Born in 1985: fun facts, prices and a free printable 41st birthday party kit
Turning 41 in 2026? Here is the year they arrived, from Live Aid to Back to the Future, with a free printable party kit to go with it.
In 1985 the Live Aid concerts raised money for famine relief, Back to the Future opened in July and Coca-Cola brought back its original recipe 79 days after announcing New Coke. Villanova upset Georgetown, Pete Rose passed Ty Cobb's hit record and the Kansas City Royals won the World Series.

Anyone born in 1985 arrived in the year Marty McFly called home. Back to the Future opened in July, Live Aid filled two stadiums and Coca-Cola changed its recipe, then changed it back.
Below you will find the year's biggest moments, what groceries and gas cost, famous birthdays, and the movies, music, TV and games people loved. Party ideas come last, along with a free printable kit of 1985 trivia and games that signed-in visitors can download.
What’s in the free printable Born in 1985 party kit?
27 printable pages in 3 PDFs for the 41st birthday party: 12 games, a host guide with every answer, and table cards. Print it at home, hand out pens and let the stories start.
- Meet & mingle bingo
- The 1985 headline quiz
- What did it cost in 1985?
- The 1985 birthday club
- Movies & music of 1985
- Before or after 1985?
- Timeline shuffle
- The 1985 word search
- Who knows them best?
- Two truths & a tall tale
- Toasts & memory prompts
- Wishes for the next chapter
Free printable PDFs with an InviteBird account: 3 files, each in US Letter and A4.

A look inside the kit

Game 1: Meet & mingle bingo

Game 2: The 1985 headline quiz

Game 3: What did it cost in 1985?

Game 4: The 1985 birthday club

Game 5: Movies & music of 1985

Game 7: Timeline shuffle

The host guide: every answer, explained

Table cards: the 1985 history card, welcome sign and place cards
How do you play the 41st birthday party games in the kit?
Here is what each game asks of your guests, how to play it and why it lands, so you can pick the ones that suit your crowd before you print.
Meet & mingle bingo
Find a guest for every square. The perfect icebreaker.
You need
- One card per guest
- Pens
How to play
- Hand everyone a card and a pen as they arrive.
- Mingle! When a guest fits a square, ask them to sign their name in it.
- Each guest can sign your card only once. The guest of honor may sign twice.
- First to fill a row, column or diagonal calls "Bingo!" and the host checks the names.
Why it’s fun: Strangers become friends in minutes, and everyone ends up swapping stories about the guest of honor.
The 1985 twist: The 1985 card has squares like “Can name a hit song from 1985” and “Has seen Back to the Future”.
The 1985 headline quiz
Ten questions about the year it all began.
You need
- One sheet per team
- Pens
How to play
- Split into teams and pick a team name.
- Read each question aloud, or let teams work through the sheet at their own pace.
- Fill in one bubble per question. Changed your mind? Cross it out clearly.
- Swap sheets to mark them: one point per right answer. Answers are in the host guide.
Why it’s fun: Big moments from 1985, with answers that spark "I remember that!" stories.
Play it on this page, no sign-inWhat did it cost in 1985?
Everyday prices from 1985: guess what they cost.
You need
- One sheet per team
- Pens
How to play
- Every price is a real 1985 figure; the host guide says where each one comes from.
- Write your best guess in dollars and cents on each tag.
- The host reveals the real prices one at a time, for maximum gasps.
- The closest guess on each tag wins a point. For extra drama, play closest without going over.
Why it’s fun: Everyone has an opinion about prices, and the real 1985 numbers always get a reaction.
The 1985 birthday club
Eight of these stars were born in 1985. Can you spot them?
You need
- One sheet per team
- Pens
How to play
- Read each famous name.
- Decide whether they were born before 1985, in 1985, or after 1985.
- Fill in one bubble for each person.
- One point per right answer. Watch out for the close calls!
Why it’s fun: Quick to play and full of surprises: it is hard to believe some of these stars share the guest of honor's birth year.
Movies & music of 1985
Match the films to their stars and the hits to their singers.
You need
- One sheet per team
- Pens
How to play
- Match each film to a famous name from the box, writing the letter beside it.
