What 1980s Movie Am I? Quiz | Movies

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. I am a 1987 movie based on a book of the same name and directed by Brian De Palma. My story tells of a real-life federal agent and his small team going against a very famous Chicago mobster in the prohibition era. What movie am I?

Answer: The Untouchables

"The Untouchables" starred Kevin Costner as Eliot Ness, Sean Connery as Jim Malone and Robert De Niro as Al Capone. The film also featured Charles Martin Smith, Andy Garcia, among others. The movie featured actual historical Chicago locations.

The film was nominated for four Academy Awards and Sean Connery won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. It was also nominated for American Film Institute lists. A TV series of the same name and subject matter ran from 1959-1963, and had another short run in 1993-94.

Robert De Niro put on about 14 kg (30 lb) for the role of Al Capone. The director also met with Bob Hoskins to discuss the role of Al Capone, but always preferred De Niro. The Director sent Bob Hoskins a cheque for $20,000 and a "thank you" note when De Niro accepted the role.

2. Directed by Steven Spielberg, I am a very popular 1982 movie that tells the story of a young boy and his brother and sister who have a very extraordinary friend who they try to keep hidden from their mother and the government. What movie am I?

Answer: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

"E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial" starred Henry Thomas as Elliott, Robert MacNaughton as Michael, Drew Barrymore as Gertie and Dee Wallace as their mother, Mary. For 11 years this film held the record for the highest grossing film of all time.

According to Steven Spielberg, E.T was based on an imaginary alien friend he had in his childhood, after his parents divorced. The cost of creating the E.T. creature was $1.5 million and according to Spielberg it was "something that only a mother could love."

"E.T" was nominated for nine Academy Awards and won four Oscars for Best Original Score, Best Sound, Best Sound Effects Editing, and Best Visual Effects. It was nominated for five Golden Globes and won two. John Williams won a Grammy and a BAFTA for his score. The film also is included on several American Film Institute Lists. On the AFI list of "100 Movies... 100 Quotes" the line "E.T phone home" is number 15. According to "Time" it is one of the 100 best films ever made.

3. I am a 1988 movie directed Barry Levinson. I tell the story of two brothers, Charlie, a selfish yuppie who was unaware of his brother's existence until his father's death, and of Raymond, his autistic brother. What movie am I?

Answer: Rain Man

"Rain Man" stars Dustin Hoffman as Raymond Babbitt and Tom Cruise as Charlie Babbitt. It was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won four: Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role (Dustin Hoffman), Best Director, and Best Writing, Original Screenplay.

Bill Murray was originally envisioned to play the role of Raymond with Dustin Hoffman in the role of Charlie, which was eventually played by Tom Cruise. In 1988 alone the film grossed $172 million.

4. I am a 1985 movie directed by Peter Weir. I tell the story of a young Amish boy who witnesses a murder and the policeman who goes to live with him to protect him from the killer. What movie am I?

Answer: Witness

"Witness" starred Harrison Ford, Kelly McGillis, Lukas Haas and Josef Sommer. It was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won two, for Best Original Screenplay and Best Film Editing. It was nominated for 7 BAFTA Awards, winning one. It was also nominated for 5 Golden Globe Awards.

The script was originally titled "Called Home" being the Amish term for death. Fox Studios turned down the film stating that they did not want to make a "rural" movie. After Harrison Ford agreed to play the leading role, Fox Studios was again approached, and turned it down a second time. Several other studios also rejected the movie, but it was ultimately picked up by Paramount Pictures.

5. Directed by Norman Jewison, I am a 1987 movie that tells the story of an Italian/American accountant. Her boyfriend proposes to her and asks her to invite his estranged brother to the wedding, as he is flying to Italy to be with his dying mother. What movie am I?

Answer: Moonstruck

"Moonstruck" stars Cher, Nicolas Cage, Vincent Gardenia, Olympia Dukakis, John Mahoney and Danny Aiello. It was nominated for six Academy Awards and won Oscars for Best Actress (Cher), Best Supporting Actress (Olympia Dukakis) and Best Original Screenplay.

It was also nominated for four BAFTAs and won one for Best Supporting Actress (Olympia Dukakis). The film was nominated for five Golden Globe Awards and won three, Best Actress (Cher), Best Supporting Actress (Olympia Dukakis) and Best Screenplay. It also appears on numerous American Film Institute Lists and on the "10 Top 10" it ranks number 8 in the Romantic Comedy category.

