Only People With No Life Will Fail This Pop Culture Quiz
- by Ben Sherlock
- – on
- in Movies and TV
Pop culture is basically a watered down version of regular culture. Real culture is oil paintings and operas and classical music like Mozart. It’s a little difficult to digest. But pop culture is a more manageable realm of the cultural spectrum. Pop culture is movies and TV shows and comic books and YA novels and music and standup comedy – it goes down easy. That’s why so many more people follow pop culture than regular culture, which by extension, is why it’s called pop culture. The “pop” is short for “popular.” It’s popular culture. It’s culture that is popular, because it’s fun and bubbly and entertaining and bombastic and colorful, so a lot of people flock to it. They flock to the movies, the comic book stores, Netflix, the theater (but not to see a play – to see Bill Burr complain about his wife or Eddie Van Halen slay a guitar), or anywhere else they can have their mind numbed with terrific entertainment. Pop culture is so much better than the culture that has so-called ‘esteem’ – plays and the Great American Novel and Beethoven and old, black and white movies and all that jazz. Pop culture has everything that makes the world awesome – electric guitars and John Rambo and superheroes and explosions. But how well do you know pop culture? Take this quiz to find out!
Who wrote the Harry Potter books?
The Harry Potter series of books revolves around the school lives of a few kids who happen to be at a school for wizards because they have magical powers. The series went through a whole bunch of different publishers who kept rejecting it, seeing no potential for its success. Those idiots must be kicking themselves now, as it has gone on to become one of the best selling and most highly acclaimed book series of all time, making its author the richest author on the planet. But which author is it?
Who is Luke Skywalker’s father?
Star Wars is one of the greatest things that’s ever graced popular culture, with millions of fans worldwide all waiting for each successive movie in the saga. In the second released (fifth in the chronological order) movie, The Empire Strikes Back, the biggest moment – and one of the most shocking plot twists in film history – is when Luke Skywalker’s father reveals himself. Audiences were stunned by the revelation back in the day. It still hasn’t been topped. So, who is Luke Skywalker’s father?
How many children do Homer and Marge Simpson have?
The Simpsons is one of the biggest TV series of all time. Time magazine called it the greatest show of the 20th century (which is high praise considering that’s the century that gave us The Twilight Zone and The Honeymooners). The AV Club called it “television’s crowning achievement, regardless of format.” The reason the show has managed to last so long and stay so popular is the relatability of its family story. How many children do Homer and Marge Simpson have?
Who sings “Wrecking Ball?”
Wrecking Ball is the title of a Bruce Springsteen album, but it’s also the title of a hit single by an American female singer from her album Bangers. The song “Wrecking Ball” was written, not by the singer who sings it, but by a committee of six people, including MoZella, Stephan Moccio, Sacha Skarbek, Kiyanu Kim, Lukasz Gottwald, and Henry Russell Walter. The artist has performed the song at the iHeartRadio Music Festival and on an episode of Saturday Night Live. Who is she?
Who plays Rocky Balboa?
The Rocky movies were hugely popular throughout the 1980s. The first one was a sleeper hit, and sequels continued for years (they’re even being made today, albeit in the form of a reboot with a younger actor as a different boxer, but still, Rocky’s in them). It’s the perfect underdog story, and what’s great is that they’re not really about boxing. They’re about a man who’s in love and wants to prove himself. Universally relatable stuff. Who plays Rocky Balboa?
What planet does Superman come from?
Superman was the original superhero. Until he came along, no one had really come up with the idea of a person having superpowers, like flying and super strength and all that stuff. And even though he was the first, Superman has one of the richest backstories of any superhero ever created. He’s an alien from a foreign planet who came to Earth when his home was destroyed and grew up with abilities beyond that of regular human beings. What planet was it?
Who was Daenerys Targaryen married to?
In HBO’s fantasy drama series Game of Thrones – adapted from the acclaimed A Song of Ice and Fire novel series by George RR Martin – Daenerys Targaryen, the Mother of Dragons, played by Emilia Clarke, is one of the most popular and beloved characters. She was ranked number one on Rolling Stone magazine’s list of Top 40 Game of Thrones Characters, with another critic writing, “Clarke doesn’t have a lot of emotional variety to work with as Daenerys, aside from fierce determination, and yet she is riveting.” Which character did she used to be married to?
