1984 Trivia: How Well Do You Remember This Defining Year in Pop Culture?
1984 was a landmark year that brought unforgettable movies, chart-topping music, and cultural milestones that still resonate today. From the silver screen to the radio waves and beyond, this was a year that shaped the entertainment landscape for generations to come. Are you ready to test your knowledge of one of the most iconic years of the 1980s?
Challenge yourself with questions like: What movie about a paranormal team battling ghosts became an instant classic? Which artist dominated the airwaves with a record-breaking album? What video game hit arcades and cemented its place in gaming history? And which event in 1984 brought the world together in a global celebration of athleticism?
Here’s some bonus trivia to set the mood:
- Ghostbusters, the supernatural comedy starring Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd, became a cultural phenomenon and spawned a hit theme song.
- Prince’s Purple Rain album and accompanying film solidified his place as one of the greatest musicians of all time.
- The Los Angeles Summer Olympics captivated the world, introducing iconic moments like Carl Lewis winning four gold medals.
- Tetris, the addictive puzzle game, debuted in 1984 and became a cornerstone of gaming history.
- James Cameron’s The Terminator, featuring Arnold Schwarzenegger as the titular cyborg, revolutionized the sci-fi genre with its gritty storytelling and visual effects.
1984 wasn’t just about entertainment—it was a year of technological innovation and cultural shifts. Apple launched its famous “1984” commercial during the Super Bowl, introducing the Macintosh computer and redefining marketing forever. Meanwhile, MTV continued to dominate with music videos that changed how we consumed music.
Whether you’re preparing for trivia night or reminiscing about the glory days of the ’80s, this page is packed with questions to challenge your memory and celebrate the unforgettable events of 1984. From blockbuster movies to global milestones, this year truly had it all.
How much do you really know about 1984? Take the quiz now and relive the excitement of this iconic year!
84 Trivia Questions For 1984 History
(answers)
1. Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, and Toby were all characters on what Children’s television show?
2. Who did Hulk Hogan defeat to win his first World Wrestling Federation Championship?
3. The final original episode of Captain Kangaroo was on December 8, 1984. Who played the role of Captain Kangaroo?
4. Bob Keeshan previously worked as a clown on another children’s program. Name the clown or the show.
5. Who were the NBA Champions in 1984?
6. Technology, Entertainment, and Design Conferences began in 1984. What are they commonly called?
7. Name the four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. You get one point for each.
8. Who was the Turtles’ sensei?
9. Launched on February 1, 1984, this basic cable channel features programming geared toward women or featuring women in lead roles. What channel?
10. Name the 80s television show that featured the characters “Sonny” Crockett and Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs.
11. Who wrote the Miami Vice Theme?
HINT: It was a #1 hit in 1985
12. The first film in this comedy franchise included Steve Guttenberg, Kim Cattrall, and G. W. Bailey.
HINT: Law Enforcement
13. Name the comedy film that gave us the phrase “Up to eleven.”
14. The phrase “Wikki wikki wikki wikki” came from a well-known song. Name that tune.
15. In 1984, the band Yes created 18 different versions of the music video for their latest song, which was played in a marathon on MTV. Name that tune.
16. During a Space Shuttle mission on February 7, 1984, who made the first untethered spacewalk as he flew some 300 feet from the Shuttle?
17. Name the ring announcer who owns the phrase “Let’s get ready to rumble!”
18. Where were the 1984 Summer Olympics held?
19. This sitcom starred Susan Saint James and Jane Curtin as two divorced mothers who decide to live together in the same home.
20. What is the name of the pizza delivery company founded by John Schnatter?
21. Who was the President in 1984?
22. On TV, according to the theme song, who was in charge “of our days and our nights”?
HINT: and “our wrongs and our rights.”