According to actor John Mahoney, the attention he got from is role in "Moonstruck", led to him being cast in the TV series "Frasier".

6. I am a 1988 comedy-crime movie directed by Charles Crichton. I tell the story of four people who steal a large number of diamonds and of the quartet's attempts to double-cross each other in order to be the sole owner of the diamonds. What movie am I?

Answer: A Fish Called Wanda

"A Fish Called Wanda" starred John Cleese as Archie Leach, Jamie Lee Curtis as Wanda Gershwitz, Kevin Kline as Otto, and Michael Palin as Ken Pile, and Tom Georgeson as Georges Thomason. Kevin Kline won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.

John Cleese and Charles Crichton were nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. The film was nominated for two Golden Globe and BAFTA Awards, with Michael Palin winning a BAFTA for Best Supporting Role.

Archie Leach was the real name of actor Cary Grant.

7. I am a 1984 period drama directed by Milos Forman. I tell the story of the genius of a famous Austrian composer. What movie am I?

Answer: Amadeus

"Amadeus" starred F. Murray Abraham, Tom Hulce, Elizabeth Berridge and Simon Callow. The movie was nominated for a total of 53 awards and won 40. Included in that total were 11 Academy Award nominations and eight wins for, among others, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Director, and Best Picture. According to Kenneth Branagh, he was one of the finalists for the role of Mozart.

In 2002 the director of "Amadeus", Milos Forman, issued an R-rated version with an additional 20 minutes of footage as a Director's Cut. The music for the movie was conducted by Sir Neville Marriner with the orchestra of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.

8. An out-of-work actor with a reputation for being difficult disguises himself as a woman to get work. Directed by Sydney Pollack, what 1982 movie am I?

Answer: Tootsie

"Tootsie" starred Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr, Dabney Coleman and Charles Durning, among others. It was nominated for 10 Academy Awards and won one for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for Jessica Lange. It was nominated for nine BAFTAs and won two: Dustin Hoffman for Best Actor, and also for Best Make Up. The movie also won three Golden Globe Awards (nominated for five). Dustin Hoffman won for Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musial; Jessica Lange for Best Actress in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture, and Pollack for Best Director - Motion Picture.

Sydney Pollack, by the way, appeared as Michael Dorsey's (Dustin Hoffman's) agent.

9. It's hero time! I am a 1988 movie directed by John McTiernan. I tell the story of a New York detective fighting alone to save a group of hostages from foreign 'terrorists' in a large city skyscraper. What movie am I?

Answer: Die Hard

"Die Hard" starred Bruce Willis as John McClane, Bonnie Bedelia as his wife, Holly, and Alan Rickman as leader of the terrorists, Hans Gruber. The movie was nominated for four Academy Awards. Several sequels followed, including "Die Hard 2", "Die Hard With a Vengeance", and "Live Free or Die Hard".

On the American Film Institute's list of "100 Years... 100 Thrills", "Die Hard" is listed as number 39, and on the AFI's list of "100 Years... 100 Heroes and Villains", the character Hans Gruber is listed as number 46. In 2010 "Empire Magazine" voted "Die Hard" as "The Greatest Christmas Film of All Time."

10. I am a 1987 fantasy movie directed by Rob Reiner. I tell the story of love and adventure, a heroine, a hero, a horrible prince, a swashsbuckling swordsman, and a giant. What movie am I?

Answer: The Princess Bride

"The Princess Bride" starred Peter Falk as the Gradfather/storyteller and Cary Elwes, Mandy Patinkin, Chris Sarandon, Andre the Giant, Fred Savage and Robin Wright, among others. The film was nominated for one Academy Award for Best Music - Original Song. Two of the well-known lines from the movie are "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die!", and "As you wish."

Actors of very short stature were actually inside rat costumes playing the giant rats in the film. An amusing related anecdote: On his way to the studio, one of the diminutive actors was pulled over for speeding, was arrested and had to be bailed out by the film company so the scene with the giant rats could continue.

Source: Author wenray

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor jmorrow before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

What 1980s Movie Am I? Trivia Quiz

Here are some more great movies. This time it's the 1980s' turn. It's so hard to pick just 10. Can you tell me "What 1980s Movie Am I?"

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>