If You Can Answer 20/35 Correctly, You Belong In The 80s!
- by Kevin Stewart
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Ah the 1980s. What a fantastic decade for those of us who were lucky enough to experience them.
The 80s was the last decade in which kids still actually acted like kids. There were toys and games, of course, but kids were still making their own fun by going outside. There was no internet, there were no iPhones or tablets, and computer games were in their infancy. Getting down and dirty in the mud on a rainy day was the norm.
The fashion was also extraordinary. The styles, the bold colours, the hair - goodness gracious, what were we thinking?
80s movies were fantastic, however. Never has an era been so instantly recognisable. The Goonies, Gremlins, Ghosbusters, Stand by Me, Beetlejuice, Flight of the Navigator... they just don't make movies like those any more. The same goes for the television and the music.
But enough pointless reminiscing. How much do you actually know about the 1980s? In this quiz, we'll find out the answer to that question. If you answer 20 out of 35 of these questions correctly, you undoubtedly belong in the 80s.
What was the name of this novelty puzzle item?
This 3-D combination puzzle was actually invented in 1974, but first came to be licensed and sold under the name we now know it as in 1980. It won many awards and was generally incredibly popular throughout the 1980s as a whole. Recent figures show that more than 350 million of these puzzles have been sold worldwide. It is, therefore, the world's top-selling puzzle game and it is widely considered to be the world's best-selling toy. But do you know what it's called?
Which one of these movie sequels was released in the 1980s?
The 1980s really did produce some absolutely fantastic movies, four of which were 1984's supernatural comedy Ghostbusters, 1985's science fiction adventure Back to the Future, 1988's action movie Die Hard and 1984's horror comedy Gremlins. All of those movies produced memorable sequels (of varying quality, it has to be said!). In fact, some of them produced multiple sequels. But do you know which one of the sequels listed here was released in 1989 and not 1990 like the other three?
What was the second highest-grossing movie of the 1980s?
1982's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was by far the highest-grossing movie of the 1980s. Steven Spielberg's seminal science fiction fantasy classic grossed an enormous $435 million worldwide - and it wasn't topped in the all-time list until Jurassic Park was released 11 years later. But do you know which of these movies was second in the list in the 1980s? Was it Tim Burton's Batman, another Spielberg movie in Raiders of the Lost Ark, or one of the two Star Wars movies that were released in the 1980s?
Andy, Brand, Mouth, Data, Chunk and Stef. Which name is missing from this list of Goonies members?
1985's wonderful movie The Goonies - which was directed by Richard Donner and written by Chris Columbus (based on a story by written by none other than Steven Spielberg) - was all about a group of kids who went on a treasure-hunting adventure and ended up being pursued by a criminal family called the Fratellis. The Goonies members included Andy, Brand, Mouth, Data, Chunk and Stef, but can you identify which member of the group (who is shown in the attached image) is missing from that list of names?
Who starred in Flashdance?
Flashdance was an iconic 1983 romantic drama movie that was directed by Adrian Lyne. It was all about a woman in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania who had two different jobs - one as a welder and another as an exotic dancer - who wanted to get into ballet school. It was a highly influential movie, as the way it presented some of its sequences in the style of music videos was used by many other movies in the 1980s. But can you remember the name of Flashdance's star?
Which fantasy movie was this character from?
This character's name was Hoggle. Hoggle was voiced by Brian Henson, who also did the puppeteer work on the character, along with Shari Weiser. Hoggle was a dwarf who was employed by the mysterious Jareth the Goblin King (who was played by the late, great David Bowie). In the movie, Hoggle befriended Sarah, the main character played by a young Jennifer Connelly. His relationship with Sarah caused Jareth to question his loyalty. But do you know which movie Hoggle appeared in?
Which one of these movies did Bruce Willis appear in?
Action star Bruce Willis came to prominence in the 1980s - as an actor on the small screen, on the big screen and as a musician - and he is undoubtedly most famous for his 1988 movie Die Hard, in which he starred as John McClane. It wasn't his first movie, however - not by a long shot. Do you know which one of these movies from 1982 saw Willis making an early (albeit very brief) appearance on the big screen?
