If you’re anything like me, there’s something absolutely thrilling about that moment when you know the answer to a tough trivia question at the bar. Last week, my friend Jake and I were at our local pub for trivia night, and when the host asked about the only mammal that can fly, I practically shouted “BAT!” before anyone else could even process the question. That little victory dance I did? Totally worth it.
Whether you’re preparing for your next bar trivia night, hosting a trivia game at home, or just want to impress your friends with some random knowledge, I’ve put together this ultimate collection of 100+ bar trivia questions and answers. Trust me, these are the kinds of questions that’ll give you those sweet, sweet brain-tingling moments of triumph.
Movies & TV Trivia
Let’s start with something we all love – movies and TV shows! Whether you’re a sci-fi nerd or a reality TV junkie, these questions will test your entertainment knowledge.
- What movie won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1994?
Answer: Forrest Gump - What is the name of the coffee shop in “Friends”?
Answer: Central Perk - Who directed “The Godfather”?
Answer: Francis Ford Coppola - What Netflix series features a character named Eleven?
Answer: Stranger Things - In “The Office,” what is Jim and Pam’s couple name?
Answer: JAM - What movie features the famous line “Here’s looking at you, kid”?
Answer: Casablanca - Who played Jack Sparrow in the “Pirates of the Caribbean” series?
Answer: Johnny Depp - What TV show features a chemistry teacher turned meth manufacturer?
Answer: Breaking Bad - What movie features the song “My Heart Will Go On”?
Answer: Titanic - Who won the Best Actor Oscar for “Training Day”?
Answer: Denzel Washington - What is the highest-grossing animated film of all time?
Answer: The Lion King (2019) - In “Game of Thrones,” what is the name of Jon Snow’s direwolf?
Answer: Ghost - What 1985 film features a DeLorean time machine?
Answer: Back to the Future - Who played the lead role in “Pretty Woman”?
Answer: Julia Roberts - What reality show features people living in a house with cameras everywhere?
Answer: Big Brother - What movie franchise features a character named Katniss Everdeen?
Answer: The Hunger Games - Who created “The Simpsons”?
Answer: Matt Groening - What movie features the quote “I’ll be back”?
Answer: The Terminator - In “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” what is the name of Captain Holt’s dog?
Answer: Cheddar - What is the highest-grossing film franchise of all time?
Answer: Marvel Cinematic Universe
For more entertainment-focused questions, check out our 80s movie trivia questions and our 90s movie trivia collections!
Music Trivia
Nothing gets a bar trivia crowd going like music questions! From rock legends to pop sensations, these questions will have everyone humming along.
- Who is known as the “King of Pop”?
Answer: Michael Jackson - What band wrote “Stairway to Heaven”?
Answer: Led Zeppelin - What city is considered the birthplace of Jazz?
Answer: New Orleans - Who won the Grammy for Album of the Year in 2020?
Answer: Billie Eilish for “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” - What instrument does John Lennon play in The Beatles?
Answer: Guitar (and piano) - Who sang “I Will Always Love You”?
Answer: Whitney Houston (originally Dolly Parton) - What is the best-selling album of all time?
Answer: Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” - Who is the lead singer of Queen?
Answer: Freddie Mercury - What year did Elvis Presley die?
Answer: 1977 - Who released the hit song “Uptown Funk”?
Answer: Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars - What band is Mick Jagger the lead singer of?
Answer: The Rolling Stones - Who wrote “Yesterday” by The Beatles?
Answer: Paul McCartney (credited to Lennon-McCartney) - What is Lady Gaga’s real name?
Answer: Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta - Who is known as the “Material Girl”?
Answer: Madonna - What was Cher’s last name before she was married?
Answer: Sarkisian - Who sang “Wonderwall”?
Answer: Oasis - What is the name of Taylor Swift’s 2020 surprise album?
Answer: Folklore - Who is the lead singer of U2?
Answer: Bono - What genre of music originated in Jamaica?
Answer: Reggae - Who released the album “Purple Rain”?
Answer: Prince
Sports Trivia
Sports questions are a trivia night staple! Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just know the basics, these will get your competitive spirit going.
- What team won the Super Bowl in 2020?
Answer: Kansas City Chiefs - Who has won the most Olympic gold medals?
Answer: Michael Phelps (23 gold medals) - What country hosts the Summer Olympics in 2024?
Answer: France (Paris) - Who hit the most home runs in MLB history?
Answer: Hank Aaron (755 home runs) - What sport uses the terms “birdie” and “eagle”?
