100+ Decades Trivia Questions and Answers for Your Next Game Night

I’m so excited to share this collection of decades trivia with you. As someone who’s spent countless family game nights trying to remember which band topped the charts in 1975 or what bizarre fashion trend dominated the 80s, I can tell you that decade-specific trivia is absolutely perfect for parties, road trips, or just a fun night in.

I’ve put together over 100 trivia questions that span the 1950s through the 2010s, covering everything from music and movies to politics and pop culture. My family tested these out last Thanksgiving, and even my history-hating brother got competitive!

Decades trivia is the ultimate ice-breaker and conversation starter. What I love most about it is how it appeals to different age groups – grandparents can shine on questions about the 50s and 60s, parents dominate the 70s and 80s categories, and the younger folks can show off their knowledge of more recent decades.

I started collecting these questions during the pandemic when my family needed something fun for our Zoom gatherings. What began as a simple distraction turned into a full-blown competition that we still enjoy today. There’s something magical about the way these questions transport you back in time, sparking memories and stories that might otherwise never come up in conversation.

If you’re looking for more ways to start great discussions, check out some interesting topics to talk about that can keep the conversation flowing after your trivia game ends.

1950s Trivia Questions

The 1950s – a decade of post-war prosperity, rock and roll, and the beginning of the space race. These questions will take you back to the era of poodle skirts, Elvis, and the birth of modern suburbia. I find that even people born decades later often know this iconic time period surprisingly well!

What year did Disneyland first open? Answer: 1955
Who played the title role in the 1954 film “The Wild One”? Answer: Marlon Brando
What was the name of the first satellite launched into space in 1957? Answer: Sputnik 1

What popular fast food restaurant was founded by Ray Kroc in 1955? Answer: McDonald’s
Who wrote the novel “The Catcher in the Rye” published in 1951? Answer: J.D. Salinger
What TV show did Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz star in during the 1950s? Answer: I Love Lucy

What 1950s automotive feature was known as “highway hypnosis”? Answer: Tailfins
What dance craze swept America in the late 1950s? Answer: The Twist
Who was the first African American to play in Major League Baseball’s American League? Answer: Larry Doby

What famous board game was introduced in 1955 by Parker Brothers? Answer: Monopoly
Who recorded “Rock Around the Clock” in 1954? Answer: Bill Haley & His Comets
What children’s TV show hosted by Buffalo Bob Smith debuted in 1947 but was hugely popular in the 1950s? Answer: Howdy Doody

What day is referred to as “the day the music died” after a plane crash in 1959? Answer: February 3, 1959
What toy was first introduced in 1958 by Arthur Melin? Answer: The Hula Hoop
What was the best-selling car model of the 1950s? Answer: Volkswagen Beetle

What famous actress married Joe DiMaggio and then Arthur Miller in the 1950s? Answer: Marilyn Monroe
Which country hosted the 1952 Summer Olympics? Answer: Finland (Helsinki)
What medical breakthrough, developed by Jonas Salk, was announced as “safe and effective” in 1955? Answer: Polio vaccine

What TV western starring James Arness ran from 1955 to 1975? Answer: Gunsmoke
What controversial book by Dr. Benjamin Spock influenced parenting in the 1950s? Answer: Baby and Child Care

Looking for more brain-teasers to test your knowledge? Try these common sense trivia questions that are surprisingly challenging!

1960s Trivia Questions

The 1960s were a decade of radical social change, cultural revolution, and technological advances. From the Beatles to the Moon landing, civil rights to Woodstock – this decade changed everything. My dad always talks about watching the Moon landing on TV as a kid – it’s wild to think how that moment united the whole world!

In what year did The Beatles first appear on The Ed Sullivan Show? Answer: 1964
Who was the first person to walk on the Moon? Answer: Neil Armstrong

What political leader was assassinated in Dallas, Texas in 1963? Answer: John F. Kennedy
What iconic music festival took place in August 1969? Answer: Woodstock
What was the name of the first human-made object to orbit the sun? Answer: Mariner 2

Which iconic muscle car was first introduced by Ford in 1964? Answer: Mustang
What famous civil rights leader delivered the “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963? Answer: Martin Luther King Jr.
What 1960s TV show featured the Cartwright family on the Ponderosa Ranch? Answer: Bonanza

