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About This Quiz
When it comes to the 1980s, there was no shortage of excess. The fashions were big and bold: Almost every coat had shoulder pads (which could be a bear to remove for those of us with broad shoulders), legwarmers were a must have when even when it wasn't cold out, and to make things bolder, neon and pastel colors were the perfect color palette for your wardrobe. In beauty, pieces of cardboard, curling irons and gallons of hairspray were employed to help get hair to stand up on end, giving the perfect bangs.Â
It was no different with the movies of the 1980s. The Star Wars trilogy was in full swing, giving us reasons to hate the Empire early on in the decade with "Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back." Contrary to the typical American film, this film ended with the bad guys conquering all, giving audiences more to talk about and hoping that somehow the Jedis would bring the force with them with the next installation. Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan became the sweet duo that everyone wanted to see fall in love over and over again, starting with "Sleepless in Seattle."
Do you think you're an expert on all things '80s? If so, grab some popcorn and take a see if you can guess the flick!
"Back to the Future"
"Short Circuit"
"Sleepless in Seattle"
"Rain Man"
Dustin Hoffman brought home an Academy Award for his portrayal of Raymond Babbitt, who was left with a fortune from his father. In addition to this, "Rain Man" won three additional awards including the coveted Best Picture category.
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"Dr. Who: The Movie"
"Back to the Future"
"Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure"
This is the first brush with alternate realities being the subject matter for Keanu Reeves. He was also the computer programmer Neo, who popped a red pill and saw the truth in "The Matrix."
"Looper"
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"Love at First Bite"
"Dracula"
"The Lost Boys"
In addition to Jason Patric and the two Coreys, this movie featured Alex Winter. Don't recognize the name? He was also in "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure," playing the less-vocal Bill. Excellent!
"Fright Night"
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"Risky Business"
"Legend"
"Top Gun"
Staying on the charts for 21 weeks, Kenny Loggins's "Danger Zone" flew as high as "Top Gun," the film that it was featured in. It reached its peak at number two on the charts on June 26, 1986, making it a summer smash to be enjoyed while catching some rays.
"Days of Thunder"
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"Back to the Future"
Christopher Lloyd has always been known to play some off-the-wall characters. In addition to playing Doc Brown in "Back to the Future," he was also is known for his portrayal of Reverend Jim Ignatowski on the television show "Taxi."
"Back to the Future II"
"Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey"
"Back to the Future III"
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"Legend"
"The Neverending Story"
"The Neverending Story" transported audiences to the Land of Make Believe in 1984. As a PG-rated feature, it was supposed to be easy to understand with its young audience, however with its complex storytelling, it may have left some kids lost. On top of that, one of the most devastating cinematic shots was captured: In the Swamp of Sorrows, Atreyu abandoned his horse, Artax to drown in the quicksand.
"The Princess Bride"
"The Dark Crystal"
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"Vacation"
"Ferris Bueller's Day Off"
Featuring many of the Chicago landmarks, director John Hughes paid homage to his adopted hometown. And it couldn't be more obvious than in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." Wrigley Field, home of the baseball team the Chicago Cubs, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Willis Tower (which at the time was known as the Sears Tower) are all represented.
"Midnight Run"
"Driving Miss Daisy"
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"Goonies"
"Jaws"
"C.H.U.D."
"Gremlins"
When it comes to mogwai ownership, these three rules must be followed: no food after midnight, no water and no exposure to direct sunlight. Unfortunately, Billy broke two of these rules, ending up with multiple mogwais (a result of drinking water), and a legion of nasty gremlins (a result of eating fried chicken after midnight).
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"Transformers: The Last Knight"
"The Transformers: The Movie"
Based on a popular toy line and cartoon, it would only seem natural that it would a movie would follow. "The Transformers: The Movie" had some solid vocal talent as well; one of which was Orson Welles, the voice behind "The War of the Worlds," a radio broadcast that sent the nation into a panicked frenzy over a fictitious alien invasion.
"Transformers: Dark of the Moon"
"Transformers: Age of Extinction"
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"Hook"
"Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End"
"Treasure Island"
"The Goonies"
After "The Goonies," Sean Astin went to star in the football classic "Rudy" as well as returning to his 1980s roots in the second season of Netflix's "Stranger Things." Unlike the parents in the first season of "Stranger Things," Astin's character, Bob Newby, pays attention to Will's needs and helps him get the results he requires.
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"The Neverending Story"
"The Princess Bride"
For the past few years, Robin Wright took on a role that was the exact opposite of the sweet Princess Buttercup. Playing Claire Underwood, Wright became an asset to her husband's presidency in "House of Cards." She proved to be a political force not to be messed with as she managed negotiating with prisoners of war and navigating the choppy waters that are American politics.
"Legend"
"The Dark Crystal"
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"Road House"
"The Karate Kid"
You may recognize Pat Morita, who played the tough but beloved sensei in "The Karate Kid," from another one of his roles. He played Arnold, the owner of the drive-in the Fonz and Richie Cunningham frequented in "Happy Days".
