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Free printable kitTurning 39 in 2026

Born in 1987: fun facts, prices and a free printable 39th birthday party kit

Turning 39 in 2026? Here is their birth year, from Dirty Dancing to The Princess Bride, plus a free printable party kit.

By InviteBird

Published

Reviewed

15 min read

The short answer

In 1987 the Dow fell 508 points on Black Monday, Reagan spoke at the Berlin Wall and the US and Soviet Union signed the INF Treaty. The Simpsons began as TV shorts, Dirty Dancing and The Princess Bride reached theaters, and the Minnesota Twins won the World Series.

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Born in 1987 lettered in dark green among cartoon icons of a boombox, a cassette tape, a high-top sneaker and a birthday cake
Digital illustration. Born in 1987, with a boombox, a cassette tape, a high-top sneaker and a birthday cake.

Anyone born in 1987 came into a year of big-screen romance and small-screen firsts. The Simpsons started life as sketches on a variety show, Reagan stood at the Berlin Wall and Minnesota celebrated a World Series title.

Below you will find the year's biggest dates, grocery and gas prices, famous birthdays, plus its movies, music, TV and tech. It closes with party ideas and a free printable kit of 1987 trivia and games for signed-in visitors.

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What’s in the free printable Born in 1987 party kit?

28 printable pages in 3 PDFs for the 39th 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.

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 1987 headline quiz

  • Game 3: What did it cost in 1987?

  • Game 4: The 1987 birthday club

  • Game 5: Movies & music of 1987

  • Game 7: Timeline shuffle

  • The host guide: every answer, explained

  • Table cards: the 1987 history card, welcome sign and place cards

How do you play the 39th 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.

  1. Meet & mingle bingo

    Find a guest for every square. The perfect icebreaker.

    Players
    Everyone, on their own
    Time
    10 to 15 minutes
    In the kit
    Page 3

    You need

    • One card per guest
    • Pens

    How to play

    1. Hand everyone a card and a pen as they arrive.
    2. Mingle! When a guest fits a square, ask them to sign their name in it.
    3. Each guest can sign your card only once. The guest of honor may sign twice.
    4. 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.

  2. The 1987 headline quiz

    Ten questions about the year it all began.

    Players
    Teams of 2 to 6
    Time
    10 minutes
    In the kit
    Page 4

    You need

    • One sheet per team
    • Pens

    How to play

    1. Split into teams and pick a team name.
    2. Read each question aloud, or let teams work through the sheet at their own pace.
    3. Fill in one bubble per question. Changed your mind? Cross it out clearly.
    4. Swap sheets to mark them: one point per right answer. Answers are in the host guide.

    Why it’s fun: Big moments from 1987, with answers that spark "I remember that!" stories.

  3. What did it cost in 1987?

    Everyday prices from 1987: guess what they cost.

    Players
    Teams or solo
    Time
    10 minutes
    In the kit
    Page 5

    You need

    • One sheet per team
    • Pens

    How to play

    1. Every price is a real 1987 figure; the host guide says where each one comes from.
    2. Write your best guess in dollars and cents on each tag.
    3. The host reveals the real prices one at a time, for maximum gasps.
    4. 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 1987 numbers always get a reaction.

  4. The 1987 birthday club

    Seven of these stars were born in 1987. Can you spot them?

    Players
    Teams or solo
    Time
    5 to 10 minutes
    In the kit
    Page 6

    You need

    • One sheet per team
    • Pens

    How to play

    1. Read each famous name.
    2. Decide whether they were born before 1987, in 1987, or after 1987.
    3. Fill in one bubble for each person.
    4. 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.

  5. Movies & music of 1987

    Match the films to their stars and the hits to their singers.

    Players
    Teams or solo
    Time
    10 minutes
    In the kit
    Page 7

    You need

    • One sheet per team
    • Pens

    How to play

    1. Match each film to a famous name from the box, writing the letter beside it.
    2. Do the same for each 1987 hit song and its artist.
    3. Each letter is used once per side.
    4. One point per match, plus a bonus point for naming the song that was No. 1 on Cash Box magazine's 1987 year-end chart.

    Why it’s fun: It turns into a sing-along. Play the songs as you reveal the answers.

  6. Before or after 1987?

    Toys, games and gadgets: did each arrive before or after 1987?

