Can You Name These '80s Children's Movies in Less Than 7 Minutes?

By: Khadija Leon
Estimated Completion Time
5 min
Can You Name These '80s Children's Movies in Less Than 7 Minutes?
Image: Flashpop/DigitalVision/GettyImages

About This Quiz

Movies for children and young adults were huge in the '80s and have only grown since then. A decade known for funky hairstyles and even crazier clothing (and antics) saw movie directors become increasingly experimental. And therefore, we were introduced to some characters that we never saw before, all of which made for a decade of epic films; we're talking flying, time-traveling cars, mysterious aliens, ghosts and lightsabers. And because we like our fair share of blasts from the past, we're going to go back about 35 years to relive some of the movies that wowed everyone during the '80s. 

So we'll show you some screenshots of these iconic movies. They're sure to include, but aren't limited to the likes of "The Dark Crystal," "Cloak and Dagger," "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids," "Back to the Future" and "The Goonies." If you remember even half of these films and the characters who starred in them, you have a shot at acing this quiz. So if you'd like to go way back, even to even prompt a movie marathon, let's go ahead and get started on this quiz. 

The Goonies
‎Amblin Entertainment
One of these movies was about a band of children from Astoria, Oregon. What was its name?
The Breakfast Club
The Goonies
Steel Magnolias
Valley Girl
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Goonies" is a 1985 adventure comedy film about a band of children who live in the “Goon Docks” area of Astoria, Oregon. They try to save their homes from demolition by searching for the long-lost fortune of the pirate One-Eyed Willy.

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Ernest Saves Christmas
Disney's Hollywood Studios
The movie shown here follows a man on his search to find a replacement for Santa. What is it called?
Ghostbusters
Cease Fire
Two of a Kind
Ernest Saves Christmas
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Ernest Saves Christmas" is 1988 Christmas comedy movie which starred actor Jim Varney as Ernest P. Worrell. It follows the character as he helps to find a replacement for Santa Claus, whose years or riding the sleigh have caught up with him.

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A Christmas Story
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents) Christmas Tree Films (uncredited)
What is the name of the movie which was centered around Ralphie Parker?
A Christmas Story
Poltergeist
Friday the 13th
Permanent Record
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"A Christmas Story" is a Christmas comedy which was based on elements from books by Jean Shepherd. It tells the story of little 9-year-old Ralphie Parker, who wanted a BB gun for Christmas. His requests were denied by his teacher, mother, and department store, but his father buys him the toy.

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The Land Before Time
Universal Pictures
Which of these movies is about a group of young dinosaurs?
The Land Before Time
The Terminator
Secret Admirer
Friday the 13th
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Land Before Time" is a 1988 animated drama film which featured executive producers like Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. The movie follows a group of dinosaurs; Little Foot, Cera, Ducky, Petrie, and Spike in the search for the Great Valley.

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Back to the Future
Universal Pictures
This movie follows a character named Marty McFly and a DeLorean car. What is it called?
Raiders of the Lost Ark
Possession​
Tootsie
Back to the Future
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Back to the Future" is a 1985 science fiction film which stars Michael J. Fox as the teenager Marty McFly, who accidentally travels back to 1955 using Dr. Emmett Brown’s time-traveling DeLorean. While there, he meets the people who will become his parents and accidentally becomes his mother’s love interest.

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Ghostbusters
Columbia Pictures Corporation
This movie is about a group of parapsychologists. What is its name?
Die Hard
Xanadu
Blind Chance
Ghostbusters
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Ghostbusters" is a 1984 supernatural comedy film which stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Ernie Hudson and Harold Ramis as four parapsychologists who start a ghost-catching business in New York City. The movie was remade in 2016 with an all-female cast.

