The 1980s Trivia
12 nostalgia questions about the 1980s, each with four choices and the correct answer explained underneath. Read them here, or play the same set in the trivia room for instant scoring and a printable quiz sheet.
Background
The 1980s were bright, loud and full of firsts: music videos on cable television, the Walkman and the compact disc, home computers and arcade games. Popular culture moved faster, and everyone had a favourite hit from the decade.
This page presents the twelve questions used for the 1980s in the trivia room — music, television, movies and everyday objects, each with four choices and a clear explanation. Play them here, or jump to the trivia room for a scored round and a printable quiz sheet.
Answers and explanations appear with each question, matching the interactive trivia room.
Play this set
- In the trivia room, set the era to The 1980s (topic: Everything).
- You can also combine an era and a topic to narrow a round down.
- Rounds are 10 questions at a time, always with four choices.
- You see the right answer and an explanation immediately after each pick.
- After a round, press Print this round for a quiz sheet — questions on page one, answer key on page two.
Questions and answers
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1. Which TV network aired the record-breaking 1983 finale of the series M*A*S*H?
- ACBS — correct answer
- BNBC
- CABC
- DFox
Answer: A — CBS. The M*A*S*H finale in February 1983 drew over 105 million US viewers, still a record.Did you know… The finale ran like a feature film, far longer than a normal episode.
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2. Which 1981 launch marked the beginning of the MTV era?
- AMTV began broadcasting — correct answer
- BCNN launched
- CThe internet went public
- DThe first CD sold
Answer: A — MTV began broadcasting. MTV launched on August 1, 1981, with 'Video Killed the Radio Star' as its first video.Did you know… The channel's first day opened with a song about radio being overtaken by video.
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3. In 1981, IBM introduced which product that helped define personal computing?
- AThe IBM Personal Computer — correct answer
- BThe Apple Macintosh
- CThe Commodore 64
- DThe TRS-80
Answer: A — The IBM Personal Computer. The IBM PC, released in August 1981, set the standard for business personal computers.Did you know… Its expansion slots let other companies build add-on cards for it.
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4. Which 1985 charity single brought together dozens of stars as USA for Africa?
- AWe Are the World — correct answer
- BDo They Know It's Christmas?
- CLive Aid
- DHands Across America
Answer: A — We Are the World. 'We Are the World', written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, raised millions for African famine relief.Did you know… Dozens of singers recorded their lines in one long overnight session.
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5. Which Soviet leader's reforms, glasnost and perestroika, became famous in the 1980s?
- AMikhail Gorbachev — correct answer
- BLeonid Brezhnev
- CBoris Yeltsin
- DNikita Khrushchev
Answer: A — Mikhail Gorbachev. Mikhail Gorbachev's openness (glasnost) and restructuring (perestroika) reshaped the Soviet Union in the mid-1980s.Did you know… His two reforms were soon known in the West by their Russian names alone.
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6. The video game character Pac-Man, who debuted in 1980, was originally known in Japan as what?
- APuck-Man — correct answer
- BDot-Man
- CWaka-Man
- DMunch-Man
Answer: A — Puck-Man. Pac-Man was released as 'Puck-Man' in Japan in 1980 before being renamed for Western markets.Did you know… The name changed for export, and arcade cabinets had to be relabelled.
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7. Which 1982 science-fiction film featured a young computer whiz who accidentally hacks NORAD?
- AWarGames — correct answer
- BTron
- CE.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
- DBlade Runner
Answer: A — WarGames. WarGames (1983 release) popularized fears of computer hacking nearly causing nuclear war.Did you know… The film's war-room set was so striking that it turned up in later productions too.
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8. The Rubik's Cube, a worldwide craze of the early 1980s, was invented in which country?
- AHungary — correct answer
- BJapan
- CUSA
- DGermany
Answer: A — Hungary. Hungarian professor Ernő Rubik invented the cube in 1974, but it became a global 1980s fad.Did you know… Solution books and magazine guides sold alongside the puzzle itself.
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9. Which 1985 film, featuring a time-traveling DeLorean, became a defining movie of the decade?
- ABack to the Future — correct answer
- BGhostbusters
- CThe Terminator
- DGremlins
Answer: A — Back to the Future. Back to the Future (1985) made the DeLorean a time-travel icon and a defining movie of the 80s.Did you know… The car's gull-wing doors made it an obvious choice for a time machine.
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10. On November 9, 1989, which iconic structure began to fall, symbolizing the end of the Cold War?
- AThe Berlin Wall — correct answer
- BThe Iron Curtain fence
- CCheckpoint Charlie gate
- DThe Brandenburg tower
Answer: A — The Berlin Wall. The Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989, as East Germans streamed into West Berlin.Did you know… Television pictures of people crossing the border travelled the world within hours.
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11. Which 1980s TV show featured four friends, an A-Team-style van, and a talking dog?
- AKnight Rider
- BThe A-Team — correct answer
- CAirwolf
- DMagnum, P.I.
Answer: B — The A-Team. The A-Team (1983-1987) drove its black van with the distinctive red stripe and fought for justice.Did you know… The van's red stripe and the show's theme tune were instantly recognisable.
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12. Which 1981 arcade title by Nintendo introduced the character Jumpman, later renamed Mario?
- ADonkey Kong — correct answer
- BPac-Man
- CFrogger
- DSpace Invaders
Answer: A — Donkey Kong. Mario debuted as 'Jumpman' in Nintendo's 1981 arcade hit Donkey Kong.Did you know… The barrel-and-ladder layout was drawn up with a famous film ape in mind.
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