    Players
    Teams or solo
    Time
    5 to 10 minutes
    In the kit
    Page 8

    You need

    • One sheet per team
    • Pens

    How to play

    1. Read each milestone.
    2. Fill in the bubble on the left for before 1987, or on the right for after 1987.
    3. None of these happened in 1987 itself.
    4. 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.

  7. Timeline shuffle

    Put eight milestones in order around the 1987 card.

    Players
    Teams of 2 to 6
    Time
    10 minutes
    In the kit
    Page 9

    You need

    • One sheet per team
    • Scissors
    • A table to lay the cards on

    How to play

    1. Before the party, cut out one set of cards per team along the dashed lines.
    2. Each team lays the 1987 card in the middle of their table.
    3. Place the other eight cards in order from earliest to latest, around the 1987 card.
    4. 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.

  8. Who knows them best?

    How well do you really know the guest of honor?

    Players
    Teams or solo
    Time
    10 minutes
    In the kit
    Page 11

    You need

    • One sheet per team
    • Pens
    • The guest of honor's answers

    How to play

    1. Before the party, ask the guest of honor to answer the questions privately.
    2. Teams write down what they think the guest of honor said.
    3. The guest of honor reveals each answer, with the story behind it.
    4. 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.

  9. Two truths & a tall tale

    Two true stories and one invention. Spot the tall tale.

    Players
    Everyone, on their own
    Time
    10 to 15 minutes
    In the kit
    Page 12

    You need

    • One slip per guest (two per sheet)
    • Pens

    How to play

    1. Write three short statements about yourself: two true, one made up.
    2. Fill in the bubble for your tall tale, then fold that corner over to hide it.
    3. Take turns reading your three statements aloud.
    4. 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.

  10. Toasts & memory prompts

    Twelve prompts that turn shy guests into storytellers.

    Players
    Everyone
    Time
    Any time, 10 minutes or more
    In the kit
    Page 13

    You need

    • One sheet, cut into cards
    • A bowl or hat

    How to play

    1. Cut the cards apart along the dashed lines and put them in a bowl.
    2. When it is time for toasts, pass the bowl around.
    3. Draw a card and finish the sentence, out loud, to the guest of honor.
    4. 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.

  11. Wishes for the next chapter

    A keepsake card for every guest to fill in.

    Players
    Everyone
    Time
    Any time
    In the kit
    Page 14

    You need

    • One card per guest (two per sheet)
    • Pens
    • A box or envelope to collect them

    How to play

    1. Cut each sheet in half along the dashed line.
    2. Put the cards out on a table with pens, or hand them out at the start.
    3. Guests write a wish, a memory and their name.
    4. 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.

How do you run the kit at a 39th birthday party?

Example: a 90-minute 39th birthday party for 16 guests, born-in-1987 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 1987 history card, the welcome sign and four sheets of place cards
  1. 0:00
    Guests 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.

  2. 0:15
    Welcome and teams

    Say a few words about the guest of honor, then split the room into four teams of four, mixing generations.

  3. 0:20
    Round one: The 1987 headline quiz and What did it cost in 1987?

    Read the quiz aloud, then reveal the real prices one at a time and let the gasps do the work.

  4. 0:40
    Round two: The 1987 birthday club and Movies & music of 1987

    Play a few seconds of each song while teams match the hits to their singers.

  5. 0:55
    Cake break: The 1987 word search and Wishes for the next chapter

    Leave the word search and the wish cards on the tables while everyone eats.

  6. 1:05
    Round three: Before or after 1987? and Timeline shuffle

    Hand each team its set of timeline cards and give them five minutes to argue.

  7. 1:20
    All 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.

  8. 1:30
    Toasts and winners: Toasts & memory prompts

    Pass the bowl of toast prompts, add up the scorecard and crown the winning team.

What happened in 1987?

The biggest events of 1987, each with the source it comes from.

A cartoon timeline of 1987: two dancers mid-lift, a brick wall with a gate, a bright exploding star, a baseball beside a trophy and a boxy desktop computer
Digital illustration. 1987 in five moments: Dirty Dancing, the Berlin Wall speech, a supernova, the Twins' World Series and the IBM PS/2 era.
  1. February

    A star explodes next door

    Light from an exploding star in the nearby Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy reached Earth. SN 1987A is the closest supernova since the invention of the telescope.