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The Little Mermaid
Walt Disney Feature Animation
What is the name of the movie which was based on a Hans Christian Andersen novel?
The Little Mermaid​
Blade Runner
The Abyss
The Thing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Little Mermaid" is a 1989 animated musical Disney film which was based on a Danish fairy tale by the author Hans Christian Andersen. It follows the life of a little mermaid named Ariel who has big dreams of becoming a human and walking on land.

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Little Monsters
Davis Entertainment Licht/Mueller Film Corporation Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) Vestron Pictures
What is the name of the movie which stars Howie Mandel and Fred Savage?
Top Gun
Little Monsters
The Killer
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Little Monsters" is a 1989 black comedy film which starred actors Howie Mandel and Fred Savage, and tells the story of a boy who becomes friends with a monster and discovers a secret world of monsters, who sneak into the bedrooms of children to play pranks on them.

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Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Walt Disney Pictures Silver Screen Partners III Doric Productions
In this movie, one of the characters​ threw his children into the trash. What was it called?
The Thing
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
The Terminator
Die Hard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Honey, I Shrunk the Kids" is a 1989 science fiction film about an inventor who accidentally shrinks his children as well as his neighbors’ children, then accidentally throws them into the trash. The children must now find their way home while going through different obstacles.

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Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
Warner Bros. (presents) Aspen Film Society
This movie is about a man's search for his stolen bike. What is it called?
Scarface
Once Upon a Time in America
Black Widow
Pee-Wee's Big Adventure
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Pee-wee’s Big Adventure" is a 1985 adventure comedy film which features Paul Reubens as Pee-wee Herman on a nationwide search for his stolen bike. The movie’s script was created soon after the success of The Pee-wee Herman Show.

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The Adventures of Milo and Otis
Fujisankei; Fuji Television Network
Which of these movies is named after a tabby cat and a pug?
The Adventures of Milo and Otis
The Princess Bride
Less Than Zero
Dead Poet Society
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Adventures of Milo and Otis" is a 1986 adventure comedy film about two animals, Milo the tabby cat and Otis the pug, who always seem to find themselves in trouble, but also on their own.

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An American Tail
Universal Pictures U-Drive Productions Sullivan Studios Amblin Entertainment Don Bluth Productions
What is the name of the movie about mice emigrating from ​Ukraine to the US?
Sixteen Candles
St. Elmo's Fire
Aliens
An American​ Tail
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"An American Tail" is a 1986 animated musical film which tells the story of a mouse named Fievel Mousekewitz and his family who emigrated from Ukraine to the United States for their freedom. He later gets lost and must find his way back to his family.

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Harry and the Hendersons
Amblin Entertainment DreamWorks Universal Pictures
In this movie, a family from Seattle accidentally hits Bigfoot with their car. What is its name?
Stand by Me
Who's Thant Girl
Harry and the Hendersons
Fanny and Alexander
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Harry and the Hendersons" is a 1987 fantasy comedy film about a family from Seattle who encounters the legendary creature Bigfoot after accidentally hitting him with the family’s Ford Country Squire. They decide to take him home and later name him Harry.

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All Dogs Go to Heaven
Goldcrest Films International Nickelodeon Movies Sullivan Bluth Studios
Which of these movies is about a German shepherd named Charlie?
Who Framed Roger Rabbit?
Can't Buy Me Love
All Dogs Go to Heaven
Brazil
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"All Dogs Go to Heaven" is a 1989 animated musical fantasy film about a German shepherd named Charlie who is murdered by his former friend Carface. After being sent to heaven, he returns to Earth and teams up with Itchy and an orphan named Anne-Marie and teaches them the importance of friendship.

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Labyrinth
Henson Associates
Which of the movies listed below stars David Bowie and Jennifer​ Connelly?
Aliens
Night of the Comet
Labyrinth
The Sacrifice
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Labyrinth" is a 1986 musical fantasy movie about a girl named Sarah who is given a few hours to solve a labyrinth in order to save her brother, who she wished away. The movie stars David Bowie, Jennifer Connelly and Toby Froud as its main cast.

