Tips for an awesome 80s date night
Make tonight one for the history books! From retro arcade games to roller skating, here’s tips for an awesome 80s date night.
The 80s hold a special place in my heart. In 1980, I was six. When the decade closed, I was about to turn 16.
I grew up a lot in those years, amongst a background of big hair and blockbusters, the Cold War and the AIDS crisis.
And as far as relationships with boys went, there were a lot of firsts. My first kiss. My first love. My first heartbreak (D.R, that was you).
Just as well I had those 80s power ballads to cry my heart out to.
It was also the decade of the first date, though to be honest, in small town New Zealand there wasn’t a lot of what you would recognize as a “date” going on.
Instead think of a group of about ten to 15 teens, depending on the circumference of the friend circle, all going to one house after school, sitting out in the sun, talking, laughing. And of course, listening to the boys’ band practice.
Oh, crazy times.
Sentimentality aside, I don’t think there’s any decade that felt more fun than the 80s.
And whether you’re wanting to channel the nostalgia for years gone by, or are fascinated by a decade characterized by an over-representation of fashion crimes, this 80s date night will deliver.
It’s time to don your best acid-washed jeans, layer those leg warmers and get ready to embrace the spirit of this iconic decade.
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Retro delights: Activities for your 80s date night
Start your 80s date night with some classic 80s activities.
From reliving your favorite movies to jamming out to hit songs, engaging in nostalgic games, and embracing the fashion trends, these activities will transport you and your partner to a era that was filled with endless possibilities.
- Cook an 80s-themed dinner: Prepare a meal featuring popular dishes from the 80s – check out these 80s inspired recipes for ideas.
- Create an 80s-inspired playlist: Compile a playlist of hit songs from the 80s to set the mood for the evening. Dance and sing along to your favorite tunes. To help you out, I have a list of classic 80s tunes below.
- Get dressed up in 80s fashion: Put on your best 80s attire, complete with neon colors, leg warmers, acid-washed jeans, oversized blazers, and big hair. Take fun photos to capture the moment. Dare you to go out in public.
- Go retro gaming at an arcade: Find an arcade that features classic arcade games from the 80s, such as Pac-Man, Donkey Kong, Galaga, or Space Invaders. Compete against each other or team up for some friendly gaming fun.
- Have an 80s trivia night: Test your knowledge of 80s pop culture with a trivia game focused on movies, music, fashion, and historical events from that decade. (Spoiler alert -You can find 50 questions below.
- Host an 80s-inspired dance party for a fun group date: Clear some space in your living room, decorate it with neon lights and disco balls, and dance to classic 80s tracks. Try out popular dance moves from that era, like the moonwalk and the robot.
- Plan an 80s movie marathon: Watch a series of iconic 80s movies back-to-back, such as “The Goonies,” “Dirty Dancing,” “Ghostbusters,” “Top Gun,” and “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” and tick them off the 80s bingo card featured below.
- Play classic 80s video games: Set up a gaming station with retro video game consoles like the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) or Sega Genesis. Challenge each other to games like Super Mario Bros., Sonic the Hedgehog, or Tetris.
- Take a roller skating excursion: Visit a local roller-skating rink and enjoy a nostalgic roller skating session together. Practice your moves and hold hands as you skate to 80s hits on your walkmans.
- Visit a thrift store or vintage shop: Go on a hunt for authentic 80s clothing, accessories, and memorabilia. See who can find the most unique or outrageous item from that era.
And if none of those work, go hang out at the shopping mall before having dinner at the food court!
From Brat Pack to blockbusters: Iconic 80s movies to watch
The 80s seemed to have a slew of movies that were kids against adults kind of vibes and as I was coming of age when 80s coming of age films were … coming out, it’s no wonder I was so into them.
I’m thinking Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Goonies, The Outsiders.
I watched Ferris Bueller on a bootleg video so many times, I can still quote many classic lines like, “Never had one lesson,” “So that’s how it is in their family,” and (chant it), “When Cameron was in Egypt’s land / let my Cameron go.”
I wrote a heartfelt love letter to Corey Feldman after watching his performance in The Goonies. Unfortunately, he never wrote me back.