    Source: NASA Science: APOD 1997 January 24, Supernova 1987A fireball resolved
  2. June 12

    Reagan speaks at the Berlin Wall

    President Ronald Reagan spoke at the Berlin Wall by the Brandenburg Gate and called on Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to tear down the wall. Several advisers had urged him to cut the line, but he kept it.

    Source: National Archives, Prologue magazine (Summer 2007): Reagan's June 12, 1987 Berlin speech
  3. July 11

    The world reaches 5 billion

    The United Nations marks July 11, 1987, as the date the world's population hit 5 billion. World Population Day is observed on that date every year.

    Source: United Nations: Population
  4. August 21

    Dirty Dancing opens

    Vestron Pictures released Dirty Dancing in US theaters. It cost about $6 million to make and earned about $63.4 million in its original domestic run.

    Source: Box Office Mojo: Dirty Dancing
  5. September 16

    Nations sign the Montreal Protocol

    Countries signed the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. The United Nations now observes September 16 as the International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer.

    Source: United Nations: International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, 16 September
  6. September 25

    The Princess Bride opens

    Rob Reiner's adventure comedy opened in New York and Los Angeles. It had premiered at the Toronto Festival of Festivals, where it won the People's Choice Award.

    Source: AFI Catalog: The Princess Bride (1987)
  7. October 17-25

    The Twins win the World Series

    Minnesota beat the St. Louis Cardinals four games to three. Game 7 was played on October 25, and Frank Viola was named World Series MVP.

    Source: Baseball-Reference: 1987 World Series
  8. October 19

    Black Monday

    The Dow Jones Industrial Average finished the day down 508 points, or 22.6 percent. It is remembered as Black Monday.

    Source: Federal Reserve History: Stock Market Crash of 1987
  9. December 8

    The INF Treaty is signed

    Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. It required both countries to eliminate their ground-launched missiles with ranges of 500 to 5,500 kilometers.

    Source: Arms Control Association: The INF Treaty at a Glance
  10. December 11

    Wall Street opens

    Oliver Stone's drama opened in Los Angeles and New York. Michael Douglas won the Best Actor Oscar for playing Gordon Gekko.

    Source: AFI Catalog: Wall Street (1987)
  11. December 16

    Moonstruck opens

    Norman Jewison's romantic comedy opened in Los Angeles and New York. It won three Oscars, including Best Actress for Cher.

    Source: AFI Catalog: Moonstruck (1987)

How much did things cost in 1987?

A snapshot of the cost of living in 1987, from a stamp to a pound of coffee. Every price is a US figure from a government source.

Cartoon groceries from the 1980s on a table: milk, bread, eggs and oranges, with a frozen orange juice can, stamps, coins and a toy gas pump
Digital illustration. Milk, bread, eggs, oranges, stamps and gas: the everyday prices in the table below.
ItemPrice in 1987Good to know
First-class stamp22¢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 hourThe rate for covered, nonexempt workers from January 1, 1981, until March 31, 1990. Source: U.S. Department of Labor: History of Federal Minimum Wage Rates, 1938-2009
Gallon of regular gas90¢ (leaded), 95¢ (unleaded)Average US retail price for the year (89.7 and 94.8 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¢US average retail price for 1987. Source: US Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States 1989, Table 769: Food Prices, Farm Value and Retail Price for Selected Items 1980-1987 (USDA Economic Research Service), printed p. 476
Half gallon of milk$1.14US average retail price at stores for 1987. Source: US Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States 1989, Table 769: Food Prices, Farm Value and Retail Price for Selected Items 1980-1987 (USDA Economic Research Service), printed p. 476
Dozen eggs78¢Grade A. US average retail price for 1987. Source: US Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States 1989, Table 769: Food Prices, Farm Value and Retail Price for Selected Items 1980-1987 (USDA Economic Research Service), printed p. 476
Pound of choice beef$2.42US average retail price for 1987. Source: US Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States 1989, Table 769: Food Prices, Farm Value and Retail Price for Selected Items 1980-1987 (USDA Economic Research Service), printed p. 476
Pound of pork$1.88US average retail price for 1987. Source: US Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States 1989, Table 769: Food Prices, Farm Value and Retail Price for Selected Items 1980-1987 (USDA Economic Research Service), printed p. 476
Pound of broiler chicken78¢US average retail price for 1987. Source: US Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States 1989, Table 769: Food Prices, Farm Value and Retail Price for Selected Items 1980-1987 (USDA Economic Research Service), printed p. 476
Frozen orange juice (12 oz)$1.11US average retail price for 1987. Source: US Census Bureau, Statistical Abstract of the United States 1989, Table 769: Food Prices, Farm Value and Retail Price for Selected Items 1980-1987 (USDA Economic Research Service), printed p. 476

What was popular in 1987?