Answer: Golf - How many players are on a basketball team on the court?
Answer: Five - What is the only sport to be played on the moon?
Answer: Golf - Who won the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup?
Answer: United States - What is the diameter of a basketball hoop in inches?
Answer: 18 inches - Who was the first woman to join the NBA?
Answer: Lusia Harris (technically drafted but never played) - In tennis, what does “love” mean?
Answer: Zero - What team has won the most World Series titles?
Answer: New York Yankees (27) - Who holds the record for most career NBA points?
Answer: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar - What is the national sport of Canada?
Answer: Lacrosse (summer) and Ice Hockey (winter) - How many rounds are in a professional boxing match?
Answer: Up to 12 rounds - Who is known as “The Great One” in hockey?
Answer: Wayne Gretzky - What team did Tiger Woods first win the Masters with?
Answer: Tiger Woods (he won as an individual, not with a team) - How many minutes is a standard NFL game quarter?
Answer: 15 minutes - What is the highest possible score in 10-pin bowling?
Answer: 300 - Who holds the record for fastest 100-meter sprint?
Answer: Usain Bolt (9.58 seconds)
Need more sports questions? We’ve got an entire collection of sports trivia questions that’ll test even the biggest sports fans!
History Trivia
History might not have been everyone’s favorite subject in school, but these questions are way more fun than those old textbook quizzes!
- Who was the first President of the United States?
Answer: George Washington - What year did World War II end?
Answer: 1945 - Who painted the Mona Lisa?
Answer: Leonardo da Vinci - What year did Christopher Columbus arrive in the Americas?
Answer: 1492 - Who was the 16th President of the United States?
Answer: Abraham Lincoln - What ancient wonder still stands today?
Answer: The Great Pyramid of Giza - Who discovered America for the Spanish?
Answer: Christopher Columbus - What war was fought between the North and South in America?
Answer: The Civil War - Who wrote the Declaration of Independence?
Answer: Thomas Jefferson (though it was edited by John Adams and Benjamin Franklin) - What year did the Berlin Wall fall?
Answer: 1989 - Who was the first man on the moon?
Answer: Neil Armstrong - What empire built the Colosseum?
Answer: The Roman Empire - Who was the longest-reigning British monarch before Queen Elizabeth II?
Answer: Queen Victoria - What year did the Titanic sink?
Answer: 1912 - Who led the civil rights movement in the United States?
Answer: Martin Luther King Jr. - What country gifted the Statue of Liberty to the United States?
Answer: France - Who was the first person to circumnavigate the globe?
Answer: Ferdinand Magellan’s expedition (completed by Juan Sebastián Elcano) - What year did Alaska become a state?
Answer: 1959 - Who was the youngest elected President of the United States?
Answer: John F. Kennedy - What empire did Genghis Khan create?
Answer: The Mongol Empire
Science & Nature Trivia
Science questions can be tricky, but don’t worry – I’ve included some fun, approachable ones that won’t make you feel like you’re back in chemistry class!
- What is the chemical symbol for gold?
Answer: Au - How many planets are in our solar system?
Answer: Eight - What is the largest organ in the human body?
Answer: The skin - Which gas do plants absorb from the atmosphere?
Answer: Carbon dioxide - What is the fastest animal on land?
Answer: Cheetah - How many bones does an adult human have?
Answer: 206 - What is the largest ocean on Earth?
Answer: Pacific Ocean - Which planet is known as the Red Planet?
Answer: Mars - What animal is known to have the largest brain?
Answer: Sperm whale - How many elements are on the periodic table?
Answer: 118 - What is the most abundant gas in Earth’s atmosphere?
Answer: Nitrogen - What is the smallest bone in the human body?
Answer: Stapes (in the ear) - How many legs does a spider have?
Answer: Eight - What is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature?
Answer: Mercury - Which planet is closest to the sun?
Answer: Mercury - What animal can regenerate its limbs?
Answer: Axolotl (accept starfish or several other answers) - How many chambers does the human heart have?
Answer: Four - What is the largest whale species?
Answer: Blue whale - What is the name of our galaxy?
Answer: The Milky Way - Which vitamin is produced when skin is exposed to sunlight?
Answer: Vitamin D
For more science fun, check out our space trivia questions that’ll take your knowledge to infinity and beyond!
General Knowledge Trivia
These are the kind of random facts that make you go “Huh, I didn’t know that!” Perfect for those moments when you want to show off your eclectic knowledge.
- What is the capital of Australia?
Answer: Canberra - How many time zones does Russia have?
