We’ve picked out 11 of the most exciting events from the decade - the occasions that brought people together and created a buzz.
From the worlds of music, sport, film, TV, technology and politics, they were moments which gripped the collective consciousness.
We’ve focused on happy events from the 80s, which had their fair share of tragedy, in this pick of events that shaped the decade.
What do you think was the defining moment of the 80s, and what is your happiest memory of the decade?
If you’re after more 80s nostalgia, you might enjoy this look back at the decade’s most maligned cars.
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5. The Empire Strikes back is released
It was a great decade for film, with classics ranging from E.T. to the Indiana Jones trilogy. But the most eagerly anticipated release was The Empire Strikes Back, the follow-up to the hit 1977 film Star Wars, which had moviegoers queuing around the block to see what happened next. | Getty Images Photo: Paul Thuaban/Keystone/Hulton Archive
6. Prince Charles marries Diana
Yes, we all know how it ended, but for a while it felt like a fairytale romance which seduced the nation. Souvenir plates, mugs and tea towels were printed in their thousands to mark the occasion as Prince Charles tied the knot with Diana on July 29, 1981. | Getty Images Photo: Anwar Hussein
7. The Space Shuttle makes its maiden flight
More than a decade after the first moon landing, space fever again gripped the world as the first Space Shuttle blasted off in April 1981. The launch of the world's first reusable spacecraft marked a giant leap forward in space exploration. Five years later, the world looked on in horror as the Space Shuttle Challenger tragically broke apart shortly after take-off, killing all seven crew members. | Heritage Images via Getty Images Photo: Heritage Space
8. Torvill and Dean achieve perfection
The world watched mesmerised as Jayne Torvill and Christopher Dean achieved perfection with their Bolero routine at the 1984 Winter Olympics, sealing gold with a clean sweep of 6.0s for artistic impression. | Getty Images Photo: Trevor Jones/Allsport