question or help them answer their question, the opportunities for helping each other are readily available.
Builds sportsmanship: sometimes it’s a “Good job!” to an opponent or voluntarily allowing a sibling to win, I love seeing my family develop positive sportsmanship skills.
Variety: we have so many trivia topics like Spring Trivia, Star Wars Trivia, and Fascinating 4th Grade Trivia. It’s endless fun and educational!

How to Improve Your Trivia Skills

The best way? Gather more knowledge! Visiting museums, reading books, watching documentaries and movies, listening to stories from other people….and doing trivia are great ways to get better. The more you know, the more answers you’ll get right!

80s Trivia Questions

Ready for your 80s trivia questions? We have divided it into the following:

80s Music Trivia
80s Movie Trivia

80s Music Trivia

Ready for 80s music trivia? Let’s get started!

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Question: ‘Walk Like an Egyptian’ is a famous song by what pop group?
Answer: The Bangles

Question: Which song from Thriller, Michael Jackson’s best-selling album, came out as the final single in 1984?
Answer: Thriller

Question: What was the debut video played on MTV on August 1, 1981?
Answer: Video Killed the Radio Star

Question: The Bad album by Michael Jackson came out in which year?
Answer: 1987

Question: In the 1980s, a female singer-songwriter made history by topping the UK charts with a song she wrote herself. What is her name?
Answer: Kate Bush with “Wuthering Heights.

Question: Which 1980s hit topped the Billboard chart for a record-breaking 10 weeks?
Answer: Physical by Olivia Newton-John.

Question: ‘Careless Whisper’ and ‘Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go’ were two chart-topping songs by which British pair?
Answer: Wham!.

Question: Who was the singer who told us to “don’t worry, be happy” in his hit song?
Answer: Bobby Mcferrin

Question: On the ‘Like A Prayer’ album, Madonna collaborated with another singer on ‘Love Song’. Who is it?
Answer: Prince

Question: In 80’s, what is the most expensive music video ever produced?
Answer: “Thriller” by Michael Jackson

Question: Who sang “I’ve got the brains you’ve got the looks, Let’s make lots of money” on its lyrics?
Answer: Pet Shop Boys.

Question: Which band’s most popular song tells listeners to ‘hold on to that feeling’?
Answer: Journey

Question: Which 80’s pop group is also known as the “Fab Five”?
Answer: Duran Duran

Question: “Relax” is the debut single by which English synth-pop band?
Answer: Frankie Goes To Hollywood

Question: First African American artist played their music video rotation on MTV?
Answer: Michael Jackson

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Question: What did fans send to The Police as a token of appreciation for their song “Every Breath You Take”?
Answer: Fans sent actual police badges.

Question: Which boy band sang the R&B hit ‘Candy Girl’?
Answer: New Edition

Question: A duet by which singers topped the charts with ‘Endless Love’ in the 80s?
Answer: Lionel Richie and Diana Ross.

Question: Which song by Cyndi Lauper became her signature hit in 1983?
Answer: Girls Just Want to Have Fun

Question: The “Beauty and the Beat” which all-female rock band released the 1982 album?
Answer: The Go-Go’s

Question: What fictional band was featured in the film “This Is Spinal Tap” in 1984?
Answer: Spinal Tap

Question: Which band had a number-one hit with ‘Every Breath You Take’ in 1983?
Answer: The Police

Question: Which rock band released the album “Brothers in Arms” in 1985?
Answer: Dire Straits

Question: Who was the hyped man and the crowd for Chuck D?
Answer: Flavor Flav

Question: Which Tina Turner song from 1984 gave the title to the movie that won an Oscar for her life story?
Answer: What’s Love Got to Do With It?”

Question: Who sang the 1983 hit song “Billie Jean”?
Answer: Michael Jackson

Question: Who sang the ‘The Next Time I Fall’ with Amy Grant in 1986?
Answer: Peter Cetera.

Question: Who sang the 1986 hit “Sweet Child o’ Mine”?
Answer: Guns N’ Roses

Question: Which singer-songwriter made a hit with the song “I Just Called to Say I Love You”?
Answer: Stevie Wonder

Question: Who sang the 1987 hit “With or Without You”?
Answer: U2

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Question: What was Madonna’s 1986 film debut?
Answer: Desperately Seeking Susan

Question: In the 80s, which country singer rocked her way to a Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance?
Answer: Bonnie Raitt

Question: In which year did Whitney Houston hit the song ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody’?
Answer: 1987

Question: Who’s singer was also known as the “Material Girl” in the 1980s?
Answer: Madonna

Question: What artist released the 1983 album “An Innocent Man”?
Answer: Billy Joel

Question: Who sang the 1989 hit “Wind Beneath My Wings”?
Answer: Bette Midler

Question: What nationality are A-ha?
Answer: Norwegian

Question: Who sang the pop song ‘Open Your Heart’?
Answer: Madonna.

