80s Charades: 70 Words to Act Out
Why the 80s Work So Well for Charades
Big hair, neon everything, and the best pop culture around — the 80s were made for charades. This themed round is packed with the movies, music, fashion, and fads that defined the decade, and acting them out is a blast for anyone who lived through it (or just loves the aesthetic). Picture someone miming a Rubik's Cube or busting out the Moonwalk — totally radical.
This guide gives you 70 totally 80s charades words sorted by category, plus how-to-act-it-out tips, fun variations, and a plan for a tubular game night. Let's go back to the future!
80s Movie Charades
The blockbusters that defined the decade:
E.T. · Back to the Future · Ghostbusters · The Princess Bride · Indiana Jones · Top Gun · Ferris Bueller's Day Off · Dirty Dancing · The Karate Kid · Gremlins · Beetlejuice · Labyrinth · The Goonies · Rocky · Star Wars
80s Music Charades
The sounds of the 80s:
The Moonwalk · Michael Jackson · Madonna · Thriller · Like a Virgin · A boombox · Breakdancing · Air guitar · Duran Duran · Prince · Cyndi Lauper · A synthesizer · Big hair band · Walkman · MTV
80s Fashion & Fads Charades
The looks and trends everyone remembers:
A Rubik's Cube · Leg warmers · Shoulder pads · A mullet · Neon leggings · A scrunchie · Aerobics · Parachute pants · Big permed hair · A cassette tape · Shutter shades · A fanny pack · Roller disco · Jazzercise · A mood ring
80s Toys & Tech Charades
The gadgets and toys of the decade:
Pac-Man · A Rubik's Cube · An Atari · A Cabbage Patch Kid · Transformers · A View-Master · He-Man · My Little Pony · A Care Bear · A brick cell phone · A boombox · An arcade machine · A VHS tape · A Speak & Spell · Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
How to Act Out Tricky 80s Words
Lean on the iconic 80s gesture. Coach your players with these:
| Word | How to Act It Out |
|---|---|
| The Moonwalk | Glide backward while "walking" forward |
| A Rubik's Cube | Twist and turn a cube, frustrated then triumphant |
| Breakdancing | Spin, pop-lock, and "windmill" on the floor |
| Aerobics | High-energy leg kicks and arm pumps in leg warmers |
| Pac-Man | Open-close your hand like a mouth, chomp in a zigzag |
| A boombox | Hoist it on your shoulder, bob to the beat |
| A mullet | "Business in front" — smooth it, then flip the back |
| Ghostbusters | Aim a proton pack at a floating ghost |
| E.T. | Point a glowing finger to the sky |
| Transformers | "Transform" robotically from car to robot |
Pro tip: The fashion and fads are the funniest round — a Rubik's Cube struggle or an aerobics routine in imaginary leg warmers gets the biggest laughs.
Fun 80s Charades Variations
- Decade Battle: 80s team vs 90s team — the ultimate retro showdown.
- Fashion Round: Leg warmers, mullets, shoulder pads — peak 80s style.
- Movie Round: 80s blockbusters only.
- Dance Round: The Moonwalk, breakdancing, and aerobics moves.
- Tubular Slang Round: Act out 80s slang — gnarly, rad, bodacious.
Why 80s Charades Is So Much Fun
- Iconic, exaggerated everything — the 80s were made for big acting.
- Hilarious fashion — mullets and leg warmers are comedy gold.
- Spans categories — movies, music, fashion, and toys.
- Perfect for themed parties — pairs with an 80s dress code.
- Cross-generational — Gen X loves it, and younger players love the aesthetic.
Tips for the Best 80s Charades
- Lean into the fashion and fads — they're the funniest.
- Use iconic dances — the Moonwalk is an instant guess.
- Try a decade battle vs the 90s for friendly rivalry.
- Pair it with a dress code for a full 80s-themed party.
- Use a generator for instant words across every category.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good 80s charades words?
80s icons like the Moonwalk, a Rubik's Cube, E.T., Ghostbusters, Pac-Man, and Madonna — totally radical picks everyone recognizes.
Is 80s charades good for a themed party?
Perfect — it's a nostalgia blast spanning 80s movies, music, fashion, and toys, and pairs brilliantly with an 80s dress-code party.
What are easy 80s things to act out?
The Moonwalk (glide backward), Pac-Man (chomping mouth), aerobics (leg kicks), and a boombox (shoulder bob) — all instantly recognizable.
How do you act out a Rubik's Cube in charades?
Hold an invisible cube and twist its rows frantically, looking frustrated, then triumphant when you "solve" it — a guaranteed 80s guess.
What's a fun 80s charades variation?
The "Decade Battle" — an 80s team versus a 90s team, each acting only their era's icons. It's the ultimate retro nostalgia showdown.
Who enjoys 80s charades most?
Gen X and anyone who loves the 80s aesthetic — and younger players get a kick out of the wild fashion and iconic pop culture too.
More Charades Guides
Ready for an 80s Game Night?
You've got 70 radical words, retro acting tips, and five fun variations — now tease that hair and let the 80s charades begin. Make it effortless:
👉 Open the free Charades Generator — instant words across every category, a timer, and team scoring. No app, no signup. 🕹️
Moonwalk or Rubik's Cube — which 80s classic will your crew nail first? Totally rad, dude!