Cartoon VHS tape, boombox, cassette tape, game controller, high-top sneakers, a scrunchie and a telephone with a long cord
Digital illustration. A VHS tape, a boombox, a cassette and high-tops: 1980s fun in one picture.

Movies

Music

TV shows

Technology

Sport

Which famous people were born in 1987?

A few familiar faces who share the birth year, all born in 1987.

What are some fun facts about 1987?

  1. By late August 1987 the Dow had gained 44 percent in just seven months. Black Monday came less than two months later.

    Source: Federal Reserve History: Stock Market Crash of 1987

  2. The Last Emperor won every Oscar it was nominated for: nine nominations, nine wins.

    Source: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: The 60th Academy Awards (1988), honoring 1987 films

  3. RoboCop first received an X rating from the MPAA. It got its R rating only after several resubmissions.

    Source: AFI Catalog: RoboCop (1987)

  4. One office scene in Wall Street used 246 computer monitors, a record for a film at the time.

    Source: AFI Catalog: Wall Street (1987)

  5. The big prop moon in Moonstruck was nicknamed "Wendy." Cinematographer David Watkin had first invented the device for Hanover Street, and filming wrapped on February 13, 1987.

    Source: AFI Catalog: Moonstruck (1987)

  6. Ron Hextall of the losing Flyers won the Conn Smythe Trophy as the 1987 Stanley Cup playoffs' MVP.

    Source: Hockey-Reference: 1987 NHL Playoffs

  7. The federal minimum wage stayed at $3.35 an hour from January 1, 1981, through March 31, 1990.

    Source: U.S. Department of Labor: History of Federal Minimum Wage Rates, 1938-2009

  8. Under the INF Treaty, the US and Soviet Union destroyed a total of 2,692 missiles by the June 1, 1991, deadline.

    Source: Arms Control Association: The INF Treaty at a Glance

  9. The Princess Bride was supposed to open in the summer of 1987, but editing was not expected to be done until late July.

    Source: AFI Catalog: The Princess Bride (1987)

  10. Dirty Dancing was made on a $6 million budget.

    Source: Box Office Mojo: Dirty Dancing

Can you answer these 1987 trivia questions?

Tap a question to see the answer. The party kit has a full round of 1987 trivia ready to print.

  1. Which film won Best Picture for 1987, taking all nine of its Oscar nominations?

    Answer: The Last Emperor, at the 60th Academy Awards on April 11, 1988. Source: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: The 60th Academy Awards (1988), honoring 1987 films

  2. Who won the Best Actress Oscar for Moonstruck?

    Answer: Cher. Olympia Dukakis won Best Supporting Actress for the same film. Source: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: The 60th Academy Awards (1988), honoring 1987 films

  3. Which team won the 1987 World Series in seven games?

    Answer: The Minnesota Twins, who beat the St. Louis Cardinals. Game 7 was on October 25. Source: Baseball-Reference: 1987 World Series

  4. Who did the Lakers beat in the 1987 NBA Finals?

    Answer: The Boston Celtics, four games to two. Magic Johnson was Finals MVP. Source: Basketball-Reference: 1987 NBA Playoffs

  5. By how many points did the Dow fall on Black Monday, October 19, 1987?

    Answer: 508 points, or 22.6 percent. Source: Federal Reserve History: Stock Market Crash of 1987

  6. What did it cost to mail a first-class letter for most of 1987?

    Answer: 22 cents for the first ounce. Source: USPS Postal History: Rates for Domestic Letters Since 1863

  7. Which international agreement to protect the ozone layer was signed on September 16, 1987?

    Answer: The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Source: United Nations: International Day for the Preservation of the Ozone Layer, 16 September

  8. Which U2 album won Album of the Year at the 30th Grammy Awards?

    Answer: The Joshua Tree. Source: GRAMMY.com: 30th Annual GRAMMY Awards (1988 telecast)

  9. What was the Cash Box No. 1 single of 1987?

    Answer: "Head to Toe" by Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam. Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" was second. Source: Cash Box magazine archive: Top 50 singles of 1987 (year-end chart)

  10. Which Apple program designed by William Atkinson was given away with Macintosh computers?

    Answer: HyperCard, until 1992. Source: Computer History Museum: Timeline, 1987

How do you throw a 1987-themed 39th birthday party?

