55 Pop Culture Trivia Questions

Do you consider yourself a walking encyclopedia of all things movies, music, and memes?

Can you quote iconic lines faster than your friends can say “shazam”?

Well, buckle up, because this blog is about to put your pop culture knowledge to the test!

Get ready to dive into a pool of brain-teasing trivia questions that span across genres, eras, and even the occasional internet rabbit hole.

Whether you’re a die-hard Marvel fan, a connoisseur of classic sitcoms, or simply someone who enjoys a good challenge, this blog is guaranteed to have something for you.

So, are you ready to separate the fangirls from the casual observers? Let the pop culture trivia battle begin!

Pop Culture Trivia Questions

In what year did MTV originally launch, and what was the first music video it aired?
Which actor performed the voice of Darth Vader in the original “Star Wars” trilogy, but was never seen on screen?
Name the artist and the title of the album that famously beat Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” for Album of the Year at the 1984 Grammy Awards.
What was the original name of the television show “Friends” when it was first developed?
Who was the first superhero character that Stan Lee created for Marvel Comics?
In “The Simpsons”, who shot Mr. Burns in the two-part mystery event that spanned the end of season 6 and the beginning of season 7?
What is the name of the first video game considered to have a narrative storyline, released in 1975?
Which movie was incorrectly announced as the winner of the Best Picture award at the 2017 Academy Awards, before the mistake was corrected on stage?
Before achieving fame with “No Doubt”, Gwen Stefani provided vocals on a song for which ska band in 1995?
What was the first animated film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture?
Which famous pop star wrote songs under the pseudonym “Nanker Phelge” along with their band in the early years?
What was the first music video aired on MTV Europe when it launched on August 1, 1987?
In the movie “Pulp Fiction”, what is the mysterious item that is in the briefcase?
What is the name of the fictional town where the television show “Stranger Things” is set?
Who is credited with inventing the moonwalk dance move?
Which film won the first ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature?
Name the first video game character to be made into a balloon for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
What was the name of the first book in the “Game of Thrones” series by George R.R. Martin?
Who was the original drummer for The Beatles before Ringo Starr joined the band?
Which artist is famous for the “Campbell’s Soup Cans” series?
In which city and country was the band ABBA formed?
What year did the original Woodstock music festival take place?
What is the real name of the superhero Iron Man?
Which TV show featured the first interracial kiss on American television?
Who directed the epic science fiction movie “Blade Runner”?
What groundbreaking technology was first introduced in the film “Jurassic Park” that changed the future of movie-making?
Which artist is known for the iconic pop art piece “LOVE,” featuring the letters L and O above V and E?
What was the name of the first feature-length animated movie ever released?
In the world of Harry Potter, what is the core material in Harry’s wand?
What was the first television show broadcast in color?
Which 90s television show featured a character known for saying “Did I do that?”
Name the album that made Prince the first artist to have a number one film, single, and album at the same time.
Which character in “Friends” famously said, “We were on a break”?
Who was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?
What is the highest-selling video game of all time?
Which movie is known for the quote, “There’s no crying in baseball!”?
In what year was Netflix founded?
What band was originally known as “The Quarrymen” before becoming famous under another name?
Who is the author of the dystopian novel “1984”?
What was the first video on YouTube to hit one billion views?
Which actor was originally cast as Marty McFly in “Back to the Future” before being replaced by Michael J. Fox?
What is the name of the fictional British spy who first appeared in a series of novels in the 1950s?
Which iconic music festival took place in 1969 on a dairy farm in the town of Bethel, New York?
What was the first full-length CGI (Computer-Generated Imagery) movie?
Who wrote the novel “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”?
What is the name of Batman’s secret identity?
Who is the creator of the Japanese manga series “One Piece”?
What TV show was the first to show a toilet flushing on-screen?
Which video game introduced the character Mario, originally known as Jumpman?
In what year did the Beatles release their first album?
Who was the first female artist to achieve a UK number one with a self-written song?
What is the name of the largest volcano in the Solar System, and on which planet is it located?
Which country is the band Rammstein from?
What was the first animated film to receive an R rating?
Who invented the phonograph, the first device that could both record and play back sound?