23. What was the name of Bruce Springsteen’s 7th album?
24. Springsteen’s biggest hit peaked at #2 on the Billboard charts. What was it?
25. Prince’s 6th album came out on 1984. What was it called?
26. Purple Rain produced two number-one hits. You get one point for each you can name.
27. Who are the “good guy” Transformers?
28. Who are the “bad guy” Transformers?
29. What primetime television show featured Clair, Cliff, Denise, Sondra, Theodore, and Rudy?
HINT: Huxtable
30. Who’s hair caught fire while recording a commercial for Pepsi?
31. Name the computer listed in the Guinness World Records as the highest-selling single-computer model of all time.
32. Who were the original four Ghostbusters?
HELP: First names will do
33. In 1984, the U.S. Army gave a carton character an honorable discharge in honor of his military service for appearances in WWII cartoons. Name that character.
HINT: He’s a Disney castmember
34. This 1984 film, starring Robert Redford, was loosely based on the shooting incident and subsequent comeback of Philadelphia Phillies player Eddie Waitkus. Name that film.
35. Who was NOT born in 1984?
Paris Hilton, America Ferrera, Olivia Wilde, or Mark Zuckerberg
36. This Ron Howard film involves a young man who falls in love with a mysterious woman who is secretly a mermaid. Name it.
37. Played by Daryl Hannah, what was the mermaid’s chosen name?
38. Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous was a program hosted by whom?
39. Who did Republican President Ronald Reagan defeat in the 1984 Presidential election?
40. What was the price of a first-class postage stamp in 1984?
41. What was the name of the IBM PC-compatible home computer systems produced by the Tandy Corporation for sale in its Radio Shack stores in 1983?
42. This romantic comedy (and adventure) film featured Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito. Name that film.
43. Name the Autobiography, the best-selling non-fiction book of 1984.
44. Who was the original mogwai in Gremlins?
45. You get one point for each thing you should NOT do with a Mogwai.
46. Gremlins and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom are responsible for an addition to the MPAA movie rating system. What did they cause?
47. What was the first major film to get the PG-13 rating?
48. Name the actor who portrayed the 6th Doctor on Doctor Who.
49. What was Duran Duran’s first number-one single in the US?
50. Name the Space Shuttle that landed the first shuttle at the Kennedy Space Center.
51. Who is the main protagonist of the Dragon Ball manga series created by Akira Toriyama?
52. Although this show only lasted 13 episodes on NBC, it was Jim Carrey’s first lead role in a Hollywood production. Name that show.
53. This Saturday morning cartoon featured Nanny watching over Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Scooter, Skeeter, Rowlf the Dog, and Gonzo. Name that show.
54. This film tells the story of Ren McCormack, a teenager from Chicago who moves to a small town that bans dancing. Name the film.
55. Who played the role of Ren McCormack in Footloose?
56. Who played the role of Rev. Shaw Moore in Footloose?
57. This 12-issue Marvel comic book series was tied with a similarly-named toy line from Mattel and a role-playing game from TSR. What was it called?
58. Name the hit coming-of-age teen comedy film starring Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall.
HINT: It launched all of their careers. Happy Birthday.
59. What film was John Hughes’ directorial debut?
60. This television sitcom featured characters like Harry T. Stone, Bull Shannon and Dan Fielding. Name that show
61. What team won the Super Bowl in 1984?
62. This daytime soap opera revolved around the eventful lives of the wealthy Capwell family in California. Name it
63. The fictitious movie AI Skynet created The Terminator, but who created Skynet?
64. In this 1984 cult sci-fi classic film, Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems in New Jersey caused havoc, thanks to Dr. Emilio Lizardo.
Buckaroo Banzai
Bonus point for the whole name
65. Although he never earned it, who coined the phrase EGOT, an acronym for winning the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards.
66. Who famously said, “You like me… right now… you like me!” at the Oscars?
67. Who introduced the phrase “Shrimp on the Barbie”?
68. This 1984 film featured characters like Lewis Skolnik, Booger Dawson, Gilbert Lowe, and Lamar Latrelle. Name that fil