And The Outsiders – after the movie, I ordered the novel from the UK. The cover featured the stars – men that went on to do amazing things in film. I thought that book was one of the most beautiful I ever read.
Watching an 80s movie is a must-do in your 80s date night.
My recommended 80s movies include the following:
- Back to the Future
- Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure
- Blade Runner
- The Breakfast Club
- Die Hard
- Dirty Dancing
- ET: The Extra Terrestrial
- Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
- Footloose
- The Goonies
- Gremlins
- The Karate Kid
- The Lost Boys
- The Outsiders
- Pretty in Pink
- The Princess Bride
- Raiders of the Lost Ark
- Risky Business
- Sixteen Candles
- Steel Magnolias
- The Terminator
- The Shining
- Stand By Me
- Top Gun
Below I’ve got a super cute invitation, 80s movie night bingo and 80s movie night scavenger hunt.
To download the pdfs, scroll down till you see my exclusive content sign up.
Setting the mood with the soundtrack to the 80s
The 80s were a time when synthesizers ruled the airwaves and iconic anthems filled the dance floors and as such, must be incorporated into your 80s date night.
While I look back with a a sense of bewilderment and horror at 80s fashion, there’s no doubt that 80s music left a mark on my soul that will never be erased.
In New Zealand, we used to have a tv show called “Ready to Roll” – later shortened to the much cooler “RTR Countdown.” This show would count down the top 20 hits of the week, randomly playing some before ending on number 1.
Oh the excitement as I waited to see if my current fave would make it to the coveted number 1 spot.
Saturday nights at 6pm would never get more thrilling.
Even now the sound of synthesizers gets the dopamine flowing.
Whether you want to enjoy the music as a background, watch some ancient cringe worthy videos, or have an 80s disco for two, 80s music is a non-negotiable in your date.
Of course, in a decade there’s a lot of beauties to pick from.
The number one seems like a logical choice, but finding the number one hit of each year was surprisingly challenging, therefore I have given you the number 1 song in the USA on or as near to October 25 as I could get for reasons only known to myself (okay, it’s my husband’s birthday).
(Here’s where I’d start if you want to search for other dates in the 80s)
1980: Woman in love – Barbra Streisand
1981: Arthur’s Theme (Best That You Can Do) – Christopher Cross
1982: Jack and Diane – John Cougar
1983: Total eclipse of the heart – Bonnie Tyler
1984: I just called to say I love you – Stevie Wonder
1985: Saving all my love for you – Whitney Houston
1986: True colors – Cyndi Lauper
1987: Bad- Michael Jackson
1988: A groovy kind of love – Phil Collins
1989: Miss you much _ Janet Jackson
Go wild on You Tube or get that Spotify playlist going.
80s trivia questions
The 1980s was the decade when Trivial Pursuit came into its own (fun fact – it was released in 1979).
In honor of this, and for a fun activity during your 80s date, here’s 50 80s pop culture trivia questions (if you don’t know the answers, maybe circle back after you’ve listened to some of the 80s music and watched some of the 80s movies).
Who was the president of the United States during most of the 1980s?
Answer: Ronald Reagan
Who directed the movie “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” in 1982?
Answer: Steven Spielberg
What was the name of the popular arcade game released in 1980 that featured a little yellow character eating pellets?
Answer: Pac-Man
Who sang the hit song “Like a Virgin” in 1984?
Answer: Madonna
What was the name of the popular Swiss watch brand launched in1983?
Answer: Swatch watch
Who played the character Marty McFly in the 1985 movie “Back to the Future”?
Answer: Michael J. Fox
Who was the lead singer of the band Bon Jovi during the 1980s?
Answer: Jon Bon Jovi
What was the name of the popular TV show about a group of gifted high school students at the fictional Millard Fillmore High School in Manhattan?
Answer: Head of the Class
Who played the character Indiana Jones in the 1981 movie “Raiders of the Lost Ark”?
Answer: Harrison Ford
What band sang the hit song “Sweet Child O’ Mine” in 1987?
Answer: Guns N’ Roses
What was the name of the sitcom featuring a young Michael J. Fox that aired from 1982-1989?
Answer: Family Ties
What was the name of the popular dance move that was perfected by Michael Jackson?