What toy, first marketed as a wallpaper cleaner, became popular in the 1960s? Answer: Play-Doh
Which country built the Berlin Wall in 1961? Answer: East Germany
What was the name of the conflict between the U.S. and the Soviet Union that spanned from 1947-1991? Answer: The Cold War

What 1960s fashion trend was characterized by bold geometric patterns and bright colors? Answer: Mod fashion
What science fiction TV show created by Gene Roddenberry debuted in 1966? Answer: Star Trek
What American involvement in a Southeast Asian conflict escalated during the 1960s? Answer: Vietnam War

Who played the role of James Bond in the 1960s films “Dr. No,” “From Russia with Love,” and “Goldfinger”? Answer: Sean Connery
What toy was introduced in 1963 with the catchphrase “Weebles wobble, but they don’t fall down”? Answer: Weebles
What popular doll was introduced by Mattel in 1959 but became a cultural icon in the 1960s? Answer: Barbie

What fast food restaurant introduced the Big Mac in 1967? Answer: McDonald’s
Which band’s album “Pet Sounds” revolutionized music production in 1966? Answer: The Beach Boys
What 1960s dance was inspired by a Chubby Checker song? Answer: The Twist

If you enjoy testing your knowledge about different time periods, you might also like these 80s movie trivia questions that will take you back to the golden age of cinema!

1970s Trivia Questions

The 1970s brought us disco, Star Wars, and Watergate. This decade of earth tones, bell bottoms, and political scandal makes for some fascinating trivia! I remember my mom showing me her high school yearbook from 1976 – those hairstyles were something else! Let’s see how well you know the decade of Nixon, ABBA, and the first personal computers.

What film, released in 1977, became one of the highest-grossing movies of all time? Answer: Star Wars

Which U.S. President resigned in 1974 due to the Watergate scandal? Answer: Richard Nixon
What dance style peaked in popularity during the mid-1970s? Answer: Disco
What was the name of the first widely successful home video game console released in 1972? Answer: Magnavox Odyssey

Which band released the album “Hotel California” in 1976? Answer: The Eagles
What significant oil crisis occurred in 1973? Answer: OPEC oil embargo
What TV show featuring John Travolta premiered in 1975? Answer: Welcome Back, Kotter

What toy consisting of two heavy plastic spheres on a string became a fad in the 1970s? Answer: Clackers
Which country did the United States establish diplomatic relations with in 1979 after decades of isolation? Answer: China
What popular film starring John Travolta was released in 1977? Answer: Saturday Night Fever

What was the first successful personal computer, introduced in 1975? Answer: Altair 8800
Which band’s album “Rumours” was one of the best-selling albums of the 1970s? Answer: Fleetwood Mac
What hairstyle became popular for both men and women in the 1970s? Answer: The Feathered Look (Farrah Fawcett style)

What 1972 sports event was marred by terrorism? Answer: Munich Olympics
What film about a giant shark was released in 1975? Answer: Jaws
What TV game show hosted by Richard Dawson premiered in 1976? Answer: Family Feud

What electronic handheld game introduced in 1978 challenged players to repeat light sequences? Answer: Simon
What soft drink commercial featured people on a hilltop singing “I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing”? Answer: Coca-Cola
What 1977 film starring John Travolta made disco dancing popular? Answer: Saturday Night Fever

What was the first music video ever played on MTV (though MTV itself launched in 1981)? Answer: “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles

For more nostalgic questions that test your knowledge across different decades, check out these 90s movie trivia questions that capture another iconic era of film!

1980s Trivia Questions

Ah, the 1980s – the decade of big hair, even bigger shoulder pads, and the birth of MTV. This was the era of Madonna, Michael Jackson, and blockbuster movies that we’re still remaking today. I wasn’t born yet, but somehow I feel nostalgic for this decade anyway – probably from all the 80s movie marathons my family has had over the years!

