THE '80S

Indiana Jones—seen here in 'Raiders of the Lost Ark'—was one of the decade's most bankable characters.

The 25 Highest Grossing Movies of the 1980s

The decade of excess was all about blockbusters like 'Top Gun' and franchises like 'Star Wars' and 'Indiana Jones.' Which sounds familiar.

Paul Reubens in character as Pee-wee Herman.

10 Memorable PSAs That Attempted to Save Generation X

Whether it was a mustached dad, an egg in a frying pan, or Pee-wee Herman holding a crack vial, public service announcements pulled out all the stops to save Gen Xers' lives.

TRADING PLACES | Trailer | Paramount Movies

15 Fun Facts About ‘Trading Places’

The 1983 hit comedy ‘Trading Places’ turned 40 this year. Discover more fun facts about the John Landis-directed classic that helped turn stars Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd into household names.

In 1985, Sting sang that he hoped "the Russians love their children too." James Cameron and Christopher Nolan were listening.

The Curious Link Between 'Oppenheimer,' The Terminator, and a Forgotten '80s Sting Tune

For years, Sting’s 1985 anti-war song “Russians” seemed to be something of an afterthought. But it made a lasting impression on two future filmmakers and a pair of summer blockbusters released more than 30 years apart.

10 Surprising Facts About Arnold Schwarzenegger

Bodybuilder-turned-actor-turned-politician Arnold Schwarzenegger was once thrown in a military prison for running away to pose in a competition.

10 Facts About Strawberry Shortcake

For Gen Xers and elder Millennials, there’s nothing like the scent of Strawberry Shortcake and her dessert-themed friends for bringing back fond childhood memories.

This 1984 sci-fi thriller launched more than just a film franchise.

18 Things You Might Not Know About ‘The Terminator’

The low-budget sci-fi slasher from James Cameron became a huge movie franchise. Here's how it all got started.

Calling all Gen Xers and elder millennials: Your old cassettes could be worth a bundle.

10 of the Most Valuable Cassette Tapes From the ‘80s and ‘90s

Back in the 1980s and ‘90s, audio cassettes were everything. Here are some of the most valuable cassette tapes today from those eras, including Nirvana’s “Nevermind,” and more.

Consumers could go through bags of Frito-Lay's fat-free chips. Then the bag would go right through them.

May Cause Anal Leakage: The Olestra Fat-Free Snack Controversy of the 1990s

After decades of development and $200 million spent, Procter & Gamble thought they had the perfect snack food additive with olestra. Too bad it caused “rectal urgency.”

'Odorama' scratch and sniff card from the John Waters movie 'Polyester' (1982).

Scratch and Sniff: The Fad That Was Destined to Fade

Like a pineapple-scented sticker on a lunchbox, the scratch and sniff fad wasn’t built to last.

When Tina Turner Set a Guinness World Record

On January 16, 1988, Tina Turner performed for approximately 188,000 fans at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil—and made history.

Vintage Barbie accessories can be worth just as much as the dolls.

10 of the Most Valuable Barbie Accessories

Discover the most valuable Barbie accessories from the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, and beyond, like the 1990 Barbie’s Magical Mansion and more.

11 Iconic Perfumes of the 1980s

There was nothing understated about the ’80s—and that included the most popular perfumes of the decade.

Relive MTV's First Two Hours on the Air in Real Time

MTV launched at 12:01 a.m. on August 1, 1981. Now you can relive the first two hours of the music network's existence.

"Careless Whisper": How George Michael's "Flippantly" Written Song Became a Career-Defining Hit That Still Endures

Although “Careless Whisper” just might be George Michael's most enduring hit, the singer (who also wrote it) wasn’t a huge fan of the song.

This Compilation of Nickelodeon Promos From the ‘80s and ‘90s Is Pure Nostalgia

Nickelodeon's animated doo-wop segments will look familiar to anyone who grew up on the channel in the 1980s and ‘90s.

Voltron Defender of The Universe | Final victory | Kids Cartoon | Videos for Kids

When ‘Voltron’ Ruled the ’80s

The cartoon from Japan was perfect for an American audience--so long as producers edited out all the beheadings.

Richard Pryor | Pryor's Place | Episode 1 | High Noon at 5:30 P.M. | 1984

When R-Rated Comedian Richard Pryor Debuted His Children’s Show, ‘Pryor’s Place’

In 1984, the explicit comic turned his attention to Saturday morning kid’s television.

10 Facts About The Police's 'Synchronicity'

With their fifth and final album, 1983’s 'Synchronicity,' The Police were on the verge of something big.

These 'bots really knew how to throw a party.

Remembering the Chuck E. Cheese and ShowBiz Pizza Robot Wars of the 1980s

Before Chuck E. Cheese was officially a mouse, he was a rat. And the backstabbing around him was epic.

Hoverboard from 'Back to the Future: Part II' (1989).

Michael J. Fox's 'Back to the Future: Part II' Hoverboard Can Be Yours—for $80,000

Mattel hasn't invented real hoverboards yet, but soon you can bid on the next best thing.

Simon Le Bon of Duran Duran rocks a mull—er, bi-level haircut.

7 Misconceptions About the ‘80s

Whether you lived through the ‘80s or merely have absorbed some details via 'Stranger Things,' take a look at some of the myths surrounding the "me decade."

Tiffany, Michael, Heather, Josh, and Jessica (or something like that).

The 100 Most Popular Baby Names from the ’80s

Are you a woman born in the 1980s? If so, there’s a pretty good chance your name is Jessica.

See How People Reacted to 'Dungeons & Dragons' in the 1980s

With 'Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves' hitting theaters, it's easy to forget the game's controversial past.

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