Question: Slash is known as the lead guitarist of which hard rock band from 1985?
Answer: Guns N’ Roses

Question: Which female artist sold the most records in the 1980’s?
Answer: Madonna.

Question: Which Queen song has the lyrics ” I’ve fallen in love, I’ve fallen in love for the first time”?
Answer: I Want to Break Free

Question: In the 1988 hit, who sang “Fast Car”?
Answer: Tracy Chapman

Question: Who was the singer-songwriter behind the eclectic 1983 album Swordfishtrombones?
Answer: Tom Waits

Question: In 1980, which rock band released the album “Back in Black”?
Answer: AC/DC

Question: “Livin’ on a Prayer” and “You Give Love a Bad Name” are two hit songs by which 80’s rock band?
Answer: Bon Jovi

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Question: Which band sang “Red Red Wine”?
Answer: UB40

Question: Gwen Stefani started in what band?
Answer: No Doubt

Question: Which Irish rock band released the 1987 album “The Joshua Tree”?
Answer: U2

Question: Who had a 1984 hit with the song “Hello”?
Answer: Lionel Richie

Question: Who wore a glove on one hand as a fashion statement and a musical legend in the 80s?
Answer: Michael Jackson

Question: What was Madonna’s first Billboard Hot 100 number-one single in the 1980s?
Answer: Like a Virgin

Question: Which band did Sting sing for?
Answer: The Police

Question: Which song topped the UK charts for the most weeks in the 80s?
Answer: Do They Know It’s Christmas?’ – Band Aid

Question: The song ‘Jump’ was a hit for what band that also played ‘Panama’ and ‘Hot for Teacher’?
Answer: Van Halen.

Question: Which Billy Idol song topped the charts in the 80s?
Answer: Mony Mony.

Question: How many times did Michael Jackson top the charts with his songs in the 1980s?
Answer: 8

Question: Which artist sang a popular song from the 1980s, ‘The Greatest Love of All’?
Answer: Whitney Houston

Question: What was the title of Madonna’s 1984 concert film?
Answer: “Madonna: Like a Virgin Tour”

Question: What hip-hop group did Chuck D and Flavor Flav belong to?
Answer: Public Enemy

Question: Which British band produced “Music for the Masses” in 1987?
Answer: Depeche Mode

Question: “Star Trekkin” is a parody song of the original TV series of Star Trek of which band?
Answer: The Firm

80s Movies Trivia

Ready to test your 80s movie trivia? Let’s get started!

Question: What ‘80s movie did Madonna portray a nightclub singer?
Answer: Vision Quest

Question: Which movie has as theme song “Eye of the Tiger”?
Answer: Rocky III

Question: Which American science fiction movie in 1982 produced and directed by Steven Spielberg was the highest-grossing film?
Answer: E.T. The Extraterrestrial

Question: The screenwriter of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is ___.
Answer: John Hughes

Question: In the 1988 horror film ‘Child’s Play’, what does the killer doll Chucky do to John’s limbs?
Answer: Using a voodoo doll.

Question: What is Alex Owens’ dream profession in Flashdance?
Answer: A ballet dancer

Question: What movie features a group of kids searching for One-Eyed Willy’s treasure?
Answer: The Goonies

Question: Which Hugh Wilson in his directorial debut has 6 sequels and TV series in 1984?
Answer: Police Academy

Question: Who played the lead role in the 1980 film “Raging Bull”?
Answer: Robert De Niro.

Question: In which movie does a character say “I guess you guys aren’t ready for that, yet. But your kids are gonna love it.”?
Answer: Back To The Future

Question: How long does Sarah have to navigate the Labyrinth and save her brother from Jareth, The Goblin King, in the movie ‘Labyrinth’?
Answer: Thirteen

Question: What is the real first name of Baby, the main character in Dirty Dancing?
Answer: Frances

Question: In what year did ‘The Karate Kid’ premiere in cinemas?
Answer: 1984.

Question: “Snakes. Why’d it have to be snakes” is a tagline of which movie in 1981?
Answer: Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) in Raiders of The Lost Ark

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Question: In the 1989 comedy ‘Driving Miss Daisy’, at what age did the school teacher protagonist retire?
Answer: 72

Question: In Footloose, who played the role of Ren McCormack?
Answer: Kevin Bacon

Question: Who is the lead actor in ‘The Karate Kid’ (1984)?
Answer: Daniel LaRusso.

Question: E.T. is directed by who?
Answer: Steven Spielberg

Question: What department store does Ralphie visit to see Santa and ask for a Red Ryder air rifle in the movie ‘A Christmas Story’?
Answer: Higbee’s.

