1980s Headlines
Pop Culture
At The Movies
Toys & Tech
World Stage
100

On January 28, 1986, this space shuttle exploded 73 seconds after launch.

Challenger

100

On August 1st, 1981, this cable network launched with a video of a rocket taking off.

MTV

100

This 1982 Spielberg film featured a Reese's loving alien who just wanted to "phone home."

E.T.

100

This 3D puzzle cube from Hungary became a worldwide obsession in 1980.

Rubik's Cube

100

This 1989 event saw the physical and symbolic end of the "Iron Curtain" in Germany.

Berlin Wall

200

This 1980 "Revolution" saw a former actor win the U.S Presidency in a landslide.

Reagan Revolution

200
Michael Jackson's 1982 album that became the best-selling record of all time.

Thriller

200

In 1985, Marty McFly traveled back to 1955 in a DeLorean in this hit film.

Back to the Future

200

In 1989, Nintendo released this handheld system, bundled with the game Tetris.

Game Boy

200

In 1981, the Prince of Wales married this woman in a "fairytale" televised wedding.

Princess Diana

300

First identified in 1981, this global health crisis spurred massive civil rights activism.

HIV/AIDS

300

The U.S Olympic hockey team pulled off a "Miracle on Ice" against this nation.

Soviet Union

300

This 1986 film starred Tom Cruise as a fighter pilot named Maverick

Top Gun

300

Apple's 1984 "friendly" computer featured a mouse and a desktop interface

Macintosh

300

This Soviet leader introduced Glasnost and Perestroika in the mid-80s

Mikhail Gorbachev

400

This 1986 scandal involved secret weapon sales to Iran to fund Nicaraguan rebels.

Iran-Contra

400

This 1985 dual-continent concert was organized to raise funds for famine relief

Live Aid

400

"Nobody puts Baby in a corner" is a famous line from this 1987 dance movie.

Dirty Dancing

400

Sony revolutionized music on-the-go with this portable cassette player

Walkman

400

In 1982, the UK and Argentina fought a 10-week war over these islands

Falkland Islands

500

In 1989, this oil tanker caused a massive environmental disaster in Alaska.

Exxon Valdez

500

Millions turned in to the TV show Dallas in 1980 to find out "Who shot" this man.

J.R Ewing

500

This 1988 action film set in Nakatomi Plaza is often debated as a "Christmas movie"

Die Hard

500

This popular 80s doll line came with "adoption papers" and a unique name.

Cabbage Patch Kids

500

This 1986 nuclear accident in the Soviet Union became the worst in history.

Chernobyl