- Do the same for each 1985 hit song and its artist.
- Each letter is used once per side.
- One point per match, plus a bonus point for naming the song that was No. 1 on Cash Box magazine's 1985 year-end chart.
Why it’s fun: It turns into a sing-along. Play the songs as you reveal the answers.
Before or after 1985?
Toys, games and gadgets: did each arrive before or after 1985?
You need
- One sheet per team
- Pens
How to play
- Read each milestone.
- Fill in the bubble on the left for before 1985, or on the right for after 1985.
- None of these happened in 1985 itself.
- One point per right answer. Some of them are very close calls!
Why it’s fun: Everyone has a memory of these, and the close calls start friendly arguments.
Timeline shuffle
Put eight milestones in order around the 1985 card.
You need
- One sheet per team
- Scissors
- A table to lay the cards on
How to play
- Before the party, cut out one set of cards per team along the dashed lines.
- Each team lays the 1985 card in the middle of their table.
- Place the other eight cards in order from earliest to latest, around the 1985 card.
- The host reads out the right order: one point for each card in the right spot.
Why it’s fun: Hands-on and loud: teams debate, shuffle and change their minds right up to the reveal.
The 1985 word search
Fourteen words from 1985 are hidden in the grid.
You need
- One sheet per player
- Pens or pencils
How to play
- Find each word from the list in the grid.
- Words run across, down or diagonally, and some run backwards.
- Circle each word in the grid and tick it off the list.
- First to find all fourteen wins. The solution is in the host guide.
Why it’s fun: A calm game for anyone who wants a break from the crowd, including the youngest guests.
Who knows them best?
How well do you really know the guest of honor?
You need
- One sheet per team
- Pens
- The guest of honor's answers
How to play
- Before the party, ask the guest of honor to answer the questions privately.
- Teams write down what they think the guest of honor said.
- The guest of honor reveals each answer, with the story behind it.
- One point per match. The host decides on close answers.
Why it’s fun: The reveals are the best part: every answer comes with a story.
The 1985 twist: Add a 1985 bonus question: which hit from that year would they pick as their theme song, “We Are the World” or “Money for Nothing”?
Two truths & a tall tale
Two true stories and one invention. Spot the tall tale.
You need
- One slip per guest (two per sheet)
- Pens
How to play
- Write three short statements about yourself: two true, one made up.
- Fill in the bubble for your tall tale, then fold that corner over to hide it.
- Take turns reading your three statements aloud.
- Everyone guesses the tall tale. Fool the room and you win a point.
Why it’s fun: Guests learn surprising things about each other, and the guest of honor's turn is always a highlight.
The 1985 twist: Guests may swap one statement for a fact from 1985, like “Super Bowl XIX” (January 20), and the room decides whether it really happened that year.
Toasts & memory prompts
Twelve prompts that turn shy guests into storytellers.
You need
- One sheet, cut into cards
- A bowl or hat
How to play
- Cut the cards apart along the dashed lines and put them in a bowl.
- When it is time for toasts, pass the bowl around.
- Draw a card and finish the sentence, out loud, to the guest of honor.
- Raise a glass after each one. No points, just good stories.
Why it’s fun: Nobody has to prepare a speech, yet everyone ends up saying something lovely.
The 1985 twist: One card is all 1985: “If 1985 had a headline about your arrival, it would say…”
Wishes for the next chapter
A keepsake card for every guest to fill in.
You need
- One card per guest (two per sheet)
- Pens
- A box or envelope to collect them
How to play
- Cut each sheet in half along the dashed line.
- Put the cards out on a table with pens, or hand them out at the start.
- Guests write a wish, a memory and their name.
- Collect them in a box for the guest of honor to read later.
Why it’s fun: The one thing from the party the guest of honor will keep for years.
The 1985 twist: Set the 1985 history card beside the wish box, so guests can tie a wish to a moment like “New Coke is announced” (April 23).
Can you beat the 1985 headline quiz?
This is game 2 from the kit, playable right here with no sign-in. Tap an answer to see whether you got it, and why. At the party, teams play it on paper and the host guide holds the answers.
In Back to the Future, which year does Marty McFly have to get back to?