69. Name the charity recording to raise money to combat the famine in Ethiopia
70. This show featured Angela Lansbury as a mystery writer and amateur detective. Name the show and her character.
71. Who was the Pope in 1984?
72. Name the supernatural slasher film written and directed by Wes Craven and starring Robert Englund.
73. A Nightmare on Elm Street included the feature film debut of a 1990s and 2000s film star. Name that actor.
HINT: He later played a popular pirate
74. Name the actor in the title role of Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer.
75. Mike Hammer’s title theme was an old jazz classic written in 1939. What was it?
76. Who were the Stanley Cup Champions in 1984?
77. A World’s Fair was held in New Orleans. What was it called?
78. Who was the Vice-President in 1984?
79. Michael Jackson’s Thriller album had two songs reaching number one. Name them.
80. Who was the biggest musical artist of 1984?
81. What did Clara Peller ask for Wendy’s?
82. Who won the World Series in 1984?
83. Name the film that originated the phrase “I reject your reality and substitute my own.”
84. Who was the leader of the Dinobots?
Trivia Team Bonus Questions:
1. Transformers leader Optimus Prime had another name when he was younger. What was it?
2. Reed Richards is the leader of the Fantastic Four. Who is Reed’s father?
3. Name the pair who hosted the first MTV Video Music Awards at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall. You get one point for each, which you can name.
4. Who was the first American woman to perform a space walk?
5. Mike Hammer’s TV title theme was an old jazz classic written in 1939. What was it?
6. Name the last European country to grant women the right to vote.
7. Who is the superhero from Tromaville?
8. Name the device that allows an object to pass through solid matter in Buckaroo Banzai.
9. What was the commercial name that only aired once from Apple Computer during Super Bowl XVII?
10. What was the name of the Chicago Morning Show that eventually kicked off Oprah’s career?
The Answers:
84 Trivia Answers For 1984 History
1. Edward, Henry, Gordon, James, Percy, and Toby were all characters on what Children’s television show?
Thomas (& Friends)
2. Who did Hulk Hogan defeat to win his first World Wrestling Federation Championship?
The Iron Sheik
3. The final original episode of Captain Kangaroo was on December 8, 1984. Who played the role of Captain Kangaroo?
Bob Keeshan
4. Bob Keeshan previously worked as a clown on another children’s program. Name the clown or the show.
Clarabell the Clown on The Howdy Doody Show.
5. Who were the NBA Champions in 1984?
Boston Celtics
6. Technology, Entertainment, and Design Conferences began in 1984. What are they commonly called?
TED Talks
7. Name the four Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. You get one point for each.
Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael, and Michelangelo
8. Who was the Turtles’ sensei?
Splinter
9. Launched on February 1, 1984, this basic cable channel features programming geared toward women or featuring women in lead roles. What channel?
Lifetime
10. Name the 80s television show that featured the characters “Sonny” Crockett and Ricardo “Rico” Tubbs.
Miami Vice
11. Who wrote the Miami Vice Theme?
HINT: It was a #1 hit in 1985
Jan Hammer
12. The first film in this comedy franchise included Steve Guttenberg, Kim Cattrall, and G. W. Bailey.
HINT: Law Enforcement
Police Academy
13. Name the comedy film that gave us the phrase “Up to eleven.”
This Is Spinal Tap (also “these go to eleven”)
14. The phrase “Wikki wikki wikki wikki” came from a well-known song. Name that tune.
Jam on It (also Jam-On’s Revenge) by Newcleus
15. In 1984, the band Yes created 18 different versions of the music video for their latest song, which was played in a marathon on MTV. Name that tune.
Leave It
16. During a Space Shuttle mission on February 7, 1984, who made the first untethered spacewalk as he flew some 300 feet from the Shuttle?
Astronaut Bruce McCandless
17. Name the ring announcer who owns the phrase “Let’s get ready to rumble!”
Michael Buffer
18. Where were the 1984 Summer Olympics held?
Los Angeles, California
19. This sitcom starred Susan Saint James and Jane Curtin as two divorced mothers who decide to live together in the same home.
Kate & Allie
20. What is the name of the pizza delivery company founded by John Schnatter?
Papa John’s
21. Who was the President in 1984?
Ronald Reagan (January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989)
22. On TV, according to the theme song, who was in charge “of our days and our nights”?
HINT: and “our wrongs and our rights.”