Who directed Django Unchained?
There’s a certain movie director out there who is quite possibly the most critically acclaimed and popular one in the whole world, and Django Unchained is, so far, his highest grossing movie, taking in over $400 million worldwide. It was his blend of Sergio Leone’s groundbreaking cinematic style of blood-splattered spaghetti western and America’s sordid history of slavery, which everyone in the world fell in love with except Spike Lee, who angrily denounced the movie before its release. Who directed Django Unchained?
What band is Slash from?
Slash – born in 1965 as Saul Hudson – is one of the greatest guitarists of all time. He’s been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, he’s got a place on the Gibson Guitar Corporation’s list of the Top 50 Guitarists of All Time, and Total Guitar magazine placed his guitar riff in the song “Sweet Child o’ Mine” at the number one rank in their list of The 100 Greatest Riffs of all time. What band is he from?
What movie stars Bruce Willis as John McClane?
The movie that made Bruce Willis a star when he played New York cop John McClane is also regarded as being the greatest action movie of all time AND one of the best Christmas movies ever made. Suffice to say, it’s an important piece of cinema. It’s about an NYC cop visiting his estranged wife in her office in LA, only to have the entire building taken over by terrorists who he has to pick off one by one in order to save his wife. What movie is it?
Which of these characters is NOT a member of the Avengers?
The trailer for Avengers: Infinity War was released online recently and the internet totally lost its s**t as they saw all the characters from Marvel movies that they’ve seen in the loosely connected universe over the years finally coming together as one gigantic unit. It’s going to be an epic film to rival every other epic that’s come before it. It might be more epic than Ben Hur or Spartacus or The Godfather. It’ll be insane. Which of these characters is NOT a member of the Avengers?
Who is married to Kanye West?
Kanye West is kind of a jack of all trades. He’s a rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer, fashion designer, and entrepreneur. He’s done it all. He was born in Atlanta and raised in Chicago and then he went to art school before becoming a record producer and then bringing out records of his own and becoming one of the biggest stars in the world. Now, he’s a celebrity power couple, married to one of the most famous reality TV stars in the world. Who is she?
Who is Ross Geller’s sister?
Friends is easily the biggest TV series of all time. It went off the air over 10 years ago and yet its popularity still continues to this day. No other show can boast having reruns in primetime slots, drawing in millions more viewers every single day than most brand new programming gets. It’s absurd. Audiences have some kind of near unattainable connection with the cast of six main characters, either relating to them or simply loving to watch them. Who is Ross Geller’s sister?
What is Spock’s motto?
Spock is easily one of the most popular characters in the Star Trek universe. It is a common misconception that Spock is a Vulcan, because he is in fact half Vulcan and half human. Either way, he’s an iconic character who’s been immortalized in popular culture. He’s been played brilliantly by two different actors: Leonard Nimoy in the Prime timeline and Zachary Quinto in the Kelvin timeline. He has a motto that he says all the time. What is it?
Who is this movie assassin?
This badass has been the star of two movies so far, with more on the way. He’s played by Keanu Reeves, and he’s very quickly becoming a cinematic icon (Reeves’ fourth after bringing Ted “Theodore” Logan, Johnny Utah, and Neo to the screen). He used to be a feared assassin known as “The Boogeyman” who could kill any target and couldn’t be killed. In his two movies, he goes out for revenge after various circumstances screw him over. Who is he?
Which of these is NOT a Michael Jackson song?
Michael Jackson has always been hailed as “the King of Pop,” alongside Elvis Presley who is known as “the King of Rock.” He sadly died in 2009 of a cardiac arrest caused by acute propofol and benzodiazepine intoxication, but his legend lives on (and it’s earning $75 million a year, apparently). He is still one of the best selling musical artists of all time, with countless hit songs to his name. But which of these is NOT one of them?
Which city is the setting for Breaking Bad?
