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What Happened In 1988?1988 Trivia: Dive Into the Pop Culture and Iconic Moments of This Electrifying Year!1988 was packed with unforgettable moments in movies, music, TV, and world events. This trivia page is your ultimate challenge—see how much you remember about this game-changing year! Whether you’re a trivia buff or a lover of all things ’80s, this quiz will test your knowledge of the highlights that made 1988 so special. Think you’ve mastered 1988? Answer questions like What animated film broke records and redefined animation? Which pop star released a chart-topping album that cemented their legacy? What TV show debuted to massive acclaim, and which Olympic event had the world glued to their screens? Here’s some bonus trivia to set the stage for your quiz:
1988 wasn’t just about entertainment but also a year of cultural shifts and historical milestones. George H.W. Bush was elected President of the United States, while NASA’s Space Shuttle program returned to flight with the launch of Discovery after the Challenger disaster. Whether you’re brushing up for a trivia challenge or taking a nostalgic trip back to one of the most dynamic years of the ‘80s, this page is packed with surprises. From blockbuster films to game-changing innovations, 1988 is a year worth revisiting. Are you ready to test your knowledge and relive the pop culture magic of 1988? Jump in now and see if you can ace this trivia! |
88 Trivia Questions For 1988 History(answers) 1. What 1998 film told the story of Raymond and Charlie Babbitt? 2. Who were the stars of Rain Man? 3. ON TV, what is Matlock’s full name? 4. What well-known children’s author published the book Matilda in 1988? 5. Who was the Pope in 1988? 6. In Beetlejuice, what is the name of the handbook given to the recently deceased? 7. Who is Garfield’s owner, known for his awkward social skills and love for his pets? 8. What does Homer Simpson say when he makes a dumb mistake? 9. Name the two headline professional wrestlers who competed on The Main Event on NBC, marking the historic return of professional wrestling to network prime-time television for the first time since 1955 – one point for each correct name. 10. Name the highest-grossing film of 1988. 11. Name the actor who portrayed Officer Tom Hanson, one of the lead characters on TV’s 21 Jump Street. 12. Name the Microsoft program used from 1987 to 2009; its core functionality includes a word processor, a spreadsheet, and a database management system. 13. Name the character, a purple and green Tyrannosaurus found on VHS before his television debut in 1992. 14. Who was Cheers’s original owner and bartender in the first season? 15. Who was the biggest musical artist of 1988? 16. Death row inmate Gary Gilmore reportedly inspired this popular tagline. Say the Phrase. 17. Nike also owns a logo called “Jumpman,” an athlete’s silhouette. Name the athlete. 18. Which actor portrayed Assistant District Attorney Dan Fielding on Night Court? 19. What TV network broadcast the Opening Ceremonies for the Winter Olympic Games from Calgary? 20. Can you name the spokestoon for Camel cigarettes, introduced in 1988? 21. Which 1988 film features a con artist duo played by Steve Martin and Michael Caine? 22. What is the name of the fictional news magazine show that Murphy Brown works for? 23. The Energizer Bunny was first created as a parody of what? 24. What groundbreaking animated Japanese film was released in 1988 and became a cult classic worldwide? 25. Who won the World Series in 1988? 26. WABC’s The Morning Show debuted its national syndication under its new title. What was it called? 27. Name the actor who played Eddie Valiant, the private detective in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. 28. Which actor joined the cast of Growing Pains in 1991 as Luke Brower, a homeless teenager taken in by the Seaver family? 29. Which future Hollywood star made a guest appearance as Carol’s boyfriend, Jeff, in the 1988 season of Growing Pains? 30. Which turtle is the leader of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? 31. Who are the Conner family’s three children introduced in the first season of Rosanne? You get one point for each, which you can name. 32. The Coca-Cola Company created this to compete with Gatorade. Name that sports drink. 33. Which iconic American retailer, known for its catalogs, filed for bankruptcy in 1988? 34. What 1988 film stars Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey as lifelong friends? 35. What was the name of the comic book publisher that originally released Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? 36. In The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, who plays the villain Vincent Ludwig? 37. Name the two Senators who participated in the 1988 vice presidential debate. 