Answers

MTV launched on August 1, 1981, with the first music video being “Video Killed the Radio Star” by The Buggles.
James Earl Jones provided the voice for Darth Vader.
The album “Thriller” was beaten by Lionel Richie’s album “Can’t Slow Down” for the Album of the Year.
The original name for “Friends” was “Insomnia Cafe”. It went through several titles, including “Across the Hall,” before becoming “Friends.”
The Fantastic Four were the first superhero characters that Stan Lee created for Marvel Comics.
Maggie Simpson shot Mr. Burns.
The first video game considered to have a narrative storyline is “The Oregon Trail.”
“La La Land” was incorrectly announced as the Best Picture winner, but the actual winner was “Moonlight.”
Gwen Stefani provided vocals on a song for the ska band “Sublime” in 1995.
“Beauty and the Beast” (1991) was the first animated film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture.
Mick Jagger and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones used the pseudonym “Nanker Phelge” for early group compositions.
The first music video aired on MTV Europe was “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits.
The contents of the briefcase in “Pulp Fiction” are never revealed, making it a mystery.
The fictional town in “Stranger Things” is Hawkins, Indiana.
Michael Jackson is credited with popularizing the moonwalk, although it had existed in some form before him.
“Shrek” won the first ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature in 2001.
Sonic the Hedgehog was the first video game character to be made into a balloon for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The first book in the “Game of Thrones” series is “A Game of Thrones.”
Pete Best was the original drummer for The Beatles before Ringo Starr.
Andy Warhol is famous for the “Campbell’s Soup Cans” series.
ABBA was formed in Stockholm, Sweden.
The original Woodstock music festival took place in 1969.
The real name of Iron Man is Tony Stark.
“Star Trek: The Original Series” featured the first interracial kiss on American television, between Captain Kirk and Lieutenant Uhura.
Ridley Scott directed “Blade Runner”.
Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) was groundbreaking technology introduced in “Jurassic Park.”
Robert Indiana is known for the iconic pop art piece “LOVE.”
“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937) was the first feature-length animated movie ever released.
The core material in Harry’s wand is a phoenix feather.
“The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet” is credited as the first television show broadcast in color.
Steve Urkel in “Family Matters” is known for saying “Did I do that?”
The album “Purple Rain” made Prince the first artist to achieve the feat of having a number one film, single, and album simultaneously.
Ross Geller famously said, “We were on a break” in “Friends.”
Aretha Franklin was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
“Minecraft” is the highest-selling video game of all time.
“A League of Their Own” is known for the quote, “There’s no crying in baseball!”
Netflix was founded in 1997.
The Beatles were originally known as “The Quarrymen.”
George Orwell is the author of “1984.”
“Gangnam Style” by Psy was the first video on YouTube to hit one billion views.
Eric Stoltz was originally cast as Marty McFly in “Back to the Future.”
James Bond is the name of the fictional British spy.
Woodstock is the iconic music festival that took place in 1969.
“Toy Story” (1995) was the first full-length CGI movie.
Douglas Adams wrote “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”
Bruce Wayne is Batman’s secret identity.
Eiichiro Oda is the creator of “One Piece.”
“All in the Family” was the first TV show to show a toilet flushing on-screen.
“Donkey Kong” introduced the character Mario.
The Beatles released their first album, “Please Please Me,” in 1963.
Kate Bush was the first female artist to achieve a UK number one with a self-written song, “Wuthering Heights.”
Olympus Mons is the name of the largest volcano in the Solar System, located on Mars.
Rammstein is from Germany.
“Fritz the Cat” (1972) was the first animated film to receive an R rating.
Thomas Edison invented the phonograph.