Can You Name These Movies That Are 40 Years Old in 2020?

ENTERTAINMENT

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By: Jane Andrews

6 Min Quiz

Image: Lucasfilm Ltd./20th Century Fox

About This Quiz

The year 1980 was a notable one in pop-culture history: The iconic video game "Pac-Man" hit arcades across the country. The first 24-hour cable news network (a.k.a. CNN) was officially launched. A toy called the Rubik's Cube made its worldwide debut, the New York Islanders won their first Stanley Cup and America waited with bated breath to learn who shot “Dallas” patriarch J.R. 

In the world of movies, some of the decade's most popular flicks were hitting the big screen. From horror classics such as "The Shining" and "Friday the 13th" to classic comedies like "9 to 5," "Airplane!" and "Caddyshack," 1980 saw the release of many memorable movies that are still beloved to this day. It's hard to believe these films are now 40 years old! It's official; they're over the hill.

How well do you remember the movies that made their debut in the year 1980? This quiz will take you back to simpler times, when telephones featured rotary dials and TV sets had no flat screens. We'll show you screenshots from 40 movies that were released in 1980, and your job is to identify each one correctly. So pop some popcorn, throw on your favorite crop top and get started — we're dying to see how you do!

This movie musical was based on characters from "Saturday Night Live." Do you recognize it?

Starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd as their "SNL" alter-egos Jake and Elwood Blues, "The Blues Brothers" was packed with notable cameos from big-time musicians such as Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Cab Calloway and James Brown.

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Do you recognize this scary movie?

Based on the creepy Stephen King novel of the same name, "The Shining" stars Jack Nicholson and Shelley Duvall. In 2019, a sequel starring Ewan McGregor was released. Called "Doctor Sleep," it was based on a follow-up novel King wrote in 2013.

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What's this Goldie Hawn comedy?

"Private Benjamin" was the sixth highest-grossing film of 1980. The comedy was also nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Actress (for Hawn) and Best Supporting Actress (for Eileen Brennan).

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Do you recognize the movie this shot is from?

Dolly Parton made her feature-film debut in this comedy, which also stars Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin and Dabney Coleman. Parton also wrote and performed the theme song and won Grammy Awards for Best Country Song of the Year and Best Female Country Vocal of the Year.

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Can you tell us the name of this romantic western?

Star John Travolta reportedly had a mechanical bull installed in his home to practice riding before filming began. The story goes that he became so good that he ended up dismissing the stunt double and performing the moves himself.

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This biopic is about country music legend Loretta Lynn. What's it called?

Sissy Spacek won both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress for her role as the country singer in this film. The movie's soundtrack was also popular and won the Country Music Association Award for Album of the Year.

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Can you name this David Lynch film?

This historical drama follows the story of a deformed man in 18th-century London. The movie was nominated for eight Oscar Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Actor.

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What's the name of this live-action comic book comedy?

Starring Robin Williams in the title role, this comedy was highly anticipated and is remembered by most as a box-office bomb. However, this isn't true — while it wasn't the huge hit the studio had hoped for, the movie earned more than double its original budget.

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Can you identify this romantic coming-of-age film?

Starring a young Brooke Shields, "The Blue Lagoon" was panned by critics when it was first released. Nevertheless, it quickly became a hit went on to become the ninth highest-grossing film of 1980.

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What's the name of this classic Bill Murray movie?

This iconic sports comedy features an all-star ensemble cast that includes Chevy Chase, Ted Knight, Rodney Dangerfield and Brian Doyle-Murray. A sequel, "Caddyshack II," was released in 1988, though only Chase returned for the film.

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Which of the following films is this shot from?

Based on the Flash Gordon comic strip serial from the 1930s, this movie has become a cult classic with science fiction and fantasy fans. The film is also well-known for its popular soundtrack, which was produced and performed by the rock band Queen.

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What's this teen drama called?

Starring Tatum O'Neal and Kristy McNichol, this film also features early performances by actors Matt Dillon and Cynthia Nixon. While the movie was not a big success, it had a popular soundtrack with songs by Blondie, Rickie Lee Jones, Supertramp and The Cars.

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How about this musical fantasy film?

Featuring Hollywood legend Gene Kelly in his final film role, this movie also stars Olivia Newton-John. Though it was a box-office bomb, the soundtrack album was a commercial success and certified double platinum in the U.S.

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Do you recognize this wacky comedy?

Directed by David Zucker, Jerry Zucker and Jim Abrahams, this satirical, oft-quoted hit was the fourth highest-grossing film of 1980. Fun fact: The role of Ted Striker was originally written for a young, pre-talk-show David Letterman.

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Do you know which popular horror movie this shot is from?

The first in a long string of films featuring the hockey-mask-wearing murderer Jason, "Friday the 13th" was a big box-office hit, earning nearly $60 million worldwide. The movie features actor Kevin Bacon in an early role.

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What's the name of this high-energy musical?

Directed by English filmmaker Alan Parker, "Fame" follows a group of talented students attending the High School of Performing Arts in New York City. The film won two Academy Awards for Best Original Song and Best Original Score.

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Martin Scorsese directed this award-winning drama. What's it called?

Adapted from boxer Jake LaMotta's memoir, "Raging Bull: My Story," this movie stars Robert De Niro in the lead role. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards (and managed to win two, for Best Film Editing and Best Actor).

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How about this Richard Pryor comedy? Can you name it?