Cartoon friends laughing around a table at a birthday party, writing answers on trivia sheets beside a cake with candles and a boombox
Digital illustration. Friends playing a pen-and-paper trivia game at a 1980s-themed birthday party.

  • Spin the hits of 1987

    Build the playlist from songs on Cash Box's 1987 year-end chart: "Head to Toe," "I Wanna Dance with Somebody," "Shakedown," "Livin' on a Prayer" and "Here I Go Again." Add "Alone" and "With or Without You" for the slow numbers.

  • Name-that-tune rounds

    Play the first few seconds of each hit and let tables race to name the song and the band. A bonus point goes to anyone who nails the chorus without the music.

  • A Dirty Dancing dance-off

    Put the film's soundtrack on and clear a floor. Pairs get one song to impress the table, and guests vote with paper ballots.

  • Princess Bride character table cards

    Name each table for a character: Westley, Inigo Montoya, Fezzik or Vizzini. Award points for the best impression of your character during the trivia rounds.

  • A 1980s snack table

    Set out nachos with queso, a seven-layer dip, mini pizzas, cheese cubes on toothpicks and a bowl of popcorn. Offer a fruity punch and a sparkling water bar.

  • Dress code: 1987

    Invite guests to come as something from the year: a Wall Street power suit with suspenders, neon and leg warmers, a RoboCop silver costume or a Twins jersey.

  • Then-and-now photo wall

    Pin baby photos from 1987 beside the year's posters: Dirty Dancing, The Princess Bride and the Twins' World Series. Add recent snapshots so guests can trace the years since.

  • Guess the 1987 price

    Write a stamp, a gallon of gas and a dozen eggs on cards and ask guests to guess the 1987 prices. Check the answers against the prices table above.

Which invitations and cards fit a 39th birthday?

Born in 1987 means turning 39 in 2026. These designs follow the calendar: next year this page shows 40th birthday picks instead.

Online cards for turning 39

Milestone birthday cards

What else do people ask about 1987?

How old is someone born in 1987?

Someone born in 1987 turns 39 in 2026, once their birthday has passed. Before then, they are a year younger.

What generation is someone born in 1987?

Millennial. Pew Research Center defines Millennials as people born from 1981 through 1996.

What is the Chinese zodiac sign for 1987?

The Rabbit (Fire Rabbit). The Year of the Rabbit began on January 29, 1987. Anyone born from January 1 to January 28, 1987, is a Tiger.

What happened in 1987?

The Dow dropped 508 points on October 19, President Reagan spoke at the Berlin Wall on June 12 and the INF Treaty was signed on December 8. The Twins won the World Series, Dirty Dancing opened and The Simpsons first appeared as TV shorts.

What was the No. 1 song of 1987?

It depends on the chart. On Cash Box's 1987 year-end chart, "Head to Toe" by Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam ranked first and Whitney Houston's "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)" ranked second.

How much did things cost in 1987?

A first-class stamp cost 22 cents and the federal minimum wage was $3.35 an hour. Regular gas averaged 90 cents (leaded) or 95 cents (unleaded) a gallon. A dozen eggs averaged 78 cents and a half gallon of milk $1.14.

Which famous people were born in 1987?

Ronda Rousey, Buster Posey, Andy Murray, Novak Djokovic, Kendrick Lamar, Lionel Messi, Sidney Crosby and Colin Kaepernick were all born in 1987.

What movies came out in 1987?

Dirty Dancing, The Princess Bride, Moonstruck, Wall Street, RoboCop and Beverly Hills Cop II all came out in 1987. The Last Emperor won Best Picture for the year's films.

What are good 1987-themed party ideas?

Build a playlist from the year's hits and run name-that-tune rounds, then clear a floor for a Dirty Dancing dance-off. Name tables for Princess Bride characters, set out a 1980s snack table and hang a wall of baby photos beside recent snapshots.

What games can you play at a 1987 birthday party?

The free kit includes twelve printable games, among them Meet & mingle bingo, a 1987 headline quiz, What did it cost in 1987? and a word search. A host guide with all the answers and table cards are included. Signed-in visitors can download everything from this page.

Where do these facts come from?

The party kit lists the sources behind its games and answers at the back of its host guide.