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The Secret of NIMH
Aurora Don Bluth Productions Mrs. Brisby Ltd. Don Bluth Films Nickelodeon Animation Studios Nickelodeon Movies
Which of these movies is based on a 1971 children's novel?
Raging Bull
The Right Stuff
The Secret of NIMH
Deadly Friend
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Secret of NIMH" is a 1982 animated dark fantasy film which was based on the 1971 children’s novel “Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH.” It follows the story of a field mouse who in a desperate attempt to save her son asks for help from a colony of rats but learns that her husband has a secret connection with them.

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The Fox and the Hound
Walt Disney Productions
Which of these movies is based on a Daniel P. Mannix novel with the same name?
The Fox and the Hound
Heathers
Amadeus
The Night Before
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Fox and the Hound" is a 1981 animated drama film which was loosely based on a Daniel P. Mannix novel with the same name. It tells the story of the friendship between a red fox and a hound dog and their struggle to preserve it as their true instincts emerge.

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Annie
Columbia Pictures Corporation
In which of these movies does an orphan​ get adopted by the richest man in America?
Dirty Dancing
Annie
Last Exit to Brooklyn
The Shining
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Annie" is a 1982 musical comedy film which was based on the Little Orphan Annie comic strips by Harold Gray. The film, which is set during the Great Depression, follows Annie the orphan, who is taken in by the richest man in America, Oliver Warbucks.

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Flight of the Navigator
Walt Disney Pictures
Which of these movies was about a boy who was abducted by an alien spaceship?
The Blues Brothers
Flight of the Navigator
Blue Velvet
The Purple Rose of Cairo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Flight of the Navigator" is a 1986 science fiction adventure film about a 12-year-old boy named David Freeman (played by actor Joey Crammer), who is abducted by an alien spaceship and is taken into the future.

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Short Circuit
TriStar Pictures (presents) (as Tri-Star Pictures) Producers Sales Organization (PSO) (presents) (as PSO) Turman-Foster Company
This movie is about a military robot gaining human intelligence after being struck by lightning​. What is it called?
Blue Velvet
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Gotcha!
Short Circuit
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Short Circuit" is a 1986 science fiction film about an experimental military robot which is struck by lightning and gains human-like intelligence because of it. The film features actors including Ally Sheedy, Fisher Stevens and Steve Guttenberg.

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The Return of Oz
Oz Productions Ltd.
Which of these movies catches back up with Dorothy and​ Toto?
A Nightmare on Elm Street
The Vanishing
Return to Oz
Nomads
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Return to Oz" is a 1985 fantasy film which is based on the Oz novels by L. Frank Baum. It revolved around Dorothy who returns to the Land of Oz where she discovers that the inhabitants are threatened by an evil king who lives in the neighboring mountains.

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The Dark Crystal
Incorporated Television Company (ITC) (presents) (as ITC Entertainment) Jim Henson Productions Henson Organisation (as Henson Organisation Ltd.)
What's the name of the movie about an elf-like creature trying to restore​ balance to his world?
Just the Way You Are
Platoon
The Dark Crystal
A Short Film About Love
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Dark Crystal" is a 1982 fantasy adventure film about a Gefling (an elf-like creature), named Jen who is on a mission to restore balance to his world by returning the missing part of the broken gem known as the lost shard.

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Oliver & Company
Walt Disney Feature Animation Silver Screen Partners III (in association with) Walt Disney Pictures
Which of these movies is a spin of the classic Charles Dickens tale, "Oliver Twist?"
A Christmas Story
Fire with Fire
Caddyshack
Oliver & Company
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Oliver & Company" is a 1988 animated musical Disney film which is based on the Charles Dickens tale, "Oliver Twist." In the movie, Oliver is a homeless kitten who joins up with a gang of dogs in order to survive the streets of New York City.

