Technology has come a long way since then, but the feeling of the ‘80s still lingers in the memories of those who lived it. These 25 photos take a look back at the moments, trends, and simple pleasures that made the decade unforgettable, and why, for many, it still holds the title of the best time to be alive. Here are 25 photos that show why life was better in the 1980s.
1. Stopping at a gas station in LA, 1980

2. Carrie Fisher trying on Peter Weller’s glasses during the Giorgio Armani fashion show, 1980

3. Robin Williams as Popeye, 1980

4. Casually jet skiing with St. Helens erupting behind her

5. Robin Williams and Christopher Reeve, 1981

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6. Jeff Goldblum, 1981

7. “My dad and his friends looked like the cast of Stranger Things, 1982”

8. A veteran embracing his wife at the Dedication Ceremony of the Vietnam Memorial

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9. Slash before he grew his hair out with his band Tidus Sloan, 1982

10. Arnold Schwarzenegger being sworn in as an American citizen, 1983

11. Carrie Fisher promoting her new movie at a beach shoot, 1983

12. Darth Vader and Princess Leia at the beach, 1983

13. Dave’s Restaurant in New York, 1984

14. The original Ghostbusters movie set, 1984

15. George Lucas and his props before CGI, 1984

16. Dee Snider speaking against censorship and the PMRC before the U.S. Senate, 1985

17. Getting ready to break it down in NYC, 1985

18. Anna Fisher, the first mother in space, 1985

19. Anthony Bourdain preparing a meal in his New York City apartment, 1986

20. The Red Hot Chili Peppers in 1986

21. Freddie Mercury owning the stage in 1986

22. The inconceivable trio, 1987

23. Freddie Mercury with his cat Tiffany, 1988

24. Rick Astley meeting Princess Diana, 1988

25. Arnold Schwarzenegger meeting his fans in Moscow, 1988

Want to see more 1980s content?
Check out 80+ Photos That Totally Sum Up the 1980s, or take a look at 20 Vintage Photos Of People’s Cars And Bikes In The Electric Mid-1980s. Finally, if you want to see the ugliest cars from the ’80s, check out 20 of the Ugliest Cars from the 1980s.