What was the best-selling album of the 1980s? Answer: Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”
What 1980s film features the line “E.T. phone home”? Answer: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
What video game featuring a yellow character eating dots in a maze was released in 1980? Answer: Pac-Man

Who was the British Prime Minister for most of the 1980s? Answer: Margaret Thatcher
What TV show starring Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas was set in Miami? Answer: Miami Vice
What was the name of the space shuttle that tragically exploded shortly after takeoff in 1986? Answer: Challenger

What 1984 charity single featured numerous music stars and the line “Feed the world”? Answer: “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” by Band Aid
What was the first 24-hour music video channel, launched in 1981? Answer: MTV
What 1980s toy line featured robots that could transform into vehicles? Answer: Transformers

What film starring Tom Cruise was about a young man who dances in his underwear and dreams of being a pilot? Answer: Risky Business
What was the name of the young boy in the “Home Alone” movies? Answer: Kevin McCallister
What TV show featuring Mr. T was about a group of mercenaries? Answer: The A-Team

What disease became widely known and feared in the 1980s? Answer: AIDS
What was the first commercially available mobile phone, released in 1983? Answer: Motorola DynaTAC
What legendary basketball player was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1984? Answer: Michael Jordan

What major political event occurred in Berlin in 1989? Answer: The fall of the Berlin Wall
What 1980s film features a character saying “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it”? Answer: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
What colorful toy cube invented by Ernő Rubik became popular in the 1980s? Answer: Rubik’s Cube

What was the name of the female lead character in “Dirty Dancing”? Answer: Frances “Baby” Houseman
What household item became widely available to consumers in the late 1980s, revolutionizing home food preparation? Answer: The microwave oven

If you’re a fan of game-based entertainment, you might also enjoy these video game trivia questions that cover everything from classic arcade games to modern consoles!

1990s Trivia Questions

The 1990s – my childhood decade! From Tamagotchis and Beanie Babies to grunge music and dial-up internet, the 90s were a time of rapid technological change and distinct pop culture. I still remember the frustration of someone picking up the phone while I was using the internet! These questions will test your knowledge of this not-so-distant but definitely different time.

What major global computer concern dominated the late 1990s? Answer: Y2K (Year 2000) bug
What TV show featured six friends living in New York City and aired from 1994 to 2004? Answer: Friends

What handheld digital pet was a must-have toy in the late 1990s? Answer: Tamagotchi
What 1997 film featured Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet on a doomed ship? Answer: Titanic
What boy band’s 1999 album “Millennium” became one of the best-selling albums of all time? Answer: Backstreet Boys

What company introduced the iMac computer in 1998? Answer: Apple
What animated film was the first feature-length movie to be entirely computer-animated? Answer: Toy Story
What controversial video game featuring graphic violence was released in 1993? Answer: Mortal Kombat

What were people collecting and trading with the hope they would become valuable collectibles? Answer: Beanie Babies
Who was the President of the United States during the Monica Lewinsky scandal? Answer: Bill Clinton
What film series beginning with “The Phantom Menace” premiered in 1999? Answer: Star Wars prequels

What was the name of the sheep that was the first successfully cloned mammal in 1996? Answer: Dolly
What grunge band was fronted by Kurt Cobain? Answer: Nirvana
What dance craze was inspired by a 1996 song by Los Del Rio? Answer: Macarena

What children’s television show featured a purple dinosaur? Answer: Barney & Friends
What phenomenon involving small fighting creatures became hugely popular with children? Answer: Pokémon
What online service was known for the greeting “You’ve Got Mail”? Answer: America Online (AOL)

What TV show about teenage witches starred Melissa Joan Hart? Answer: Sabrina the Teenage Witch
What was the name of the first widely-used search engine, launched in 1994? Answer: Yahoo!
What was the top-selling cell phone of the 1990s? Answer: Nokia 3210

For those who enjoy mental challenges of all kinds, these confusing riddles with answers will provide a fun twist on traditional trivia!

2000s Trivia Questions

The 2000s were defined by reality TV, the rise of social media, and the beginning of smartphone culture. This decade saw huge technological advances and cultural shifts that have shaped how we live today. I was in elementary school during this time, and it’s wild to think that some of the technology we take for granted now was brand new back then!

What social media platform was founded by Mark Zuckerberg in 2004? Answer: Facebook

What reality TV show featuring aspiring entrepreneurs premiered in 2004? Answer: The Apprentice
What global health emergency was declared by the WHO in 2009? Answer: H1N1 (Swine Flu) pandemic
What revolutionary Apple product was released in 2007? Answer: iPhone

What fantasy book series was adapted into highly successful films throughout the 2000s? Answer: Harry Potter
What was the name of the NASA rovers that landed on Mars in 2004? Answer: Spirit and Opportunity
What dance-based Nintendo Wii game became a fitness phenomenon? Answer: Wii Fit