"Dirty Dancing"
"Lone Wolf McCade"
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"Magnolia"
"War of the Roses"
"Broken Flowers"
"Steel Magnolias"
Before "Steel Magnolias," Julia Roberts portrayed Daisy in "Mystic Pizza." This film revolved around three teens who work at a pizza parlor in Mystic, Connecticut. It explores their different life paths and how the pizza parlor seemed to unite them.
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"Flashdance"
"Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo"
"Dirty Dancing"
It shouldn't be a surprise that the soundtrack from "Dirty Dancing" was a good listen. In addition to Jennifer Warnes's and Bill Melody's "Time of My Life," songs by the Ronettes, The Four Seasons, Eric Carmen, and The Shirelles were featured.
"Footloose"
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"Pretty in Pink"
"Ferris Bueller's Day Off"
"Sixteen Candles"
"The Breakfast Club"
One actress who was prominent in some of John Hughes's films was Molly Ringwald. She starred in three different films: "The Breakfast Club," "Sixteen Candles," and "Pretty in Pink." Today, one of her recurring roles is on the Archie-based television show "Riverdale."
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"Ghostbusters"
If you've ever wondered why there were such amazing performances from the actors in the film "Ghostbusters," look no further than the writing. Both Dan Akroyd and Harold Ramis penned this fun flick, as well as playing Drs. Raymond Stantz and Egon Spengler, respectively.
"Legend"
"Ghost"
"Poltergeist"
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"Edward Scissorhands"
"Beetlejuice"
Tim Burton's "Beetlejuice" featured a few actors who would appear in his later films. Winona Ryder would later take on the role of Kim, the romantic interest of Edward Scissorhands; Michael Keaton would don the dark knight's cowl in "Batman" and "Batman Returns"; and Catherine O'hara would later provide the vocals for Sally from the Christmas classic "A Nightmare Before Christmas."
"Night of the Demons"
"Sleepy Hollow"
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"All Dogs Go to Heaven"
If you're a fan of Burt Reynolds, rest assured that you're not alone. Sterling Archer, on the animated series "Archer," loves Burt Reynolds so much that he would often emulate some of Reynolds's best films into an aspect of his missions. Because of this, Reynolds portrayed himself in an episode much to the delight of fans of Reynolds and "Archer" alike.
"An American Tail"
"Anastasia"
"The Great Mouse Detective"
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"Agnes of God"
"Peggy Sue Got Married"
"Desperately Seeking Susan"
Think Madonna is only a singer? Well, this movie might not quite convince you otherwise ...
"The Legend of Billie Jean"
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"Breakin'"
"Footloose"
Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song category, Kenny Loggins's "Footloose" also had a successful run on the Billboard charts. "Footloose" spent 23 weeks on the charts, peaking on March 31, 1984 by taking the number one slot.
"Flashdance"
"Dirty Dancing"
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"Beetlejuice"
"Ghost"
"Poltergeist"
Heather O'Rourke, the actress who played Carol Anne Freeling, was featured in three of the Poltergeist films before passing away at the age of 12. She had congenital stenosis of the intestine, which causes a blockage in the intestine due a narrowing of her intestines. She passed away on Feb. 1, 1988.
"Ghostbusters"
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"The Neverending Story"
"The Princess Bride"
"The Dark Crystal"
"Legend"
While Tom Cruise was the star of this film, it was Tim Curry's portrayal of Darkness that captured the audience's attention. Curry, who had previously performed as Dr. Frankenfurter in "The Rocky Horror Picture Show," seems to have a knack for playing baddies: He later performed as the killer creature Pennywise in a television adaptation of Steven King's "It."
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"Conan the Destroyer"
"Masters of the Universe"
With many of the toys made in the 1980s, there was usually a film or television show to lead into toy creation. In the case of He-Man, the team marketed a comic book that would promote the story of the Eternian prince and his cronies. After the success of the toy line, a film and cartoon were created to expose children to new characters and toys.
"Conan the Barbarian"
"GI Joe"
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"Footloose"
"Dirty Dancing"
"Flashdance"
With a budget of $4M, "Flashdance" brought in $90M over budget domestically and the worldwide gross ended up bringing in over $200M. In addition to slaying it at the box office, "Flashdance" won an Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song for "What a Feeling".
"Breakin'"
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"Child's Play"
"Child's Play" isn't the only film of the '80s that had a demonic toy in it. "Poltergeist" had a super creepy jack in the box and "Puppetmaster" had a team of demonically possessed puppets, who tortured people in a hotel.
"Friday the 13th"
"Dolls"
"Puppetmaster"
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"Aliens"
"E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial"
At the age of 6, "E.T. The Extra Terrestrial" launched Drew Barrymore's career. At the age of 12, she had been to rehab and was eventually hospitalized when she was 13 to help with her drinking and drug addiction. Luckily for us, her partying days are behind her and she's giving audiences performances that are endearing and memorable.
"Mac and Me"
"Mars Attacks!"
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"Superman"
"Batman"
Michael Keaton returned to a Tim Burton set to become the caped crusader. However, he had some rather large shoes to fill. For the past 20 years, the only other actor to portray Batman was Adam West, who starred in the Batman television series.