Answer: The Moonwalk
What was the name of the classic video game that featured a character jumping over barrels and climbing ladders to rescue a damsel in distress?
Answer: Donkey Kong
What item of clothing was made popular by the movie Flashdance?
Answer: Legwarmers
What was the name of the American family entertainment center and restaurant pizza chain founded in 1980 by Robert L. Brock and Creative Engineering?
Answer: Showbiz Pizza Place
Who was the iconic actress who played Claire Standish in the 1985 movie “The Breakfast Club”?
Answer: Molly Ringwald
Who won the Super Bowl in 1985?
Answer: San Francisco 49ers
What was the name of the first music video ever played on MTV?
Answer: “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles
Who played the character Axel Foley in the 1984 movie “Beverly Hills Cop”?
Answer: Eddie Murphy
Who sang the hit song “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” in 1983?
Answer: Cyndi Lauper
What was the name of the popular toy created in 1980 that involved twisting and turning the cube to solve the puzzle?
Answer: Rubik’s Cube
What was the name of the TV show that launched in 1989 featuring four comedians on a couch, riffing on cheesy movies?
Answer: Mystery Science Theater 3000
Who played the character Ivan Drago in the 1985 movie “Rocky IV”?
Answer: Dolph Lundgren
Who sang the hit song “I Want to Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)” in 1987?
Answer: Whitney Houston
Who played the character Luke Skywalker in the 1983 movie “Return of the Jedi”?
Answer: Mark Hamill
What was the name of the popular cartoon about a group of turtles trained in martial arts?
Answer: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Who sang the hit song “Every Breath You Take” in 1983?
Answer: The Police
Who played the character John McClane in the 1988 movie “Die Hard”?
Answer: Bruce Willis
Who sang the hit song “Livin’ on a Prayer” in 1986?
Answer: Bon Jovi
What was a rah-rah or ra-ra skirt?
Answer: A short flounced layered skirt
Who directed the movie “Ghostbusters” in 1984?
Answer: Ivan Reitman
What was the name of the popular TV show featuring a family living in the suburbs with a friendly alien?
Answer: ALF
Who sang the hit song “Billie Jean” in 1983?
Answer: Michael Jackson
What was the name of the popular toy that came with a birth certificate and adoption papers?
Answer: Cabbage Patch Kids
Who played the character Ferris Bueller in the 1986 movie “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”?
Answer: Matthew Broderick
Who sang the hit song “The Power of Love” in 1985?
Answer: Huey Lewis and the News (Jennifer Rush’s song of the same name was released in 1984)
What was the name of the popular toy that featured a small vehicle that transformed into a robot?
Answer: Transformers
Who won the World Series in 1986?
Answer: New York Mets
The 1986 movie Stand By Me was based on which Stephen King novella?
Answer: The Body
What popular type of denim was created by washing it with bleach and sometimes pumice stones?
Who played the character Sloth in the 1985 movie “The Goonies”?
Answer: John Matuszak
Who sang the hit song “Take On Me” in 1985?
Answer: A-ha
Who played the character Sarah Connor in the 1984 movie “The Terminator”?
Answer: Linda Hamilton
Who sang the hit song “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go” in 1984?
Answer: Wham!
Who played the character Maverick in the 1986 movie “Top Gun”?
Answer: Tom Cruise
Who sang the hit song “Jump” in 1984?
Answer: Van Halen
What was the name of the popular TV show featuring a group of detectives solving crimes in Hawaii?
Answer: Magnum, P.I.
In the 1982 movie “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”, ET wanted to do what?
Answer: Phone home
Who sang the hit song “Footloose” in 1984?
Answer: Kenny Loggins
Who won the NBA Championship in 1987?
Answer: Los Angeles Lakers
Who sang the hit song “Total Eclipse of the Heart” in 1983?
Answer: Bonnie Tyler
What was the name of the popular TV show featuring a talking car?
Answer: Knight Rider
Loved these date ideas and want more? Check out these date ideas for couples.
From roller skating to retro rom-coms, there are so many activities to choose from for your 80s date night that will transport you and your date back to the decade of big hair and bright colors.
If you’re after a totally awesome fun date night experience, an 80s date night is the way to go. Rock those parachute pants and keep it real, dude!
(You might also like this 70s date night).