80s Music
This artist's album Thriller became the best-selling album of all time
Micheal Jackson
This movie features a ghost-catching team
Ghostbusters
This 1986 disaster raised global concerns about nuclear safety after a reactor explosion in the Soviet Union
Chernobyl
Originally designed to keep dancers' muscles warm, these knitted leg coverings became an essential 80s fitness fashion accessory
Leg warmers
This music television channel that shaped pop culture started in 1981
MTV
This pop star’s 1989 album Like a Prayer caused controversy due to religious imagery in its title track video
Madonna
This movie includes teenage characters in Saturday detention
The Breakfast Club
This federal policy shift in the 80s, often tied to Reagan, was focused on reducing taxes and government spending
Reaganomics
This accessory led to the appearance of exaggerated shoulders in jackets and dresses
Shoulder pads
This arcade game featuring a yellow character eating dots became iconic in the 80s
Pac-Man
This 80s band sang “Take On Me"
a-ha
This movie features a martial arts student learning from “Mr. Miyagi”
The Karate Kid
This major political scandal involved secret U.S. arms sales to Iran and funding rebels in Nicaragua
Iran-Contra Affair
This fashion trend, featuring bright colors, was extremely popular in 80s clothing
Neon
This format was used to watch movies at home before DVDs
VHS Tapes
MTV launched in this year
1981
This movie features a time-traveling DeLorean
Back to the Future
This controversial U.S. policy increased arrests and sentencing for drug-related crimes
War on Drugs
This intensive chemical washing process gave 1980s jeans a faded, high-contrast, and mottled appearance
Acid wash
This early handheld gaming device, released in 1989, allowed players to swap cartridges and became a major portable gaming milestone
Nintendo Game Boy
This 1984 song by Bruce Springsteen, often misunderstood as patriotic, actually critiques the treatment of Vietnam War veterans
Born in the U.S.A.
This sci-fi movie features the quote “I’ll be back”
Terminator
This Supreme Court era saw major debates over conservative vs. liberal interpretations of the Constitution during the 80s
Rehnquist Court
This 80s accessory, often made of plastic and worn stacked on the arms, became a major part of teen fashion trends
Jelly bracelets
This 80s storage medium used magnetic tape and was commonly used for backing up personal computers before hard drives became affordable
Floppy disk