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The Boy Who Could Fly
Lorimar Productions Twentieth Century Fox
What is the name of the of the movie about a girl who moved to a new neighborhood after losing her father?
The Boy Who Could Fly
Return of the Jedi
Project X
The Elephant Man
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Boy Who Could Fly" is a 1986 fantasy film about a 14-year-old girl who moves to a new neighborhood after the death of her father. She later becomes friends with her autistic neighbor who helps her deal with the loss that she has suffered.

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The Black Cauldron
Walt Disney Pictures Silver Screen Partners II (in association with)
Which of the following movies is loosely based on "The Chronicles of Prydain" by Lloyd Alexander?
When Harry Met Sally
Prom Night
Ordinary People
The Black Cauldron
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Black Cauldron" is a 1985 animated adventure film which is loosely based on the first two books from "The Chronicles of Prydain" by Lloyd Alexander. It follows the evil Horned King who is on a mission to secure an ancient magical cauldron which will help him conquer the world.

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The Brave Little Toaster
Hyperion Pictures The Kushner-Locke Company Walt Disney Pictures (support) (uncredited)
What is the name of the animated film where household items came to life?
The Brave Little Toaster
Predator
Vamp
Do the Right Thing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Brave Little Toaster" is a 1987 animated comedy which is based on the novel of the same name by Thomas Disch. The movie is set in a world where household items and electronics come to life when humans are not present. It follows the toaster and his friends on a mission to find their owner.

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Big
American Entertainment Partners II L.P. (produced in association with) Gracie Films Twentieth Century Fox
Which of these movies did Tom Hanks star in?
The Untouchables
The Evil Dead
Big
The Goonies
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Big" is a 1988 fantasy comedy film which stars Tom Hanks as Josh Baskin, a 12-year-old boy who after being too short for a carnival ride, wishes “to be big” by putting a coin into a fortune telling machine called “Zoltar.” He is then turned into an adult overnight.

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The Last Starfighter
Lorimar Film Entertainment (as A Lorimar Presentation) Universal Pictures (as A Universal/Lorimar Production)
What is the name of the space opera about Alex Rogers?
Mad Max 2
The Last Starfighter
Big
Fatal Attraction
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Last Starfighter" is a 1984 space opera film which tells the story of teenager Alex Rogers, played by the actor Lance Guest, who is recruited by an alien defense force to fight an ongoing interstellar war between the Rylan Star League and the Ko-Dan Empire.

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E.T. the Extraterrestrial
Universal Pictures
This movie was about an alien stuck on planet Earth. What was its title?
E.T. the Extraterrestrial
The Shining
Black Rainbow
Desperately Seeking Susan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"E.T. the Extraterrestrial" is a 1982 science fiction film about a little boy named Elliot who befriends an extraterrestrial being who he named E.T. After the alien reveals that he is stuck on planet Earth, Elliot and his friend help him to return home and hide him from the government.

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Ernest Goes to Camp
Emshell Producers Silver Screen Partners III Touchstone Pictures
In which of these movies did actor Jim Varney star as a handyman​ at summer camp?
Batman
Big
Beetlejuice
Ernest Goes to Camp
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Ernest Goes to Camp" is a 1987 comedy film starring actor Jim Varney as Ernest P. Worrell. In this movie, he works as the summer camp’s handyman but has dreams of becoming a guidance counselor all the while trying to prevent it from closing down.

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Mac and Me
Mac and Me Joint Venture
In which of these movies does an alien escape captivity from NASA agents?
Mac and Me
Airplane
This is Spinal Tap
Grease 2
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Mac and Me" is a 1988 science fiction film centered around a character named MAC (Mysterious Alien Creature) who escapes being held by NASA agents and befriends a wheelchair-bound young boy named Eric Cruise.

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SpaceCamp
Twentieth Century Fox
In this movie, a group of teens learns about NASA's space program. What is it called?
Full Metal Jacket
The Fan
SpaceCamp
Come and See
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"SpaceCamp" is a 1986 space adventure film which was inspired by the real U.S. Space Camp in Alabama. Starring Tate Donovan, Joaquin Phoenix and Kate Capshaw, the movie follows a group of teens who go to the Kennedy Space Center to learn about the NASA space program.