38. “Read my lips: no new taxes” was a phrase by American presidential candidate George H. W. Bush. Where did he say it? 39. Name the annual Discovery Channel event that started on July 14, 1988. 40. You get one point for each Rambo film in the franchise you can name. 41. Who directed the 1988 film Willow? 42. The Microsoft Windows 1988 release came out in two versions, Windows/286 and Windows/386, but with the same name. What was it called? 43. What was the first film broadcast on TNT, the fourth cable network owned by Turner Broadcasting? 44. What game is Jessica Rabbit accused of playing with Marvin Acme in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? 45. Who was the President in 1988? 46. What 1988 film earned Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito the most money in their careers? 47. In 1962, Topps released a series of cards called Mars Attacks! They released another set of Attack! cards in 1988. Name that card series. 48. Which Full House character has the catchphrase “How rude!”? 49. 1988’s Crocodile Dundee II was the second of two sequels for Crocodile Dundee. Name the third. 50. You can get one point for each of the two starring actors in the Crocodile Dundee trilogy. 51. How many people lived in the World in 1988? 52. How many people lived in the United States in 1988? 53. In what year is the pilot episode of The Wonder Years set? 54. This 1988 film featured Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall (also in various roles), James Earl Jones, and John Amos. Name that film. 55. What team won the Super Bowl in 1988? 56. Name the film that film received Academy Award nominations for Best Actor (Tom Hanks) and Best Original Screenplay. 57. Name the media franchise that featured Detective Sergeant Franklin “Frank” Drebin. 58. Name the actor who played Frank Drebin. 59. Who was the infamous murderer interviewed on Geraldo Rivera’s live special Murder: Live from Death Row? 60. What Oscar-winning director appeared as an Elvis Presley impersonator on The Golden Girls? 61. Name the performer who had a “contractual first right of refusal” for playing the role of John McClane in Die Hard. 62. Die Hard (1988) had four sequels. You get one point for each, which you can name. 63. Who is the mascot of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association? 64. Name the skit (and later film franchise) featuring Garth Algar and Wayne Campbell. 65. Who was the biggest solo musical artist of the 1980s? 66. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1988? 67. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1988? 68. What is the name of the Rescue Rangers‘ primary mode of transportation, an aircraft made from household items? 69. What do you call the athletic training discipline or sport in which practitioners attempt to get from one point to another in the fastest and most efficient way possible, without assisting equipment and often while performing feats of acrobatics? 70. This reggae pop song first hit the Billboard Top 40 charts in January 1984 and didn’t reach the number one spot until October 15, 1988. Name that tune, 71. What is the last name of the title character in the Nickelodeon animated TV series Hey Arnold!? 72. Lieutenant Tasha Yar is killed off in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation after an actress asked to be released from her contract. Name the actress. 73. Who was the Vice-President in 1988? 74. What was the name of the main antagonist of the 1988 action film Die Hard, portrayed by Alan Rickman? 75. Who were the NBA Champions in 1988? 76. Who was People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1988? 77. Which song by The Beach Boys, featured in the film Cocktail, became a hit single? 78. This anti-hero appeared in Web of Spider-Man #18 (September 1986) before making his first full appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #300 (May 1988). Name him. 79. Roots was a very popular multi-part mini-series that aired on ABC. What was the third installment called? 80. Who were the Stanley Cup Champions in 1988? 81. In 1988, what was the average life expectancy in the United States? 82. This comedy film included Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, and Michael Palin. What film? 83. Who owned Wanda, the fish, in the movie? 84. What was the Top-Rated TV Show in the 1987/1988 season? 85. What was the most popular portable music device in the 1980s? 86. Name the cat and mouse team in a fictional animated series featured on The Simpsons. 87. Who are the Primary Characters in The Land Before Time series? You get one point for each of the seven you can name. 88. Before being seen on cable television, this funny sci-fi show aired for the first time on KTMA-TV in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Name that program. 