Which team won Super Bowl XIX on January 20, 1985?
Which charity single finished at No. 1 on Cash Box magazine's 1985 year-end chart?
What did Coca-Cola announce on April 23, 1985, and then walk back after a flood of complaints?
Which team beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1985 World Series?
Which school upset Georgetown 66-64 in the 1985 NCAA men's basketball final?
The Live Aid concerts on July 13, 1985, were held in London and which US city?
Which film won Best Picture at the Academy Awards held in March 1986?
What did a first-class stamp cost starting on February 17, 1985?
Whose career hit record did Pete Rose break on September 11, 1985?
10 questions about 1985. Tap an answer to check it.
How do you run the kit at a 41st birthday party?
Example: a 90-minute 41st birthday party for 16 guests, born-in-1985 style, in four teams of four. Swap games in or out to suit your crowd; the host guide has every answer.
Before the party, print
- 16 bingo cards, one per guest
- 4 copies each of the headline quiz, the price game, the birthday club, Movies & music and Before or after
- 4 timeline sheets, cut into cards
- 8 two-truths sheets and 8 wish-card sheets (two per sheet)
- The toast prompts, the scorecard and the host guide
- The table cards: the 1985 history card, the welcome sign and four sheets of place cards
- 0:00Guests arrive: Meet & mingle bingo
Hand each guest a bingo card and a pen at the door, so the mingling starts before the coats are off.
- 0:15Welcome and teams
Say a few words about the guest of honor, then split the room into four teams of four, mixing generations.
- 0:20Round one: The 1985 headline quiz and What did it cost in 1985?
Read the quiz aloud, then reveal the real prices one at a time and let the gasps do the work.
- 0:40Round two: The 1985 birthday club and Movies & music of 1985
Play a few seconds of each song while teams match the hits to their singers.
- 0:55Cake break: The 1985 word search and Wishes for the next chapter
Leave the word search and the wish cards on the tables while everyone eats.
- 1:05Round three: Before or after 1985? and Timeline shuffle
Hand each team its set of timeline cards and give them five minutes to argue.
- 1:20All about them: Who knows them best? and Two truths & a tall tale
Reveal the guest of honor's private answers, then let them read their two truths last.
- 1:30Toasts and winners: Toasts & memory prompts
Pass the bowl of toast prompts, add up the scorecard and crown the winning team.
What happened in 1985?
The biggest events of 1985, each with the source it comes from.

- January 20
Reagan begins a second term
Ronald Reagan was inaugurated for a second term as president.
Source: Miller Center (University of Virginia): Ronald Reagan, Key Events - January 20
49ers win Super Bowl XIX
The San Francisco 49ers beat the Miami Dolphins 38-16 at Stanford Stadium in Stanford, California.
Source: ESPN: Super Bowl Winners by Year - January 28
"We Are the World" is recorded
More than 40 artists came together as USA for Africa to record the charity single. The group says the project raised over $100 million for humanitarian aid.
Source: USAforAfrica - April 1
Villanova stuns Georgetown
Eighth-seeded Villanova beat top-seeded Georgetown 66-64 in the NCAA men's basketball final in Lexington, Kentucky.
Source: Sports-Reference: 1985 Men's NCAA Tournament Summary - April 23
New Coke is announced
Coca-Cola announced it was replacing its classic formula with New Coke. After a flood of angry calls, the original recipe came back 79 days later as Coca-Cola Classic.
Source: Time: New Coke and Coca-Cola Classic: What the Story Says About America - June 9
Lakers beat the Celtics
The Los Angeles Lakers won Game 6 of the NBA Finals, 111-100, to take the series four games to two.
Source: Basketball-Reference: 1985 NBA Finals, Lakers vs. Celtics - July 3
Back to the Future opens
Robert Zemeckis's comedy starred Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly, a teenager who travels to 1955 in a DeLorean time machine and then has to get back to 1985.
Source: AFI Catalog: Back to the Future (1985) - July 13
Live Aid
Concerts at Wembley Stadium in London and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia raised more than $100 million for famine relief in Africa. More than 75 acts played, and the satellite broadcast reached more than a billion viewers in 110 countries.
