To be fifteen in America in 1986 was to have “Livin' on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi everywhere, Top Gun on every screen, and The Cosby Show on after school. That year, gas cost $0.93 and the Acura car brand was the new thing. Born in 1971? You turned 15 in 1986 — a teenager from 1984 to 1990, right in the window a soundtrack bonds to you for life.
Compiled by the Original Lore archive from period charts, box-office and price records. How we build these · sources noted throughout.
Take My Breath Away — BerlinThe Top Gun slow-dance ballad that turned every dim gym floor into a hazy, breathless first-kiss.
You Give Love a Bad Name — Bon JoviBon Jovi's fist-in-the-air anthem detonated out of every Camaro speaker with feathered-hair, small-town swagger.
Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) — EurythmicsAnnie Lennox's cold synth march made teenage alienation sound impossibly cool on the long walk home.
Higher Love — Steve WinwoodWinwood's gospel-bright groove was pure summer: radios up, windows down, the whole world briefly gleaming.
I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me) — Whitney HoustonWhitney's unguarded joy exploded across pool parties, and it still aches for everything that came after.
For a 15-year-old in 1986 this was the fist-in-the-air anthem of the whole grade — Tommy and Gina, big hair, the talk-box riff, the key change that every teenager screamed along to. It defined arena rock for that cohort far more than any year-end chart-topper, and decades later the first line still detonates instant recognition.
the year-end #1 was Walk Like an Egyptian — The Bangles.
the movies you are watching in 1986
Top Gun
Aliens
Platoon
Crocodile Dundee
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
the tv shows you are binging in 1986
The Cosby Show
Cheers
Family Ties
Miami Vice
Murder, She Wrote
the games you are playing in 1986
Super Mario Bros.
The Legend of Zelda
Metroid
Kid Icarus
Excitebike
Out Run
what things cost in 1986
What things cost in 1986
a gallon of gas
$0.93
a movie ticket
$3.71
a first-class stamp
22¢
minimum wage
$3.35/hr
the average income
$24,897
trending this year
Sewell, U.S. Navy — public domain, via Wikimedia Commons · Public Domain (US Navy, PD-USGov)Top GunNaula Ayisabun Aningore, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsNintendo Entertainment Systemrds323 (Flickr), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia CommonsThe Oprah Winfrey ShowWikimedia Commons, source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Alf-1.jpg · Public domainALFAuthor unknown ('Upphovsperson okänd') via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0Pixar
the gadgets you just got
Evan-Amos, released into the public domain, via Wikimedia Commons · Public Domain (CC0 / author release)Nintendo Entertainment System (NES)Lcarsdata (Wikimedia Commons) · CC BY-SA 2.5Sony Discman D-50 (portable CD player)Photo by Redrum0486 (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:DynaTAC8000X.jpg · CC BY-SA 3.0Motorola DynaTAC 8000X car/brick phonePhalange7, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSega Master SystemErkaha, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia CommonsSony Walkman WM-F10 (portable cassette player)
what everyone is snacking on
Photo by star5112 (Flickr) via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0Bagel Bites (introduced 1985, popular by 1986)Famartin, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:2020-04-02_04_24_22_A_single_Cool_Ranch_Dorito_chip_in_the_Franklin_Farm_section_of_Oak_Hill,_Fairfax_County,_Virginia.jpg) · CC BY-SA 4.0Doritos Cool Ranch (1986 launch)Willis Lam, via Flickr / Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jolly_Rancher_Hard_Candies_(23223493654).jpg) · CC BY-SA 2.0Jolly Rancher hard candyEvan-Amos (Vanamo Media), via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pop-Rocks.jpg) · Public DomainPop RocksEvan-Amos (Vanamo Media), via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Reeses-pieces-loose.JPG) · Public DomainReese's Pieces
what everyone is drinking
Photo by Polandor (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coca-Cola_Cherry.jpg · CC-BY 4.0Cherry CokePhoto by Liftarn (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jolt-can.jpg · Public Domain (released by copyright holder)Jolt Cola (launched 1985, peak hype 1986)Photo by Jetijonez (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:New_Coke_can.jpg · CC-BY 3.0New CokePhoto by Tamzin Hadasa Kelly (Wikimedia Commons), source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Capri_Sun_pouch_standing.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0Capri Sun juice pouchMymomisnotreal, Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mymomisnotreal%27s_Picture_of_the_original_%22Slice%22_flavor.jpg · CC BY-SA 4.0Slice (lemon-lime soda)
what made the news in 1986
The Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds after liftoff, killing all seven astronauts aboard
The Chernobyl nuclear reactor exploded, spreading radioactive fallout across much of Europe
The Iran-Contra scandal erupted, exposing secret U.S. arms sales to Iran and funds diverted to Nicaraguan rebels
The New York Mets won the World Series after Bill Buckner's infamous error let Boston's lead slip away
NASA / Kennedy Space Center (Photo ID GPN-2004-00012) · Public Domain (NASA)Space Shuttle Challenger explodes 73 seconds after launchIAEA Imagebank (photo credit USFCRFC), via Wikimedia Commons — CC BY-SA 2.0Chernobyl nuclear reactor explodes in the Soviet UnionPhoto by Holtocw (Wikimedia Commons) · Public domainIran-Contra affair exposed, rocking the Reagan administrationErik Harmon (public domain) · Public Domain (released into the public domain by the copyright holder)Statue of Liberty centennial celebrated with fireworks in New York HarborNASA / W. Liller (International Halley Watch) · Public Domain (NASA)Halley's Comet makes its closest approach to Earth
what everyone is saying
"Where's the beef?"Wendy's ad catchphrase (1984) still ubiquitous; used by Mondale, all over pop culture
"Just Say No"Nancy Reagan's anti-drug campaign slogan at its peak
"Gag me with a spoon"Valley Girl slang for disgust, mainstream by mid-80s
"I pity the fool"Mr. T catchphrase from The A-Team / Rocky III, everywhere in 1986
"Up your nose with a rubber hose"Lingering Welcome Back Kotter / schoolyard comeback slang