Which superhero movie was this villain in?
This is Nuclear Man. He was played by Mark Pillow but voiced by Gene Hackman (who played Lex Luthor in this same movie). Nuclear Man was created when Lex Luthor and his nephew Lenny managed to get their hands on a strand of Superman's hair (by stealing it from a museum). They used it to create a genetic matrix and attached it to a nuclear missile just before it was launched. After the missile was subsequently thrown into the Sun, this being was (inexplicably) created. Which superhero movie did he appear in?
Which film popularised the wearing of Aviator sunglasses?
Aviator sunglasses were originally developed in 1936 by American company Bausch & Lomb. They are also known as "pilot's glasses" and were created specifically to protect the eyes of while flying (hence their name). These days, the original design is marketed as Ray-Ban Aviators, although other manufacturers also produce a similar style. In the 1980s, a certain movie brought them back into fashion. Can you remember which movie was seen as responsible for a rise in the popularity of this style of sunglasses?
Where did Live Aid take place?
Live Aid was a dual-venue benefit concert that was held on July the 13th in 1985 (it is also an ongoing music-based fundraising initiative). The 1985 event was organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds to aid those suffering in the Ethiopian famine. It was billed as the "global jukebox" and was held simultaneously at two different locations in two different cities - one in England and one in the United States. But do you know which two cities in England and the United States Live Aid was held in?
Which New Romantic band from the United Kingdom is this?
New Romanticism was a pop culture movement that came out of the United Kingdom that peaked in the early 1980s. Visage, Spandau Ballet and Ultravox were three of the bands involved in the New Romantic Scene. But do you know which band this is? Their members included Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, Roger Taylor and John Taylor and their hits included Hungry Like the Wolf, Rio, Girls on Film and The Reflex. In fact, they're actually still very active to this day!
Which of these Michael Jackson hits was released first?
The late, great Michael Jackson is sorely missed in the world of music. The King of Pop tragically passed away in 2009 from a cardiac arrest that was brought on by propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication, but his musical legacy lives on and will do so forever. In the 1980s, he had a string of huge hits including Billie Jean, Thriller, Bad and Man in the Mirror. But do you know which of these four listed 1980s "MJ" singles was released first?
Which of these Madonna hits was released first?
It seems like Madonna has been around forever - and that's not too far from the truth, to be quite frank about it! The Queen of Pop's first single, "Everybody", was released 35 years ago in 1982. It was soon followed by "Burning Up" in 1983. She has since released more singles than you would ever care to count, but do you know which of these four singles from the 1980s was released before the other three (immediately after the aforementioned "Burning Up")?
What was the name of Sega's first home video game console?
Before it started focusing on providing software as a third-party developer, Sega was known for manufacturing some of the most iconic video game consoles in gaming history; the Master System, the Genesis/Mega Drive, the Saturn and the Dreamcast, for example. In 1983, however, Sega released its very first home video game console (on the very same day as Nintendo's Family Computer - Famicom for short - for the record). But can you remember what Sega's first home video game console was called?
What was IBM's first model of home PC called?
IBM (which is short for International Business Machines Corporation) is, of course, an multinational technology company from America that makes computers. IBM is headquartered in Armonk, New York, in the United States, and has operations in more than 170 countries around the world. When it was formed in 1911, it was called the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR) and was only renamed "International Business Machines" in 1924, but its first personal computer wasn't introduced until 1981. But do you know what IBM's first model of personal home computer was called?
Which classic video game is this?
The 1980s was the first decade in which home video gaming really became a prominent thing. The likes of Pac-Man, Tetris, Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, Frogger, Digger and Golden Axe were all popular games from the decade, while the likes of the Commodore 64, the ZX Spectrum, the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive were all popular computers and consoles. But do you know which classic video game from the 1980s this is?
Which classic arcade game is this?