Source: HISTORY: Live Aid concert raises more than $100 million for famine relief in Africa - September 11
Pete Rose passes Ty Cobb
Cincinnati's Pete Rose got the 4,192nd hit of his career, off San Diego's Eric Show, to break Ty Cobb's record for career hits.
Source: SABR Baseball Biography Project: Pete Rose - October 27
Royals win the World Series
Kansas City beat St. Louis 11-0 in Game 7 at Kauffman Stadium to win the Series four games to three. Pitcher Bret Saberhagen was named Series MVP.
Source: Baseball Almanac: 1985 World Series - November 19
Reagan meets Gorbachev in Geneva
President Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev met in Geneva, Switzerland, in the first US-Soviet summit of heads of state since 1979.
Source: Miller Center (University of Virginia): Ronald Reagan, Key Events
How much did things cost in 1985?
A snapshot of the cost of living in 1985, from a stamp to a pound of coffee. Every price is a US figure from a government source, shown next to what that money is worth in September 2026.

| Item | Price in 1985 | Worth today | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| First-class stamp | 22¢ | $0.69 | Rate for the first ounce from February 17, 1985, until April 3, 1988. Source: USPS Postal History: Rates for Domestic Letters Since 1863 |
| Federal minimum wage | $3.35 an hour | $10.49 an hour | In effect from January 1, 1981, until April 1, 1990. Source: U.S. Department of Labor: History of Federal Minimum Wage Rates, 1938-2009 |
| Gallon of regular gas | $1.12 (leaded), $1.20 (unleaded) | $3.51 (leaded), $3.76 (unleaded) | Average US retail price for the year: 111.5 and 120.2 cents. Source: EIA Annual Energy Review, Table 5.24: Retail Motor Gasoline and On-Highway Diesel Fuel Prices |
| Loaf of white bread (1 lb) | 55¢ | $1.72 | US city average for 1985, the mean of twelve monthly averages (55.3 cents). Source: FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis): Average Price, Bread, White, Pan (BLS series APU0000702111) |
| Half gallon of milk | $1.13 | $3.54 | Fresh whole milk. US city average for 1985, the mean of twelve monthly averages (113.4 cents). Source: FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis): Average Price, Milk, Fresh, Whole (BLS series APU0000709111) |
| Dozen large eggs | 80¢ | $2.51 | Grade A. US city average for 1985, the mean of twelve monthly averages (80.4 cents). The monthly price climbed from 75¢ in January to 91¢ in December. Source: FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis): Average Price, Eggs, Grade A, Large (BLS series APU0000708111) |
| Pound of ground beef | $1.24 | $3.88 | 100% beef. US city average for 1985, the mean of twelve monthly averages (123.8 cents). Source: FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis): Average Price, Ground Beef, 100% Beef (BLS series APU0000703112) |
| Pound of sliced bacon | $1.94 | $6.08 | US city average for 1985, the mean of twelve monthly averages (194.0 cents). Source: FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis): Average Price, Bacon, Sliced (BLS series APU0000704111) |
| Pound of whole chicken | 76¢ | $2.38 | Fresh, whole. US city average for 1985, the mean of twelve monthly averages (76.3 cents). Source: FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis): Average Price, Chicken, Fresh, Whole (BLS series APU0000706111) |
| Pound of coffee | $2.58 | $8.08 | Ground roast. US city average for 1985, the mean of twelve monthly averages (258.1 cents). Source: FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis): Average Price, Coffee, 100% Ground Roast (BLS series APU0000717311) |
| Median price of a new house | $84,300 | $264,100 | Median sales price of new houses sold in the US in 1985, up from $79,900 in 1984. Source: FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis): Median Sales Price for New Houses Sold in the United States |
Worth today: each 1985 price scaled up by the rise in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, U.S. city average, all items) from its 1985 average to September 2026, the newest month published. It shows what that money is worth now, not what the item costs today. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U (series CUUR0000SA0), via FRED, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (CPIAUCNS).
What was popular in 1985?

Movies
- Back to the Future
Michael J. Fox played Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd played Doc Brown in Robert Zemeckis's time-travel comedy, which opened on July 3.