Aside from maybe The Sopranos or The Wire, Breaking Bad is hailed by critics as being the greatest television series ever made. It was created by Vince Gilligan and starred Bryan Cranston (who later received a letter from Sir Anthony Hopkins after the show ended, telling him that Cranston’s performance was the greatest acting he had ever seen) and Aaron Paul and Anna Gunn. The show was originally supposed to be set in California, but it was changed to a different city for tax credits. Which city is it?
Which of these is NOT a novel by Stephen King?
The novels and short stories of Stephen King dominated the literary community of the 1980s, with every single teenager buried in one of his stories every single night and adults diving in when they dared. He’s been called the master of horror, and the timeless nature of fear means that his stories are still being adapted today – just this year, we’ve had It (now the highest grossing horror movie of all time), Gerald’s Game, The Dark Tower, 1922, and The Mist. Which of these is NOT a novel by Stephen King?
Who went missing in season 1 of Stranger Things?
Stranger Things came out of nowhere as the 1980s-set science fiction drama series on Netflix became a pop cultural phenomenon that shook the world. Everyone fell in love with its homage to Stephen King and the movies of Amblin and John Carpenter. The whole first season of Stranger Things revolved around the disappearance of one member of the core group of four boys that makes up the premise of the show. Which one of them went missing in season 1?
Which YA novel series tells the story of Katniss Everdeen?
YA novels were all the rage a few years ago. They’re still popular today, but the boom is kind of over. It’s like when vampires were the big trend for a few years and then that died away. The trend that replaced it was dystopian, oppressive societies being challenged by teenage girls, which were highly acclaimed because they empowered women and made a statement about the world. One of those characters is Katniss Everdeen. Which YA book series is she from?
What kind of car did Doc Brown turn into a time machine?
When it comes to time travel stories, Back to the Future is pretty much the first one that will ever spring to mind. It's a timeless classic (no pun intended) that uses the time travel plot device as more than just a gimmick. Marty McFly's time traveling escapades are a lot of fun, but the story has many important themes that it plays around with. The time machine in the script wasn't always a car, but it sure is in the final movie. What kind of car did Doc Brown turn into a time machine?
Which Beatle died first?
You'd be hard pressed to find someone who would contest the argument that the Beatles are the greatest band to have ever existed. Their influence on the world of music is tantamount to the influence of Monty Python on the world of comedy. Their song "Yesterday" has been covered by more than 2,200 artists. Their fame, popularity, talent, influence, and wealth are all crazily massive. Of the four Beatles, only two are still alive today. One of them died in 2001 after battling lung cancer, while the first Beatle to die was assassinated by a gunman in 1980. Which one was he?
Who is this Walking Dead villain?
This guy very quickly became one of the most iconic villains on television when he came striding in and battered the eyeballs out of two fan favorite Walking Dead characters with his barb wire-wrapped baseball bat, which he calls Lucille. That scene became infamous and lost the show a lot of viewers, but those who stuck around couldn’t resist the charms of a smirking Jeffrey Dean Morgan in the role. What is the name of this villain from The Walking Dead?
Which of these is NOT one of Beyonce’s children?
Beyonce is a pop culture icon (and a women’s icon). She’s been given the name “Queen Bey” because of all the great tracks she’s released and all the influence she’s had on young women to be themselves and express their personality. With her husband Jay-Z, she has three children. In 2012, she had a baby after suffering a tragic miscarriage a year or so prior, and the couple has since had twins as well. Which of these is NOT one of their children?
What is the alter ego of Spider-Man?
Spider-Man is one of the most popular superheroes of all time, because he’s just a normal kid. He’s the easiest to relate to. He’s not a brilliant scientist like the Hulk or a billionaire playboy like Batman or Iron Man, and he’s not an alien from some far-off planet like Superman or a god from another dimension like Thor. He’s just a teenage boy from Queens who goes to high school and strikes out with girls and doesn’t want to do his homework – and he can also do whatever a spider can. What’s Spider-Man’s alter ego?
What comedy features Mike Tyson and his pet tiger?
