48 Pics of What Life Looked Like in 1982

Carly Tennes Published 10/02/2024 in wow

Just two years into the '80s, the now-iconic, hairspray-scented decade was already finding its footing, politically, socially, and (pop) culturally. Just take a look at the VHS tapes, backstage snapshots, and news wire images that came to define the year as we know it.

From a glimpse behind the scenes of Star Wars to one of the most defining moments in a young Michael Jordan's career, here are 51 photos of what life looked like in 1982.

List View
Player View
Grid View

1.
“A 19-year-old Jet Li in 1982.”
2.
“My uncle in Panama City Beach 1982.”
3.
“Workers finished the final touches at EPCOT - opened 1982.”
4.
“Sylvester Stallone and Mr. T, 1982.”
5.
"Marisa Tomei’s yearbook from 1982." 
6.
"'Three's Company' cast 1982.”
7.
“My friends and I: Sophomore Year 1982.”
8.
"Me in 1982 at 17 years young."
9.
"Party like it's 1982."
10.
“Slash in 1982 before Guns N’ Roses was started, and he was known as Saul!”
11.
“Catherine Bach hanging around at home, 1982.”
12.
“Teenagers in an arcade, 1982.”
13.
“The real Mrs. Fields, founder of the Mrs. Fields cookie company — 1982.”
14.
“My Parents, 1982.”
15.
“Mom and Dad (age 20) at a Halloween Party in 1982.”
16.
“Depeche Mode, 1982.”
17.
“David Lee Roth and his signature leap circa 1982.”
18.
“Stephen King, 1982, with his $12,000 … word processor.”
19.
“Child playing Atari in his home 1982.”
20.
Basketball players from Chaminade University of Honolulu celebrate after beating the University of Virginia 77-72 in what has been largely deemed the biggest upset in both collegiate basketball history and sports history as a whole.
21.
“Johnny Cash and Elton John dress up as each other on SNL 1982 (Johnny was hosting, Elton was the musical star).”
22.
“A girl and her ‘72 Mach I Mustang in 1982.”
23.
“My dad and friends look like the cast of Stranger Things (1982).”
24.
“Last day of 8th grade, 1982!!! These were my rad friends.”
25.
"Punks on King's Road, England, 1982."
26.
“Prince and Rick James.”
27.
“Diego Maradona vs the Belgium defense at the 1982 World Cup.”
28.
“Princess Diana receives an E.T. doll from Drew Barrymore, Henry Thomas, Robert MacNaughton and Steven Spielberg at the London premiere of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, 1982.”
29.
“A wheatfield in the heart of Manhattan, 1982.”
30.
"Hubert de Givenchy and Audrey Hepburn in Paris 1982."
31.
“Rutger Hauer on the set of Blade Runner, 1982.”
32.
“Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson in 1982.”
33.
“Clearest image of the surface of Venus. From soviet Venera 13 in 1982.”
34.
The aftermath of the ‘Twilight Zone’ helicopter accident, where Vic Morrow and two child actors were killed after a Bell UH-1 Iroquois crashed during a stunt for ‘Twilight Zone: The Movie.’
35.
“Rob Bottin, a special effects expert, created the sculpture for the film "The Thing", 1982.”
36.
Members of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union and their supporters demonstrate in New York City during the 1982 garment workers’ strike, the biggest in Chinatown history.
37.
Architect Maya Lin as seen during the dedication of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C., November 1982. She designed the now-iconic monument when she was just a 21-year-old college student as a part of a class project.
38.
Argentine solidiers march forward during the invasion of the Falkland islands.
39.
Then-University of North Carolina freshman Michael Jordan makes a game-winning shot in the 1982 NCAA Championship game.
40.
The Australian VHS tape cover for Jane Fonda’s first workout tape, released in 1982.
41.
Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder as seen in the music video for their #1 single, “Ebony and Ivory.”
42.
‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ premieres at Hollywood’s Cinerama Dome.
43.
Protesters wave flags at an anti-nuclear rally in New York City’s Central Park. Up to one million demonstrators attended the event, per WNYC.
44.
A courtroom sketch from the trial of John Hinckley Jr., who attempted to assassinate then-President Ronald Reagan and shot three others in March 1981. He was found not guilty by insanity on all counts in June 1982.
45.
“Young punks in Communist Hungary - Budapest, 1982.”
46.
“Sharon and Ozzy in 1982.”
47.
“My dad’s best friend, Bill, in 1982. What a boss.”
48.
“Greenpeace tries to stop radioactive waste from being dumped in the ocean, 1982.”