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Cloak and Dagger
Universal Pictures
What is the name of the movie centered around a young boy and his imaginary friend?
An American Werewolf in Paris
Cloak & Dagger
In a Shallow Grave
Platoon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Cloak & Dagger" is a 1984 spy adventure film which is based on the short story “The Boy Cried Murder” by Cornell Woolrich. It follows a young boy and his imaginary friend on the run from spies who want a game cartridge containing military secrets.

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WarGames
United Artists
What is the name of the movie which stars John Wood, Matthew Broderick and Dabney Coleman?
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Extremities
WarGames
The New Kid
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Wargames" is a 1983 science fiction film which stars actors Matthew Broderick, Dabney Coleman and John Wood. It follows a young hacker, played by Broderick, who accesses a US military supercomputer which is programmed to predict the outcomes of nuclear wars.

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Girls Just Want to Have Fun
New World Pictures
Which of these movies stars Sarah Jessica Parker and Shannen Doherty?
Fast Times at Ridgemont High
Girls Just Want to Have Fun
When the Wind Blows
The Last American Virgin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Girls Just Want to Have Fun" is a 1985 romantic comedy film which starred Sarah Jessica Parker, Morgan Woodward and Shannen Doherty. It follows an Army brat named Janey who is transferred to Chicago, the home of her favorite dance show, which she later auditions for.

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Explorers
Paramount Pictures
Which of these '80s movies stars Ethan Hawke and River Phoenix?
The Goonies
Explorers
Longtime Companion
Cinema Paradiso
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Explorers" is a 1985 science fiction film which stars River Phoenix, Ethan Hawke, and Jason Presson as a group of teen boys who build a spacecraft in order to explore outer space. They then take off into space where they encounter extraterrestrial life.

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Adventures in Babysitting
Touchstone Pictures (presents) Silver Screen Partners III (in association with)
In which of these movies did Keith Coogan, Anthony Rapp and Elisabeth Shue star in?
Risky Business
Big Trouble in Little China
Loverboy
Adventures in Babysitting
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Adventures in Babysitting" is a 1987 comedy film which stars actors Elisabeth Shue, Keith Coogan and Anthony Rapp. It follows Chris, who is devastated after her boyfriend forgets their anniversary date and is convinced to babysit some children.

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The NeverEnding Story
Warner Bros.
Which of these movies was based on a novel by Michael Ende with the same name?
Back to the Future
The Blob
The NeverEnding Story
Angel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The NeverEnding Story" is a 1984 fantasy film which was based on a novel with the same name by Michael Ende. It tells the story of a young boy who reads a magical book about a young warrior who must stop a dark force known as the Nothing from engulfing the world.

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The Wizard
Carolco Pictures Finnegan/Pinchuk Productions Pipeline Productions Universal Pictures
Which of these movies did Christian Slater, Toby Maguire and Fred Savage act in?
E.T. the Extraterrestrial
Chances Are
Das Boot
The Wizard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Wizard" is a 1989 family film which starred Christian Slater, Fred Savage and Toby Maguire as three children who travel to California, the youngest of whom has a gift for playing video games.

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The Karate Kid
Columbia Pictures Corporation (presents) (as Columbia Pictures) Delphi II Productions (as Delphi Productions II) Jerry Weintraub Productions (uncredited)
Which of these movies starred William Zabka and Pat Morita?
Beverly Hills Cops
Student Bodies
Raging Bull
The Karate Kid
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Karate Kid" is a 1984 martial arts drama film which stars William Zabka, Ralph Macchio and Pat Morita. It tells the story of a teen who moves across the coast with his mother who is tormented by some of the kids at his new school. He then learns martial arts from the handyman living at the apartment.

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