Source: AFI Catalog: Back to the Future (1985) - Rocky IV
Rocky Balboa faced a new challenger in this sequel, which opened on November 27 and grossed $127.9 million at the US box office.
Source: Box Office Mojo: Rocky IV - The Goonies
The kids' treasure-hunt adventure opened on June 7 and has grossed $64.3 million in the US across all its releases.
Source: Box Office Mojo: The Goonies - Out of Africa
Sydney Pollack's film won seven Oscars at the 58th Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.
Source: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: The 58th Academy Awards (1986) - Cocoon
Don Ameche won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, and the film also won for Visual Effects.
Source: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: The 58th Academy Awards (1986)
Music
- "We Are the World" by USA for Africa
Cash Box magazine's 1985 year-end singles chart put the charity single at No. 1, ahead of Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing" and Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World."
Source: Cash Box magazine archive: Top 100 singles of 1985 (year-end chart) - "The Power of Love" and "Careless Whisper"
Huey Lewis & The News finished 1985 at No. 4 on the Cash Box chart. Wham! featuring George Michael came in right behind them at No. 5 with "Careless Whisper."
Source: Cash Box magazine archive: Top 100 singles of 1985 (year-end chart) - "Take On Me" by a-ha
The Norwegian band's synth hit ranked No. 15 on Cash Box magazine's 1985 year-end chart, between Prince & The Revolution's "Raspberry Beret" and Phil Collins' "One More Night."
Source: Cash Box magazine archive: Top 100 singles of 1985 (year-end chart) - Live Aid
On July 13, more than 75 acts played at Wembley Stadium and JFK Stadium, among them Elton John, Queen, Madonna, Sting and U2.
Source: HISTORY: Live Aid concert raises more than $100 million for famine relief in Africa
TV shows
- Moonlighting
Cybill Shepherd and Bruce Willis starred as detectives Maddie Hayes and David Addison on ABC, which began airing it in March 1985.
Source: Television Academy Foundation, The Interviews: Moonlighting - Growing Pains
Alan Thicke, Joanna Kerns and Kirk Cameron led this ABC family sitcom, which ran from 1985 to 1992.
Source: Television Academy Foundation, The Interviews: Growing Pains - MacGyver
Richard Dean Anderson starred as Angus MacGyver in this ABC adventure series, which was produced from 1985 to 1992.
Source: Television Academy Foundation, The Interviews: MacGyver
Toys & games
- Super Mario Bros.
Shigeru Miyamoto's platformer first appeared in 1985 on Nintendo's Famicom. It was the best-selling video game of all time until 2006.
Source: The Strong National Museum of Play: Super Mario Bros. - Nintendo Entertainment System
The NES launched in the US with eighteen titles and helped revive the American game market. It was first released in Japan in 1983 as the Famicom.
Source: Computer History Museum: Timeline of Computer History, 1985 - Omnibot 2000
This remote-controlled toy robot could move, talk and carry objects. A cassette player in its chest recorded its actions and speech.
Source: Computer History Museum: Timeline of Computer History, 1985 - Amiga 1000
Commodore showed off its new home computer at a New York launch attended by Andy Warhol and Debbie Harry. It sold for $1,295 without a monitor.
Source: Computer History Museum: Timeline of Computer History, 1985
Sport
- Joe Montana at Super Bowl XIX
The 49ers quarterback was named MVP after passing for 331 yards and three touchdowns against the Dolphins.
Source: ESPN: Super Bowl MVPs - Lakers over Celtics
Boston won Game 1 by 148-114, but Los Angeles took the series four games to two. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was Finals MVP, averaging 25.7 points.
Source: Basketball-Reference: 1985 NBA Finals, Lakers vs. Celtics - Villanova's hot shooting
In the April 1 final, Villanova made 22 of its 28 shots (78.6%) in the 66-64 win over Georgetown.
Source: Sports-Reference: Villanova vs. Georgetown box score, April 1, 1985 - Boris Becker at Wimbledon
Becker entered ranked No. 20 but unseeded and became the first unseeded Wimbledon champion. He beat Kevin Curren in the final.
Source: International Tennis Hall of Fame: Boris Becker
Which famous people were born in 1985?