This 1985 arcade fighting game was developed and published by Japanese company Konami. This game is seen as one of the games that formed the basis and platform for more modern fighting games such as the Mortal Kombat series, the Tekken series, the King of Fighters series and the Capcom Versus series. It featured a character called Oolong fighting through a gauntlet of characters - most of whom were named after the weapon they were wielding - to honour the memory of his father. But what classic arcade game is this?
What was the name of this car?
This car gained popularity thanks to Back to the Future, in which Doc Brown uses it as a time machine. Despite its cool, futuristic look, it was the only car ever created by the company responsible. It was made solely for the American market between 1981 and 1983. It notably had gull-winged doors and a fibreglass body structure. It also featured stainless steel body panels and a steel backbone chassis. It didn't sell too well. What was its full name?
What kind of car was this?
The 1980s spawned some brilliant and memorable cars. This subcompact car, however, was memorable for all the wrong reasons. The front-engine, front-wheel drive, three-door hatchback supermini became the subject of jokes throughout the 1980s because it was so small, lacking in power and cheap. It was Yugoslavian-built, but was also sold in the United States and United Kingdom, amongst other places. It was also marketed as the Zastava Koral, but do you know what its more common name in English-speaking countries was?
What was the name of this alien who had his own television show?
This particular character's real name was Gordon Shumway. He was the titular character in his own television series that ran from 1986 until 1990. He was a friendly extraterrestrial who actually went by a nickname that was the title of the show. After crash-landing in the garage of the suburban middle-class Tanner family, he went on to live with them while trying to evade the government, who wanted to take him in. He had a fondness for eating cats. What name was he given in the show?
Who shot J.R.?
No quiz about the 1980s would be complete without asking this question! One of the biggest ever plots on a television show came in soap opera Dallas. The show originally ran from 1978 to 1991, but this plot occurred in 1980 and had the tagline "Who shot J.R.?" It's pretty self-explanatory, but it revolved around the mystery surrounding J.R. Ewing - played by the late Larry Hagman - and who shot him. Can you remember who the real culprit turned out to be?
What was the name of the car in Knight Rider?
Knight Rider was an NBC television series that was originally broadcast 1982 to 1986. It starred 80s icon David Hasselhoff as Michael Knight. Knight was a modern crime fighter who was ably assisted by an advanced artificially intelligent, self-aware and nigh-indestructible talking black car. But can you remember what the name of the car was? You may actually know the answer to this question if you saw the less popular 2008 follow-up series, but we'll let you off with that.
What was so special about General Fulbright on The A-Team?
The A-Team was an iconic NBC action-adventure television series. It ran from 1983 to 1987. It was about a group of former U.S. Army Special Forces members who worked as soldiers of fortune after being court-martialled "for a crime they didn't commit" and escaping from military prison. It starred George Peppard, Dirk Benedict, Dwight Schultz and Mr. T. One character in the show - General Fulbright - was special for a particular reason. Do you know what that reason was?
Which popular cartoon is this a scene from?
The 1980s was THE era for great cartoons - of that there is no doubt. They really don't make cartoons like the ones from the 1980s anymore - and that's a real shame. They were so colourful and had such a wonderful array of interesting characters. Whether you were a three-year-old girl or a thirteen-year-old boy, there was a cartoon for you in the 1980s. But do you know which iconic and incredibly popular cartoon this particular screenshot is from?
Who did Mike Tyson beat to become the youngest world heavyweight champion in history?
Mike Tyson burst onto the professional heavyweight boxing scene in March of 1985 with a first round TKO victory over Hector Mercedes at the Plaza Convention Center in Albany, New York. Just over a year-and-a-half later, in November of 1986, he won the world heavyweight title at the Las Vegas Hilton in Winchester, Nevada. He was the youngest world heavyweight champion in history at just 20 years, 4 months and 22 days old. But who was his opponent in that record-breaking fight?
Where were the 1980 Winter Olympics held?
The 1980 Winter Olympics (which were officially known as the XIII Olympic Winter Games) were the fifteenth Winter Olympics. They are well remembered in particular for the event known as the "Miracle on Ice", when an inexperienced United States hockey team defeated the Soviet Red Army team, who were the heavy favorites, and went on to win the gold medal. The games' mascot was called "Roni", who was a raccoon (the rings on its face resembled the goggles worn by athletes in certain winter sports) - but do you know where they were held?