Answer: 11 - What is the smallest country in the world?
Answer: Vatican City - Which country has the most official languages?
Answer: South Africa (11) - What is the currency of Japan?
Answer: Yen - How many colors are in a rainbow?
Answer: Seven - What does NASA stand for?
Answer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Which country invented the printing press?
Answer: Germany - What is the national animal of Scotland?
Answer: Unicorn - How many days are in a leap year?
Answer: 366 - What is the official language of Brazil?
Answer: Portuguese - Which ocean is the Atlantic’s?
Answer: Second largest - What is the currency of the United Kingdom?
Answer: Pound Sterling - What does Wi-Fi stand for?
Answer: Wireless Fidelity - Which country has the longest coastline?
Answer: Canada - What is the largest island in the world?
Answer: Greenland - How many stripes are on the American flag?
Answer: 13 - What is the oldest university in the United States?
Answer: Harvard University - Which state has the most counties?
Answer: Texas - What does the acronym PDF stand for?
Answer: Portable Document Format
Want to test yourself with more general knowledge? Our common sense trivia questions are perfect for a quick brain workout!
Current Events Trivia
These questions cover recent-ish events (remember, my knowledge only goes up to 2024, so some might be slightly dated by the time you read this!).
- Who won the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election?
Answer: Joe Biden - What cryptocurrency reached an all-time high in 2021?
Answer: Bitcoin - Which country hosted the 2022 Winter Olympics?
Answer: China - What social media platform was acquired by Elon Musk in 2022?
Answer: Twitter - Who won the 2022 FIFA World Cup?
Answer: Argentina - What streaming service launched “The Queens Gambit”?
Answer: Netflix - Which company became the first to reach a $3 trillion market cap?
Answer: Apple - What app went viral for its short-form videos?
Answer: TikTok - Which car company popularized electric vehicles?
Answer: Tesla - What pandemic affected the world starting in 2020?
Answer: COVID-19 - Who performed at the 2021 Super Bowl halftime show?
Answer: The Weeknd - What company created the ChatGPT AI?
Answer: OpenAI - Which country announced plans to become carbon neutral by 2050?
Answer: Many countries, including the United States - What metaverse company was previously known as Facebook?
Answer: Meta - Who won the 2021 Grammy for Album of the Year?
Answer: Taylor Swift for “Folklore” - What space company successfully landed humans on the ISS?
Answer: SpaceX - Which city banned plastic bags in 2022?
Answer: Many cities, including New York City - What music festival returned after a hiatus in 2022?
Answer: Coachella - Who won the 2022 Academy Award for Best Picture?
Answer: CODA - What app allowed users to create their own AI avatars?
Answer: Lensa AI
Why Bar Trivia Is the Perfect Social Activity
Listen, I’ve been to my fair share of bar trivia nights, and there’s just something magical about them. You get to hang out with friends, enjoy a drink or two, and test your random knowledge all at the same time. It’s like that perfect blend of social interaction and mental stimulation that makes everyone feel like they’re part of something fun.
My sister started going to trivia nights in college, and now it’s become her weekly tradition. She says it’s better than just sitting at home watching Netflix for the millionth time. And honestly? She’s right. There’s something about that friendly competition and the “aha!” moments when you nail a question that just hits different than scrolling through your phone.
Plus, you learn the most random stuff! Did you know that bananas are berries but strawberries aren’t? Yeah, I learned that at trivia night, and now I randomly drop that fact at parties. You’re welcome.
Wrapping Up Your Trivia Night Success
There you have it – 100+ bar trivia questions that’ll make you the hero of your next game night! I’ve been using these at my weekly trivia meetups, and let me tell you, nothing beats that feeling when you nail a tough question and your whole table erupts in cheers.
Did you know all the answers? I bet some of these surprised you! That’s the beauty of trivia – there’s always something new to learn, and it’s way more fun when you’re learning with friends over a cold drink.
Remember, the best part about trivia isn’t necessarily winning (though that’s pretty sweet too). It’s about the laughs, the debates over answers, and those random facts you’ll find yourself sharing days later. My buddy still brings up the time I knew that a group of flamingos is called a “flamboyance” – apparently, it’s become his go-to conversation starter at parties!
If you’re looking for more question ideas or want to organize your own trivia night at home, check out our trivia questions collection for different themes and difficulty levels. And don’t forget to share this list with your trivia team – they’ll thank you for it when you’re celebrating your next victory!
Now go out there and show those other teams what you’re made of. Game on! 🎯