A few familiar faces who share the birth year, all born in 1985.
- January 7, 1985Lewis HamiltonBritish racing driver who won seven Formula 1 Drivers' Championships and holds the record for most Grand Prix wins.Source: Biography.com: Lewis Hamilton
- February 5, 1985Cristiano RonaldoPortuguese soccer star with five Ballon d'Or awards, who captained Portugal to the 2016 European Championship.Source: Biography.com: Cristiano Ronaldo
- May 6, 1985Chris PaulNBA point guard who was named Rookie of the Year and later led the league in assists.Source: Biography.com: Chris Paul
- June 30, 1985Michael PhelpsSwimmer with 28 Olympic medals, 23 of them gold, more than any other athlete.Source: Biography.com: Michael Phelps
- August 9, 1985Anna KendrickActor who starred in the Pitch Perfect films and earned an Oscar nomination for Up in the Air.Source: Biography.com: Anna Kendrick
- September 17, 1985Alex OvechkinRussian hockey star who passed Wayne Gretzky as the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer in 2025.Source: Biography.com: Alex Ovechkin
- October 25, 1985CiaraSinger whose debut album Goodies took her to the top of the charts, with a title track that reached No. 1 in the US and UK.Source: Biography.com: Ciara
- December 3, 1985Amanda SeyfriedActor known for Mean Girls, Mamma Mia! and playing Cosette in Les Misérables.Source: Biography.com: Amanda Seyfried
- December 8, 1985Dwight HowardNBA center taken first overall in the 2004 draft.Source: NBA.com: Dwight Howard
What are some fun facts about 1985?
Marty McFly's trip home in Back to the Future ends in 1985, the year the movie opened. The filmmakers first imagined the time machine as a refrigerator before they settled on a DeLorean.
Source: AFI Catalog: Back to the Future (1985)Eric Stoltz was first cast as Marty McFly. After about five weeks of filming he was replaced by Michael J. Fox, the footage was scrapped and the release moved from June 21 to July 3.
Source: AFI Catalog: Back to the Future (1985)Michael J. Fox filmed Back to the Future at night while he was still starring in the sitcom Family Ties.
Source: AFI Catalog: Back to the Future (1985)At the height of the New Coke uproar, Coca-Cola's switchboards took as many as 8,000 angry calls a day.
Source: Time: New Coke and Coca-Cola Classic: What the Story Says About AmericaPhil Collins played Live Aid at Wembley, then flew on the Concorde to Philadelphia to play again at JFK Stadium.
Source: HISTORY: Live Aid concert raises more than $100 million for famine relief in AfricaOceanographer Robert Ballard found the Titanic wreck in 1985 during a secret Cold War Navy mission. He began searching for it with only 12 days left in the mission.
Source: National Geographic: Titanic was found during secret Cold War Navy missionCommodore's Amiga 1000 debuted at a New York event attended by Andy Warhol and Debbie Harry of Blondie. It cost $1,295 without a monitor.
Source: Computer History Museum: Timeline of Computer History, 1985Michael Dell started his computer company, PC's Limited, while he was a student at the University of Texas at Austin. In 1985 it released the Turbo PC for $795.
Source: Computer History Museum: Timeline of Computer History, 1985After Pete Rose's record-breaking 4,192nd hit, teammates gathered around him and he tearfully hugged his 15-year-old son, Pete Jr., near first base.
Source: SABR Baseball Biography Project: Pete RoseThe Color Purple was nominated for Oscars in ten categories, including Best Picture, but went home without a single win.
Source: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: The 58th Academy Awards (1986)
Can you answer these 1985 trivia questions?
Tap a question to see the answer. The party kit has a full round of 1985 trivia ready to print.
In Back to the Future, which year does Marty McFly have to get back to?
Answer: 1985, the year the film opened on July 3. Source: AFI Catalog: Back to the Future (1985)
Which team won Super Bowl XIX in January 1985?
Answer: The San Francisco 49ers, 38-16 over the Miami Dolphins at Stanford Stadium. Source: ESPN: Super Bowl Winners by Year
Which charity single finished at No. 1 on Cash Box magazine's 1985 year-end chart?