Directed by Sidney Poitier, this movie co-starred Gene Wilder, who had previously appeared with Pryor in the hit 1977 film "Silver Streak.'" "Stir Crazy" was a box office smash and became the third-highest-grossing film of 1980.

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What's the name of this crime drama?

This film helped launch the career of Richard Gere, who plays Julian Kaye, a male escort involved with upper-class clientele. The movie's soundtrack features the hit song "Call Me" by Blondie, which was written for the film.

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Do you recognize this supernatural thriller?

Starring actors George C. Scott, Trish Van Devere and Melvyn Douglas, this creepy movie set in Seattle is based on events that one of the film's screenwriters claimed he experienced while living in a mansion in Denver in the late 1960s.

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Here's another movie musical. Do you recognize it?

This cheesy disco film features the music group the Village People. Fun fact: The movie was directed by actress Nancy Walker, best known for her role as Rhoda Morgenstern's mother on the sitcom "Rhoda."

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This scary movie was directed by Brian De Palma. Which one is it?

This movie, featuring Michael Caine, Angie Dickinson and Nancy Allen, was one of 1980's biggest summer hits. It grossed a total of $31.9 million in the U.S. and was positively reviewed by critics.

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According to Box Office Mojo, this was the highest-grossing film of 1980. Can you name it?

This highly anticipated sequel to the 1977 hit "Star Wars: A New Hope" made $181.4 million during its original run in the United States and Canada. When the film was re-released in theaters in 1997, it grossed $22 million during its first weekend.

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What's the name of this tear-jerking family drama?

Starring Donald Sutherland, Mary Tyler Moore, Judd Hirsch and Timothy Hutton, "Ordinary People" won four Oscar Awards for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (for Moore) and Best Supporting Actor (for Hutton).

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This South African movie was a surprise hit. Do you recognize it?

Set in Botswana, this independent, locally financed film is still the biggest commercial success in the history of South African film. A sequel followed it in 1989 called "The Gods Must Be Crazy II."

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Can you name this romantic fantasy film?

This time-travel film stars Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour and Christopher Plummer. It's based on a 1975 novel called "Bid Time Return" and was filmed on location at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Michigan.

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Can you identify this superhero flick?

The sequel to the 1978 classic "Superman" actually has two cuts. One is by the film's credited director, Richard Lester, which was the version released in theaters, and one is by Richard Donner, the movie's original director, who was replaced halfway through the making of the film.

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Can you name this low-budget horror flick?

"Motel Hell" has acquired a cult following over the years due to its mix of humor and horror. It's about a murderous hotel manager who traps unsuspecting guests and uses them to make human sausages.

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This supernatural movie was directed by John Carpenter. Do you know it?

Starring actresses Adrienne Barbeau and Jamie Lee Curtis, "The Fog" has become a cult classic horror flick. A remake was released in 2005, though it failed to enthrall audiences like the original film.

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Here's another low-budget slasher from 1980. Which is it?

Fun fact: Tom Hanks makes his feature film debut in this silly horror flick, which is about an engaged woman who is mercilessly stalked by a crazy killer the weekend before her wedding.

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What disaster movie is this shot from?

The all-star cast featured in this action film includes Paul Newman, Jacqueline Bisset, William Holden and Ernest Borgnine. Newman and Borgnine previously starred together in the 1974 hit disaster flick, "The Towering Inferno."

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1980 was a popular year for coming-of-age films. Can you name this one?

This movie features early performances by Jodie Foster and Scott Baio. It was directed by Adrian Lyne, who went on to direct hit films such as "Flashdance," "9½ Weeks" and "Fatal Attraction."

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Can you tell us the name of this stoner comedy?

A follow-up to the 1978 comedy "Up in Smoke," this movie was written by and starred comedians Tommy Chong and Cheech Marin. It also features Paul Reubens in one of his first appearances as Pee-Wee Herman.

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This comedy was written by Neil Simon. Can you name it?

This movie stars Chevy Chase and Goldie Hawn, who previously worked together in the 1978 hit comedy "Foul Play." "Seems Like Old Times" was a modest success, receiving mixed reviews and decent box-office earnings.

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What's the name of this fun flick?

This hit action-comedy starring Burt Reynolds and Sally Field became the eighth highest-grossing film of 1980. It's a sequel to the 1977 movie "Smokey and the Bandit," which was the second highest-grossing film of 1977, behind "Star Wars: The Last Hope."

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Here's a Clint Eastwood film from 1980. What's it called?

This movie is a sequel to the 1978 hit "Every Which Way but Loose." Like the original film, it was a box-office smash. It earned more than $70 million and became the fifth-highest-grossing movie of 1980.

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Do you recognize this musical drama?

Based on the life of the well-known rock promoter Bob Marcucci, "The Idolmaker" stars Ray Sharkey, Peter Gallagher and Joe Pantoliano. It was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and won one for Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy (for Sharkey).

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Do you recognize this car comedy?

The fourth and final installment of Disney's original Herbie movie franchise, this film is considered to be the weakest — and least profitable — of the series. A reboot, "Herbie: Fully Loaded," was released in 2005.

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This movie is based on an Agatha Christie story. Which is it?

Based on Christie's Miss Marple novel "The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side," this mystery features an all-star cast including Angela Lansbury, Elizabeth Taylor, Kim Novak and Rock Hudson.

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Jamie Lee Curtis stars in this scary slasher. Do you know it?

In the 40 years since its original release, this movie has become a horror cult classic. It spawned four sequels — none featuring Curtis — and a 2008 remake starring Brittany Snow.

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