Question: What city is where the musical Fame takes place?
Answer: New York City

Question: What is the name of the actress who played the role of Samantha Baker in the movie Sixteen Candles?
Answer: Molly Ringwald

Question: What movie has the popular tagline “We came. We saw. We kicked its ass. Who ya gonna call?”?
Answer: Ghostbusters

Question: In the 1989 animated Disney movie which character in The Little Mermaid, says the famous line “I think you’ve swallowed a bit too much seawater”?
Answer: Grimsby

Question: In what 80s film does a character called Gizmo appear?
Answer: Gremlins

Question: What movie where a dog turns rabid after being attacked by a rat in 1983?
Answer: Cujo

Question: “I feel the need, the need for speed” is a popular quote of which movie in the 80’s?
Answer: Top Gun

Question: In “The Lost Boys,” what creatures are the antagonists?
Answer: Vampires.

Question: A Nightmare on Elm Street was released in what year?
Answer: 1984

Question: Tom Cruise portrays a _______ in the movie Top Gun.
Answer: Pilot

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Question: In the 1987 Sci-Fi Adventure ‘Predator’ how does Predator kill himself?
Answer: Self Destructs.

Question: In the “The Karate Kid” movie, the Karate master who mentors Daniel LaRusso and Julie Pierce is named?
Answer: Mr. Miyagi.

Question: Who portrayed the iconic role of John Rambo in the movies?
Answer: Sylvester Stallone

Question: Which American singer played the lead role in the movie Purple Rain?
Answer: Prince

Question: In ‘The Money Pit’, who portrayed the character of Walter Fielding Jr.?
Answer: Tom Hanks.

Question: In ‘Ordinary People’, what is the cause of death of Buck, Conrad Jarrett’s older brother?
Answer: Sailing accident.

Question: What was the original title of the 1981 horror movie “The Evil Dead”?
Answer: Book of the Dead

Question: In 1987, which actor portrayed the cyborg law enforcer in “RoboCop”?
Answer: Peter Weller.

Question: What kind of vehicle is used as a time machine in “Back to the Future”?Answer: DeLorean.

Question: What is the name of the town where Freddy Krueger haunts the dreams of teenagers in “A Nightmare on Elm Street”?
Answer: Springwood.

Question: What building is the setting for most of the events in “Die Hard”?
Answer: Nakatomi Plaza.

Question: Which actress portrayed the obsessive lover of Dan Gallagher in the 1987 thriller Fatal Attraction?
Answer: Glenn Close

Question: What is the nickname of Tom Cruise’s character in “Top Gun”?
Answer: Maverick.

Question: Which Christmas movie from the 80s is an adaptation of a Raymond Briggs picture book?
Answer: The Snowman

Question: In the 1984 movie, who played Axel Foley in “Beverly Hills Cop”?
Answer: Eddie Murphy.

Question: In the 1989 Horror ‘Pet Sematary’, how does Victor Pascow’s ghost describe the cemetery soil?
Answer: The Ground is Sour.

Question: How many fingers did Buttercup’s father’s killer have on one hand in the movie ‘The Princess Bride’?
Answer: Six.

Question: What film franchise has the tagline, “I have a bad feeling about this”, from?
Answer: Star Wars.

Question: in the 1988 Horror ‘Child’s Play, how does Chucky kill Andy’s babysitter, Maggie, as his first victim’?
Answer: With a hammer.

Question: What causes the death of Jason, a young boy who appears in the 1980 horror movie “Friday the 13th”?
Answer: He drowns.

Question: What lethal action does Pauline take against Bernie in the 1989 film ‘Weekend at Bernie’s’, a dark comedy?
Answer: Heroin overdose.

And there you have it—our blast from the past with these 80s trivia questions! Whether you’re a die-hard fan of the decade or just love a good challenge, we hope these questions brought back some neon-tinted memories and maybe even taught you something new about the era of excess. The 80s were jam-packed with iconic moments, music, movies, and more, and we know there’s a lot we didn’t cover.

So, what’s your favorite piece of 80s trivia? Do you have a question that stumps even the most knowledgeable 80s fans? Share your top 80s trivia questions in the comments below, and let’s keep the nostalgia going. Let’s see who can come up with the most radical trivia question. Ready, set, go!

Love Trivia questions? Check out these trivia posts!

Michele Tripple

Michele Tripple is a renowned author and expert in the fields of parenting, relationships, and personal development. With her degree in marriage and family studies, her experience as a Family Life Educator, and over a decade of experience as a professional writer, Michele has authored books that provide practical advice and insights into improving family dynamics and personal growth. Her work is celebrated for its blend of research-driven information and relatable, real-world applications. Michele has been a keynote speaker at conferences and has contributed to numerous publications and media outlets, solidifying her reputation as an authoritative voice in her field and helping families build relationships.

The Best 80’s Trivia Questions [Includes Music & Movies]