"Supergirl"
"Batman Returns"
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"Robocop"
"I, Robot"
"The Terminator"
Even though Arnold Schwarzenegger's android was the bad guy in "The Terminator," in the second installation of the series, "Terminator 2: Judgement Day," the Terminator helps protect John Connor from the killer T-1000, an android who can shift into liquid.
"The Black Hole"
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"Driving Miss Daisy"
In addition to the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1990, "Driving Miss Daisy" won an additional three awards, one of which was the Best Actress in a Leading Role category for Jessica Tandy's performance as Daisy. This is the only Academy Award she won, however she was nominated for her performance in 1992's "Fried Green Tomatoes."
"Cocoon"
"Terms of Endearment"
"Fried Green Tomatoes"
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"The Breakfast Club"
"Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure"
"Fast Times at Ridgemont High"
When it comes to ladies, Sean Penn has great taste. He was married to Madonna from 1985 until 1989: the two of them met on the set of "Shanghai Surprise," where the two played partners ensnared in a world of drugs, sex, and smuggling. His second marriage to Robin Wright (who played Princess Buttercup in "The Princess Bride") lasted almost 10 years and was rocky at best, and ended in divorce in 2010.
"Pretty in Pink"
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"The Transformers: The Movie"
"War Games"
"Short Circuit"
Not only was Steve Guttenberg famous for his role on "Short Circuit," he was featured in a couple of franchises at the time. The first was the "3 Men and a Baby" series, where he plays Michael, an artist who lives with an architect (portrayed by Tom Selleck) and an actor (portrayed by Ted Danson). The second was the "Police Academy" series where Guttenberg plays Carey Mahoney, who leads the class of misfit officers on various adventures.
"The Terminator"
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"Halloween"
"Friday the 13th"
"Child's Play"
"A Nightmare on Elm Street"
Currently, there are nine movies featuring Freddy Krueger, however, out of them, there have only been two actors. The first is Jackie Earle Haley, who played the blade-fingered menace in the 2010 remake of "A Nightmare on Elm Street." The remaining eight films had only one actor: Robert Englund. His last appearance of Freddy was on the '80s themed sitcom "The Goldbergs."
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"Child's Play"
"Friday the 13th"
Horror movie fans often find themselves at odds with one another with one debate: Who would win in a fight, Jason Voorhees or Freddy Krueger? The answer may have presented itself in 2003's "Freddy Vs. Jason," where the two go on a killing spree and eventually face off, ending in an overall draw. This was the last full-length feature in which Robert Englund portrayed Freddy Krueger.
"A Nightmare on Elm Street"
"Poltergeist"
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"Peggy Sue Got Married"
"3 Men and a Baby"
Steve Guttenberg, Tom Selleck and Ted Danson weren't the only actors who were involved with "3 Men and a Baby." The film was directed by Leonard Nimoy, who is known for his Star Trek role, the always logical Spock.
"Look Who's Talking"
"3 Men and a Little Lady"
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"Harry and the Hendersons"
After playing patriarch George Henderson in "Harry and the Hendersons," John Lithgow went on to play another type of character surrounded by conspiracy theories: an alien. As Dr. Dick Solomon on "Third Rock from the Sun," he and his family stumbled through getting acclimated to living on Earth, making friends along the way.
"Bigfoot"
"Son of Bigfoot"
"Cry Wilderness"
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"Batman"
"Superman"
"Superman II"
At the age of 42, Christopher Reeve's career was cut short unexpectedly. After a horse riding accident in an equestrian event, Reeves suffered spinal cord damage and fractured vertebrae. He was later able to do some acting again, one of the roles being Jason Kemp, who Jimmy Stewart portrayed in "Rear Window."
"Batman Returns"
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"Pretty in Pink"
"The Breakfast Club"
"Sixteen Candles"
Starting out as an annoyance, Anthony Michael Hall played Geek, a pervert who blackmails Molly Ringwald's Sam for her panties. He later because a babysitter for Jake's soon-to-be-e-girlfriend Caroline, helping Sam and Jake hook up.
"Ferris Bueller's Day Off"
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"The Color Purple"
"Steel Magnolias"
"Terms of Endearment"
In addition to the Best Picture Academy Award, "Terms of Endearment" brought home four additional awards. Two of these awards were for acting: Shirley McClaine won the Best Actress in a Leading Role Award and Jack Nicholson won the Best Actor in a Supporting Role Award .
"Fried Green Tomatoes"
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"Halloween"
"A Nightmare on Elm Street"
"Halloween II"
One of the treats that audiences got to experience during a few of the Halloween movies were the performances of Donald Pleasence. His Dr. Loomis character never delivers a line calmly: Each line is doled out with such intensity that audiences can't help but start feeling chills.
"Friday the 13th"
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"Dangerous Minds"
"Lean on Me"
After "Lean on Me," Morgan Freeman went on to star on another educational film: the documentary "March of the Penguins." Winning the Academy Award for Best Documentary in 2006, this film utilized cameras attached to faux penguins to get up-close footage of these chilly birds.
"Fast Times at Ridgemont High"
"The Breakfast Club"
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