This comedy was the highest grossing R-rated comedy of all time until its sequel came along. Mike Tyson originally didn’t want to be in the movie until he realized that its director, Todd Phillips, had directed Old School, which the iconic boxer enjoyed. Tyson was also back for the sequel, despite having been reluctant to appear in the first one. Tyson later said that working on this movie convinced him to change his lifestyle. Geez. So, which movie was it?
Which comedian played Rick James in a popular sketch?
This iconic and beloved black comedian disappeared from Hollywood for a few years after his fame became too much, but now he’s back with a vengeance and he’s been taking Netflix by storm with new, brilliant standup specials. His Comedy Central sketch show was the best selling DVD of a TV show ever, and it contained one particular sketch that became a pop culture phenomenon, where the comic played Rick James alongside Charlie Murphy (Eddie’s brother). Which standup comic was it?
What town do the Griffins live in?
Family Guy is a huge pop culture phenomenon, which is interesting – and probably postmodern – because the entire show is essentially constructed from stringing together references to other areas of pop culture (particularly Star Wars). When it first aired, it was seen as a rip-off of The Simpsons, since it’s an animated show on primetime television about the exploits of a working class family – the Griffins – and the oddballs that surround them in their town. What town do the Griffins live in?
Which “winning” actor was fired from Two and a Half Men?
Two and a Half Men was a gargantuan hit show. It was the highest rated comedy series on all of television for many years, and CBS wouldn’t let anything take that away from them – not even its star’s coke habit. So, when it really came down to it, they had to fire the actor, but didn’t end the show. They instead replaced him. The original actor declared that he was fine, because he had the blood of a tiger and was “winning.” Which actor was it?
Who was the frontman for Nirvana?
Nirvana were a garage band from Seattle and they more or less founded the grunge movement that dominated the 1990s all on their own. Dave Grohl from the band is still going today as one of the most popular musicians in America, but the frontman of the band unfortunately didn’t make it. He shot himself in the head with a shotgun and committed suicide in 1994, at the height of the band’s fame, placing him firmly in The 27 Club. So, who was he?
Michael Myers wears a mask of what actor?
Along with The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Halloween is credited with giving birth to the slasher genre. It was directed by the great John Carpenter – a legend of the horror genre – and it stars Jamie Lee Curtis as the original ‘scream queen’ (which is ironic, because she later appeared in the show Scream Queens on Fox as the dean). The killer in Halloween, Michael Myers, wears a mask that is supposed to be modeled after a famous TV actor. Which one?
What industry is Mad Men about?
Throughout its seven season run, Mad Men was hailed by critics as one of the greatest drama series on television. It was quiet and contemplative and intriguing. It wasn’t loud and action packed with exploding cars and zombies and characters getting killed off. It was just a show about some people working in an office together in the 1960s, with historical accuracy and a protagonist to die for: Don Draper, a guy who’s cooler than James Bond. But what industry do they all work in?
Which of these Muppets was NOT in The Muppet Show?
The Muppet Show was the variety comedy series aimed at a family audience that made Jim Henson’s Muppet characters stars. However, his Muppet characters were also featured in a bunch of other different shows, like Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock. But The Muppet Show was the main one – that’s where the Muppets developed as characters, figured out their individual ‘talents,’ and gained celebrity status. It was a ratings hit beloved by many. Which of these Muppets was NOT in The Muppet Show?
Who sings “Royals?”
Regarded as the defining song (or one of the defining songs) of the millennial generation, “Royals” was the debut single of an acclaimed and beloved singer from New Zealand. She has performed the song on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and at the 2013 New Zealand Music Awards. The singer became the first New Zealand solo act to top the Hot 100, as well as the youngest artist to achieve a number-one single since 1987. Who is she?
Which of these characters does NOT appear in Suicide Squad?
Suicide Squad was the third movie in the DC Extended Universe, but the second that was consciously in the DCEU. When they made Man of Steel, they were simply aiming to make a good movie that would get butts in seats (and kind of failed, actually), but with Batman v Superman and Suicide Squad, they were building up a cinematic universe, and the movies themselves suffered because of it. Suicide Squad saw a bunch of characters cross over from the other films. Which of these characters does NOT appear in Suicide Squad?