89. What is the name of the Toon town in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Trivia Team Bonus Questions: 1. What year is Who Framed Roger Rabbit set in? 2. Who provided the speaking voice for Jessica Rabbit? 3. What phrase often ended Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles episodes with a moral lesson? 4. What was special about the prime-time NBC broadcast at Chicago’s Wrigley Field between the Cubs and New York Mets? 5. Name the detective agency David Addison and Madolyn “Maddie” Hayes ran. 6. In The Land Before Time, what type of dinosaur is Littlefoot? 7. What was the name of the first major computer virus that affected the internet in 1988? 8. Name the wrestling program aired on TBS opposite WrestleMania IV on pay-per-view. 9. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1988? 10. Who won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Sarah Tobias? 88 Trivia Answers For 1988 History1. What 1998 film told the story of Raymond and Charlie Babbitt? 2. Who were the stars of Rain Man? 3. ON TV, what is Matlock’s full name? 4. What well-known children’s author published the book Matilda in 1988? 5. Who was the Pope in 1988? 6. In Beetlejuice, what is the name of the handbook given to the recently deceased? 7. Who is Garfield’s owner, known for his awkward social skills and love for his pets? 8. What does Homer Simpson say when he makes a dumb mistake? 9. Name the two headline professional wrestlers who competed on The Main Event on NBC, marking the historic return of professional wrestling to network prime-time television for the first time since 1955 – one point for each correct name. 10. Name the highest-grossing film of 1988. 11. Name the actor who portrayed Officer Tom Hanson, one of the lead characters on TV’s 21 Jump Street. 12. Name the Microsoft program used from 1987 to 2009; its core functionality includes a word processor, a spreadsheet, and a database management system. 13. Name the character, a purple and green Tyrannosaurus found on VHS before his television debut in 1992. 14. Who was Cheers’s original owner and bartender in the first season? 15. Who was the biggest musical artist of 1988? 16. Death row inmate Gary Gilmore reportedly inspired this popular tagline. Say the Phrase. 17. Nike also owns a logo called “Jumpman,” an athlete’s silhouette. Name the athlete. 18. Which actor portrayed Assistant District Attorney Dan Fielding on Night Court? 19. What TV network broadcast the Opening Ceremonies for the Winter Olympic Games from Calgary? 20. Can you name the spokestoon for Camel cigarettes, introduced in 1988? 21. Which 1988 film features a con artist duo played by Steve Martin and Michael Caine? 22. What is the name of the fictional news magazine show that Murphy Brown works for? 23. The Energizer Bunny was first created as a parody of what? 24. What groundbreaking animated Japanese film was released in 1988 and became a cult classic worldwide? 25. Who won the World Series in 1988? 26. WABC’s The Morning Show debuted its national syndication under its new title. What was it called? 27. Name the actor who played Eddie Valiant, the private detective in Who Framed Roger Rabbit. 28. Which actor joined the cast of Growing Pains in 1991 as Luke Brower, a homeless teenager taken in by the Seaver family? 29. Which future Hollywood star made a guest appearance as Carol’s boyfriend, Jeff, in the 1988 season of Growing Pains? 30. Which turtle is the leader of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? 31. Who are the Conner family’s three children introduced in the first season of Rosanne? You get one point for each, which you can name. 32. The Coca-Cola Company created this to compete with Gatorade. Name that sports drink. 33. Which iconic American retailer, known for its catalogs, filed for bankruptcy in 1988? 34. What 1988 film stars Bette Midler and Barbara Hershey as lifelong friends? 35. What was the name of the comic book publisher that originally released Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? 36. In The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!, who plays the villain Vincent Ludwig? 37. Name the two Senators who participated in the 1988 vice presidential debate. 38. “Read my lips: no new taxes” was a phrase by American presidential candidate George H. W. Bush. Where did he say it? 39. Name the annual Discovery Channel event that started on July 14, 1988. 40. You get one point for each Rambo film in the franchise you can name. 41. Who directed the 1988 film Willow? 42. The Microsoft Windows 1988 release came out in two versions, Windows/286 and Windows/386, but with the same name. What was it called? 43. What was the first film broadcast on TNT, the fourth cable network owned by Turner Broadcasting? 44. What game is Jessica Rabbit accused of playing with Marvin Acme in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? 45. Who was the President in 1988? 46. What 1988 film earned Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito the most money in their careers? 