Where was the 1986 FIFA World Cup held?
The 1980s played host to two FIFA World Cups. The first, in 1982, was held in Spain and was won by Italy, who defeated West Germany in the final. The second, in 1986, was won by Argentina, who also defeated West Germany in the final. The 1986 World Cup is remembered for a number of things - notably Diego Maradona's "Hand of God" goal. But do you know where the 1986 FIFA World Cup was actually held? Which country was it in?
What year did the first WrestleMania take place?
WrestleMania is an event that has grown and grown since its inception in the 1980s. It is still going today and it is truly massive. But the first one - WrestleMania I - was a slightly more modest affair. Still, it showcased stars like Hulk Hogan, Mr. T, Roddy Piper, King Kong Bundy, Brutus Beefcake, Ricky Steamboat, Tito Santana, Junkyard Dog, Greg Valentine, André the Giant and Big John Studd. But can you remember which year WrestleMania I took place in?
Who did Hulk Hogan defeat to win his first WWF title?
Hulk Hogan is undoubtedly a bona fide wrestling superstar - one of the very biggest. These days, his status has diminished after some unfortunate controversies came to light, but he will forever be embedded in wrestling folklore. He is a multiple world champion in both WWF (WWE) and WCW. His first WWF (WWE) world title victory came way back in 1984 at a house show in New York City. But do you know who he beat to win that first world title?
Which year did the Falklands War take place in?
The Falklands War (which also went by a number of other names, such as the South Atlantic Conflict, the Falklands Crisis, the Falklands Conflict, and the Guerra del Atlántico Sur, which is a Spanish term that means "South Atlantic War"), was a war between Argentina and the United Kingdom that lasted for ten weeks in the early 1980s. It was a dispute over two overseas territories supposedly belonging to Britain in the South Atlantic - one being the Falkland Islands, the other being South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands. It occurred from the 2nd of April to the 14th of July in which year?
What was this popular hairstyle called?
There was a permed hairstyle that was popular among African Americans during the 1980s - Michael Jackson can be seen wearing it in the picture. It gave the wearer a loosely curled and glossy look. Its appeal was said to be due to its "wash and wear" style that made it incredibly easy to look after - more so than the other popular chemical treatments that were used at the time. The style went on to be seen both seriously and in a joke sense, as it was often parodied. It was named after its creator. What was it called?
Who shot John Lennon?
John Lennon is one of the most beloved and popular musicians of all time. He was an English singer-songwriter and activist who achieved success and popularity both as a founding member of legendary group The Beatles and as a solo artist. He was famously married to Japanese multimedia artist, singer, songwriter and peace activist Yoko Ono. In December of 1980, he was tragically shot dead in New York City. But do you know the name of the person responsible for shooting the legend?
What was this line of toys called?
This line of toys were anthropomorphic animal figurines made of flocked plastic. The Japanese gaming company Epoch created them in 1985 and they were subsequently distributed to a number of different countries around the world. There were animated television series based on the characters, as well as video games and, in Japan, there have even been restaurants and theme park attractions based on them. They were incredibly popular. But do you know what this cute line of toys was actually called?
What was this game called?
This particular game is actually still available to buy today, but it is nowhere near as popular in this digital era as it was when it was first created in the 1980s. It was created by TOMY and requires the player to guide a metal ball bearing around an obstacle course. Players do that by using a number of buttons, levers and dials that manipulate parts of the course. The aim is to complete the course as fast as possible - but any mistake requires the player to start over. What is it called?
Which James Bond movie is this?
The 1980s saw the release of no less than five movies in the iconic James Bond franchise - three of which starred Roger Moore in the titular role and two of which starred Timothy Dalton. The first of those five movies was For Your Eyes Only, which was released in 1981. The others were Octopussy, A View to a Kill, The Living Daylights and Licence to Kill. Do you know which of those James Bond movies this is a screenshot from?