Answer: "We Are the World" by USA for Africa. Source: Cash Box magazine archive: Top 100 singles of 1985 (year-end chart)
How many days after Coca-Cola announced New Coke did the original recipe return as Coca-Cola Classic?
Answer: 79 days. Source: Time: New Coke and Coca-Cola Classic: What the Story Says About America
Which school upset top-seeded Georgetown in the 1985 NCAA men's basketball final?
Answer: Villanova, an eighth seed, won 66-64. Source: Sports-Reference: 1985 Men's NCAA Tournament Summary
Whose career hit record did Pete Rose break on September 11, 1985?
Answer: Ty Cobb's. Rose's 4,192nd hit passed it. Source: SABR Baseball Biography Project: Pete Rose
Which team beat the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1985 World Series?
Answer: The Kansas City Royals, four games to three. Bret Saberhagen was Series MVP. Source: Baseball Almanac: 1985 World Series
Who became the first unseeded Wimbledon champion in 1985?
Answer: Boris Becker, who beat Kevin Curren in the final. Source: International Tennis Hall of Fame: Boris Becker
How much did a first-class stamp cost starting in February 1985?
Answer: 22 cents for the first ounce. Source: USPS Postal History: Rates for Domestic Letters Since 1863
Which film won Best Picture at the Academy Awards held in March 1986?
Answer: Out of Africa, which also won Best Director for Sydney Pollack. Source: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: The 58th Academy Awards (1986)
How do you throw a 1985-themed 41st birthday party?

Play the hits of 1985
Build a playlist around the year's biggest singles: "We Are the World," "Money for Nothing," "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," "The Power of Love" and "Take On Me." Save "Careless Whisper" for the slow dance.
Name-that-tune rounds
Play four seconds of each 1985 hit and let tables race to name the song and the band. Whoever can finish the chorus earns an extra point.
A "Back to 1985" photo corner
Marty McFly's trip ended in this very year, so give guests a spot to pose. Hang a banner that says Back to 1985, add a cardboard sports car and a big paper clock, and keep a basket of sunglasses nearby.
A Live Aid listening party
Cue up clips from the July 13, 1985 concerts at Wembley and in Philadelphia. Let guests vote on the performance they would most have wanted to see in person.
A cola taste test
Pour two colas into unmarked cups and see whether guests can pick their old favorite. It is a playful nod to the New Coke saga of 1985.
A 1980s snack table
Fill bowls with popcorn, soft pretzels and chips and dip, and bake a tray of pizza rolls. Finish with a make-your-own sundae bar.
Dress code: the mid-1980s
Invite guests to arrive as the decade: leg warmers, a headband, a skinny tie, a windbreaker, or a favorite movie character such as Marty McFly or one of the Goonies.
A retro game corner
Set up a console with Super Mario Bros., Nintendo's 1985 hit, and run a high-score challenge. The winner earns the first slice of cake.
Then-and-now photo wall
Pin up baby pictures from 1985 next to the year's headlines, then add recent snapshots so guests can trace the story from Live Aid to today.
Guess the 1985 price
Write a gallon of gas, a stamp and a dozen eggs on cards and ask guests to guess each 1985 price. The real numbers are in the prices section above.
Which invitations and cards fit a 41st birthday?
Born in 1985 means turning 41 in 2026. These designs follow the calendar: next year this page shows 42nd birthday picks instead.
What else do people ask about 1985?
How old is someone born in 1985?
A person born in 1985 turns 41 in 2026. Before the birthday arrives, they are still a year younger.
What generation is someone born in 1985?
Millennial. In Pew Research Center's definition, Millennials were born between 1981 and 1996.
What is the Chinese zodiac sign for 1985?
The Ox. According to the Hong Kong Observatory's calendar table, the Year of the Ox began on February 20, 1985. Babies born between January 1 and February 19, 1985, fall in the preceding Year of the Rat.
What happened in 1985?
Live Aid raised money for famine relief, USA for Africa recorded "We Are the World," and Back to the Future opened. Coca-Cola announced New Coke and brought the original back, Pete Rose broke Ty Cobb's hit record, and Reagan and Gorbachev met in Geneva.