Charles, from Charles in Charge
23. What was the name of Bruce Springsteen’s 7th album?
Born in the U.S.A.
24. Springsteen’s biggest hit peaked at #2 on the Billboard charts. What was it?
Dancing In The Dark
25. Prince’s 6th album came out on 1984. What was it called?
Purple Rain
26. Purple Rain produced two number-one hits. You get one point for each you can name.
When Doves Cry and Let’s Go Crazy
27. Who are the “good guy” Transformers?
Autobots, led by Optimus Prime
28. Who are the “bad guy” Transformers?
Decepticons, led by Megatron
29. What primetime television show featured Clair, Cliff, Denise, Sondra, Theodore, and Rudy?
HINT: Huxtable
The Cosby Show
30. Who’s hair caught fire while recording a commercial for Pepsi?
Michael Jackson
31. Name the computer listed in the Guinness World Records as the highest-selling single-computer model of all time.
Commodore 64
32. Who were the original four Ghostbusters?
HELP: First names will do
Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz, Egon Spengler, and Winston Zeddemore
33. In 1984, the U.S. Army gave a carton character an honorable discharge in honor of his military service for appearances in WWII cartoons. Name that character.
HINT: He’s a Disney castmember
Donald Duck
34. This 1984 film, starring Robert Redford, was loosely based on the shooting incident and subsequent comeback of Philadelphia Phillies player Eddie Waitkus. Name that film.
The Natural
35. Who was NOT born in 1984?
Paris Hilton, America Ferrera, Olivia Wilde, or Mark Zuckerberg
Paris Hilton (born February 17, 1981)
36. This Ron Howard film involves a young man who falls in love with a mysterious woman who is secretly a mermaid. Name it.
Splash
37. Played by Daryl Hannah, what was the mermaid’s chosen name?
Madison
38. Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous was a program hosted by whom?
Robin Leach (later with Shari Belafonte)
39. Who did Republican President Ronald Reagan defeat in the 1984 Presidential election?
Former Vice President Walter Mondale
40. What was the price of a first-class postage stamp in 1984?
20 cents
41. What was the name of the IBM PC-compatible home computer systems produced by the Tandy Corporation for sale in its Radio Shack stores in 1983?
Tandy 1000
42. This romantic comedy (and adventure) film featured Michael Douglas, Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito. Name that film.
Romancing the Stone
43. Name the Autobiography, the best-selling non-fiction book of 1984.
Iacocca by Lee Iacocca and William Novak
44. Who was the original mogwai in Gremlins?
Gizmo (Stripe was the primary antagonist)
45. You get one point for each thing you should NOT do with a Mogwai.
1. do not expose the creature to light, especially sunlight, which will kill it
2. do not let it come in contact with water;
3. above all, never feed it after midnight
46. Gremlins and Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom are responsible for an addition to the MPAA movie rating system. What did they cause?
The PG-13 rating
47. What was the first major film to get the PG-13 rating?
Red Dawn
48. Name the actor who portrayed the 6th Doctor on Doctor Who.
Colin Baker.
49. What was Duran Duran’s first number-one single in the US?
The Reflex
50. Name the Space Shuttle that landed the first shuttle at the Kennedy Space Center.
Challenger
51. Who is the main protagonist of the Dragon Ball manga series created by Akira Toriyama?
Goku
52. Although this show only lasted 13 episodes on NBC, it was Jim Carrey’s first lead role in a Hollywood production. Name that show.
The Duck Factory
53. This Saturday morning cartoon featured Nanny watching over Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Scooter, Skeeter, Rowlf the Dog, and Gonzo. Name that show.
Muppet Babies
54. This film tells the story of Ren McCormack, a teenager from Chicago who moves to a small town that bans dancing. Name the film.
Footloose.
55. Who played the role of Ren McCormack in Footloose?
Kevin Bacon
56. Who played the role of Rev. Shaw Moore in Footloose?
John Lithgow
57. This 12-issue Marvel comic book series was tied with a similarly-named toy line from Mattel and a role-playing game from TSR. What was it called?