What movie starring Russell Crowe won Best Picture at the 2001 Academy Awards? Answer: Gladiator
What video-sharing website was created in 2005 and later purchased by Google? Answer: YouTube
What boyband announced their hiatus in 2002, disappointing fans worldwide? Answer: NSYNC

What natural disaster devastated New Orleans in 2005? Answer: Hurricane Katrina
What popular TV show about plane crash survivors aired from 2004 to 2010? Answer: Lost
What was the best-selling mobile phone of the 2000s? Answer: Nokia 1100

What film franchise starring Matt Damon as a former CIA assassin began in 2002? Answer: The Bourne Identity
What virtual pet website launched in 2005 allowed users to adopt and care for virtual pets? Answer: Webkinz
What 2000s dance move involved leaning back while snapping fingers? Answer: The Lean Back

What animated film about a green ogre was released in 2001? Answer: Shrek
What singer had a hit with “Umbrella” featuring Jay-Z in 2007? Answer: Rihanna
What video game console war was fought between Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo in the 2000s? Answer: Xbox vs PlayStation 2 vs GameCube

What major financial crisis occurred in 2008? Answer: The Global Financial Crisis/Great Recession

If you’re looking for questions that can spark deeper discussions, check out these philosophical questions that go beyond typical trivia!

2010s Trivia Questions

The 2010s feel like yesterday to me! This was the decade of Instagram influencers, streaming services, and viral challenges. From the rise of smartphones to the explosion of superhero movies, the 2010s transformed how we communicate, consume entertainment, and interact with the world. I still have vivid memories of doing the Ice Bucket Challenge with my friends!

What social media app launched in 2010 allowed users to share photos with filters? Answer: Instagram
What dance move went viral in 2013 after being featured in a Miley Cyrus performance? Answer: Twerking
What mobile game featuring angry birds being launched at green pigs became a worldwide phenomenon? Answer: Angry Birds

What Netflix series about a fictional 1980s Indiana town and supernatural events premiered in 2016? Answer: Stranger Things
What major sporting event did London host in 2012? Answer: Summer Olympics
What wildly popular fantasy TV series based on books by George R.R. Martin concluded in 2019? Answer: Game of Thrones

What viral challenge involved people dumping ice water on themselves for charity? Answer: Ice Bucket Challenge
What boy band featuring Harry Styles and Zayn Malik dominated the charts in the early 2010s? Answer: One Direction
What video app allowing users to create short lip-sync videos launched in 2016? Answer: TikTok (originally Musical.ly)

What major royal wedding took place in 2018? Answer: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
What song by South Korean artist Psy became the first YouTube video to reach one billion views? Answer: “Gangnam Style”
What Disney animated film featuring the song “Let It Go” was released in 2013? Answer: Frozen

What subscription streaming service launched its first original series “House of Cards” in 2013? Answer: Netflix
What superhero film franchise reached its climax with “Endgame” in 2019? Answer: Marvel Cinematic Universe (Avengers)
What virtual reality headset was released by Facebook-owned Oculus in 2016? Answer: Oculus Rift

What was the name of the first commercially available self-driving car feature, launched by Tesla? Answer: Autopilot
What popular video game released in 2017 featured 100 players battling to be the last one standing? Answer: Fortnite Battle Royale
What female artist released the album “25” in 2015, breaking numerous sales records? Answer: Adele

What messaging app introduced disappearing photos and videos? Answer: Snapchat
What technology company became the first to reach a trillion-dollar market value in 2018? Answer: Apple

For those who enjoy mental challenges that require lateral thinking, you might love these science riddles that combine knowledge with cleverness!

Final Thoughts

Wow, that was quite a journey through the decades! From Elvis and the space race of the 1950s to the social media revolution of the 2010s, these trivia questions cover some of the most defining moments, trends, and cultural phenomena of the past 70 years.

When I play these with my family, I’m always amazed at how the different generations connect over shared knowledge and memories. My mom will get excited about the disco questions, while my younger sister shows off her knowledge of 2000s boy bands. It’s a great way to bridge generational gaps and learn about each other’s experiences.

So, how did you do? Did you ace the questions from your era and struggle with others? Or are you a true history buff who knows it all? I’d love to know which decade you found easiest to answer!

If you enjoyed these decade trivia questions, you might also like testing yourself with these math trivia questions or challenging your friends with some would you rather questions for your next gathering!