What was the No. 1 song of 1985?
Cash Box magazine's 1985 year-end chart ranked "We Are the World" by USA for Africa first, Dire Straits' "Money for Nothing" second and Tears for Fears' "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" third. Other charts order the year's songs differently.
How much did things cost in 1985?
Mailing a letter took a 22-cent stamp, and the federal minimum wage was $3.35 an hour. Regular gas averaged $1.12 a gallon leaded or $1.20 unleaded, and a dozen large eggs averaged 80 cents over the year.
Which famous people were born in 1985?
Lewis Hamilton, Cristiano Ronaldo, Chris Paul, Michael Phelps, Anna Kendrick, Alex Ovechkin, Ciara, Amanda Seyfried and Dwight Howard were all born in 1985.
What movies came out in 1985?
Back to the Future, Rambo: First Blood Part II, Rocky IV, Cocoon and The Goonies all came out in 1985. Out of Africa took Best Picture at the Academy Awards.
Who won the World Series and the Super Bowl in 1985?
The Kansas City Royals won the 1985 World Series over the St. Louis Cardinals. The San Francisco 49ers won Super Bowl XIX in January 1985, beating the Miami Dolphins.
What games can you play at a 1985 birthday party?
The free kit packs twelve printable games, including bingo, a 1985 headline quiz, a price-guessing round and a word search. It also has a host guide with every answer plus table cards, and signed-in visitors can download all of it here.
Where do these facts come from?
- Miller Center (University of Virginia): Ronald Reagan, Key Events
- ESPN: Super Bowl Winners by Year
- USAforAfrica
- Sports-Reference: 1985 Men's NCAA Tournament Summary
- Time: New Coke and Coca-Cola Classic: What the Story Says About America
- Basketball-Reference: 1985 NBA Finals, Lakers vs. Celtics
- AFI Catalog: Back to the Future (1985)
- HISTORY: Live Aid concert raises more than $100 million for famine relief in Africa
- SABR Baseball Biography Project: Pete Rose
- Baseball Almanac: 1985 World Series
- USPS Postal History: Rates for Domestic Letters Since 1863
- U.S. Department of Labor: History of Federal Minimum Wage Rates, 1938-2009
- EIA Annual Energy Review, Table 5.24: Retail Motor Gasoline and On-Highway Diesel Fuel Prices
- FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis): Average Price, Bread, White, Pan (BLS series APU0000702111)
- FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis): Average Price, Milk, Fresh, Whole (BLS series APU0000709111)
- FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis): Average Price, Eggs, Grade A, Large (BLS series APU0000708111)
- FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis): Average Price, Ground Beef, 100% Beef (BLS series APU0000703112)
- FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis): Average Price, Bacon, Sliced (BLS series APU0000704111)
- FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis): Average Price, Chicken, Fresh, Whole (BLS series APU0000706111)
- FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis): Average Price, Coffee, 100% Ground Roast (BLS series APU0000717311)
- FRED (Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis): Median Sales Price for New Houses Sold in the United States
- Biography.com: Lewis Hamilton
- Biography.com: Cristiano Ronaldo
- Biography.com: Chris Paul
- Biography.com: Michael Phelps
- Biography.com: Anna Kendrick
- Biography.com: Alex Ovechkin
- Biography.com: Ciara
- Biography.com: Amanda Seyfried
- NBA.com: Dwight Howard
- Box Office Mojo: Rocky IV
- Box Office Mojo: The Goonies
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: The 58th Academy Awards (1986)
- Cash Box magazine archive: Top 100 singles of 1985 (year-end chart)
- Television Academy Foundation, The Interviews: Moonlighting
- Television Academy Foundation, The Interviews: Growing Pains
- Television Academy Foundation, The Interviews: MacGyver
- The Strong National Museum of Play: Super Mario Bros.
- Computer History Museum: Timeline of Computer History, 1985
- ESPN: Super Bowl MVPs
- Sports-Reference: Villanova vs. Georgetown box score, April 1, 1985
- International Tennis Hall of Fame: Boris Becker
- National Geographic: Titanic was found during secret Cold War Navy mission
The party kit lists the sources behind its games and answers at the back of its host guide.