Marvel Super Heroes Secret Wars (aka Secret Wars)
58. Name the hit coming-of-age teen comedy film starring Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall.
HINT: It launched all of their careers. Happy Birthday.
16 Candles
59. What film was John Hughes’ directorial debut?
16 Candles
60. This television sitcom featured characters like Harry T. Stone, Bull Shannon and Dan Fielding. Name that show.
Night Court
61. What team won the Super Bowl in 1984?
Los Angeles Raiders
62. This daytime soap opera revolved around the eventful lives of the wealthy Capwell family in California. Name it.
Santa Barbara.
63. The fictitious movie AI Skynet created The Terminator, but who created Skynet?
Cyberdyne Systems (under the direction of Dr. Miles Dyson)
64. In this 1984 cult sci-fi classic film, Yoyodyne Propulsion Systems in New Jersey caused havoc, thanks to Dr. Emilio Lizardo.
Bonus point for the whole name
Buckaroo Bonzai (The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the 8th Dimension)
65. Although he never earned it, who coined the phrase EGOT, an acronym for winning the Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards.
Philip Michael Thomas
66. Who famously said, “You like me… right now… you like me!” at the Oscars?
Sally Field
67. Who introduced the phrase “Shrimp on the Barbie”?
Paul Hogan via the Australian Tourism Commission
68. This 1984 film featured characters like Lewis Skolnik, Booger Dawson, Gilbert Lowe, and Lamar Latrelle. Name that film
Revenge of the Nerds
69. Name the charity recording to raise money to combat the famine in Ethiopia.
Do They Know It’s Christmas?
70. This show featured Angela Lansbury as a mystery writer and amateur detective. Name the show and her character.
Murder, She Wrote (Jessica Fletcher)
71. Who was the Pope in 1984?
John Paul II (October 16, 1978 – April 2, 2005)
72. Name the supernatural slasher film written and directed by Wes Craven and starring Robert Englund.
A Nightmare on Elm Street
73. A Nightmare on Elm Street included the feature film debut of a 1990s and 2000s film star. Name that actor.
HINT: He later played a popular pirate
Johnny Depp
74. Name the actor in the title role of Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer.
Stacey Keach
75. Mike Hammer’s title theme was an old jazz classic written in 1939. What was it?
Harlem Nocturne
76. Who were the Stanley Cup Champions in 1984?
Edmonton Oilers
77. A World’s Fair was held in New Orleans. What was it called?
The 1984 Louisiana World Exposition (aka Expo 84, over 7 million people attended)
78. Who was the Vice-President in 1984?
George H. W. Bush (January 20, 1981 – January 20, 1989)
79. Michael Jackson’s Thriller album had two songs reaching number one. Name them.
Billie Jean and Beat It
80. Who was the biggest musical artist of 1984?
Prince and the Revolution
81. What did Clara Peller ask for Wendy’s?
“Where’s the beef?”
82. Who won the World Series in 1984?
Detroit Tigers
83. Name the film that originated the phrase “I reject your reality and substitute my own.”
The Dungeonmaster
84. Who was the leader of the Dinobots?
Grimlock
Trivia Team Bonus Questions:
1. Transformers leader Optimus Prime had another name when he was younger. What was it?
Orion Pax
2. Reed Richards is the leader of the Fantastic Four. Who is Reed’s father?
Nathaniel Richards
3. Name the pair who hosted the first MTV Video Music Awards at New York City’s Radio City Music Hall. You get one point for each, which you can name.
Dan Aykroyd and Bette Midler
4. Who was the first American woman to perform a space walk?
Kathryn D. Sullivan
5. Mike Hammer’s TV title theme was an old jazz classic written in 1939. What was it?
Harlem Nocturne
6. Name the last European country to grant women the right to vote.
Liechtenstein
7. Who is the superhero from Tromaville?
The Toxic Avenger
8. Name the device that allows an object to pass through solid matter in Buckaroo Banzai.
oscillation over thruster
9. What was the commercial name that only aired once from Apple Computer during Super Bowl XVII?
1984
10. What was the name of the Chicago Morning Show that eventually kicked off Oprah’s career?
A.M. Chicago