47. In 1962, Topps released a series of cards called Mars Attacks! They released another set of Attack! cards in 1988. Name that card series. 48. Which Full House character has the catchphrase “How rude!”? 49. 1988’s Crocodile Dundee II was the second of two sequels for Crocodile Dundee. Name the third. 50. You can get one point for each of the two starring actors in the Crocodile Dundee trilogy. 51. How many people lived in the World in 1988? 52. How many people lived in the United States in 1988? 53. In what year is the pilot episode of The Wonder Years set? 54. This 1988 film featured Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall (also in various roles), James Earl Jones, and John Amos. Name that film. 55. What team won the Super Bowl in 1988? 56. Name the film that film received Academy Award nominations for Best Actor (Tom Hanks) and Best Original Screenplay. 57. Name the media franchise that featured Detective Sergeant Franklin “Frank” Drebin. 58. Name the actor who played Frank Drebin. 59. Who was the infamous murderer interviewed on Geraldo Rivera’s live special Murder: Live from Death Row? 60. What Oscar-winning director appeared as an Elvis Presley impersonator on The Golden Girls? 61. Name the performer who had a “contractual first right of refusal” for playing the role of John McClane in Die Hard. 62. Die Hard (1988) had four sequels. You get one point for each, which you can name. 63. Who is the mascot of the Charlotte Hornets of the National Basketball Association? 64. Name the skit (and later film franchise) featuring Garth Algar and Wayne Campbell. 65. Who was the biggest solo musical artist of the 1980s? 66. What was the Bestselling Fiction Book in 1988? 67. What was the Biggest Number One Song of 1988? 68. What is the name of the Rescue Rangers‘ primary mode of transportation, an aircraft made from household items? 69. What do you call the athletic training discipline or sport in which practitioners attempt to get from one point to another in the fastest and most efficient way possible, without assisting equipment and often while performing feats of acrobatics? 70. This reggae pop song first hit the Billboard Top 40 charts in January 1984 and didn’t reach the number one spot until October 15, 1988. Name that tune, 71. What is the last name of the title character in the Nickelodeon animated TV series Hey Arnold!? 72. Lieutenant Tasha Yar is killed off in an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation after an actress asked to be released from her contract. Name the actress. 73. Who was the Vice-President in 1988? 74. What was the name of the main antagonist of the 1988 action film Die Hard, portrayed by Alan Rickman? 75. Who were the NBA Champions in 1988? 76. Who was People Magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive in 1988? 77. Which song by The Beach Boys, featured in the film Cocktail, became a hit single? 78. This anti-hero appeared in Web of Spider-Man #18 (September 1986) before making his first full appearance in The Amazing Spider-Man #300 (May 1988). Name him. 79. Roots was a very popular multi-part mini-series that aired on ABC. What was the third installment called? 80. Who were the Stanley Cup Champions in 1988? 81. In 1988, what was the average life expectancy in the United States? 82. This comedy film included Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, and Michael Palin. What film? 83. Who owned Wanda, the fish, in the movie? 84. What was the Top-Rated TV Show in the 1987/1988 season? 85. What was the most popular portable music device in the 1980s? 86. Name the cat and mouse team in a fictional animated series featured on The Simpsons. 87. Who are the Primary Characters in The Land Before Time series? You get one point for each of the seven you can name. 88. Before being seen on cable television, this funny sci-fi show aired for the first time on KTMA-TV in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Name that program. 89. What is the name of the Toon town in Who Framed Roger Rabbit? Trivia Team Bonus Answers: 1. What year is Who Framed Roger Rabbit set in? 2. Who provided the speaking voice for Jessica Rabbit? 3. What phrase often ended Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles episodes with a moral lesson? 4. What was special about the prime-time NBC broadcast at Chicago’s Wrigley Field between the Cubs and New York Mets? 5. Name the detective agency David Addison and Madolyn “Maddie” Hayes ran. 6. In The Land Before Time, what type of dinosaur is Littlefoot? 7. What was the name of the first major computer virus that affected the internet in 1988? 8. Name the wrestling program aired on TBS opposite WrestleMania IV on pay-per-view. 9. What Horse won the Kentucky Derby in 1988? 10. Who won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her role as Sarah Tobias? |