1.
“A 19-year-old Jet Li in 1982.”
2.
“My uncle in Panama City Beach 1982.”
3.
“Workers finished the final touches at EPCOT - opened 1982.”
4.
“Sylvester Stallone and Mr. T, 1982.”
5.
"Marisa Tomei’s yearbook from 1982." 
6.
"'Three's Company' cast 1982.”
7.
“My friends and I: Sophomore Year 1982.”
8.
"Me in 1982 at 17 years young."
9.
"Party like it's 1982."
10.
“Slash in 1982 before Guns N’ Roses was started, and he was known as Saul!”
11.
“Catherine Bach hanging around at home, 1982.”
12.
“Teenagers in an arcade, 1982.”
13.
“The real Mrs. Fields, founder of the Mrs. Fields cookie company — 1982.”
14.
“My Parents, 1982.”
15.
“Mom and Dad (age 20) at a Halloween Party in 1982.”
16.
“Depeche Mode, 1982.”
17.
“David Lee Roth and his signature leap circa 1982.”
18.
“Stephen King, 1982, with his $12,000 … word processor.”
19.
“Child playing Atari in his home 1982.”
20.
Basketball players from Chaminade University of Honolulu celebrate after beating the University of Virginia 77-72 in what has been largely deemed the biggest upset in both collegiate basketball history and sports history as a whole.
21.
“Johnny Cash and Elton John dress up as each other on SNL 1982 (Johnny was hosting, Elton was the musical star).”
22.
“A girl and her ‘72 Mach I Mustang in 1982.”
23.
“My dad and friends look like the cast of Stranger Things (1982).”
24.
“Last day of 8th grade, 1982!!! These were my rad friends.”
25.
"Punks on King's Road, England, 1982."
26.
“Prince and Rick James.”
27.
“Diego Maradona vs the Belgium defense at the 1982 World Cup.”
28.
“Princess Diana receives an E.T. doll from Drew Barrymore, Henry Thomas, Robert MacNaughton and Steven Spielberg at the London premiere of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, 1982.”
29.
“A wheatfield in the heart of Manhattan, 1982.”
30.
"Hubert de Givenchy and Audrey Hepburn in Paris 1982."
31.
“Rutger Hauer on the set of Blade Runner, 1982.”
32.
“Freddie Mercury and Michael Jackson in 1982.”
33.
“Clearest image of the surface of Venus. From soviet Venera 13 in 1982.”
34.
The aftermath of the ‘Twilight Zone’ helicopter accident, where Vic Morrow and two child actors were killed after a Bell UH-1 Iroquois crashed during a stunt for ‘Twilight Zone: The Movie.’
35.
“Rob Bottin, a special effects expert, created the sculpture for the film "The Thing", 1982.”
36.
Members of the International Ladies Garment Workers Union and their supporters demonstrate in New York City during the 1982 garment workers’ strike, the biggest in Chinatown history.
37.
Architect Maya Lin as seen during the dedication of the Vietnam Memorial in Washington D.C., November 1982. She designed the now-iconic monument when she was just a 21-year-old college student as a part of a class project.
38.
Argentine solidiers march forward during the invasion of the Falkland islands.
39.
Then-University of North Carolina freshman Michael Jordan makes a game-winning shot in the 1982 NCAA Championship game.
40.
The Australian VHS tape cover for Jane Fonda’s first workout tape, released in 1982.
41.
Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder as seen in the music video for their #1 single, “Ebony and Ivory.”
42.
‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ premieres at Hollywood’s Cinerama Dome.
43.
Protesters wave flags at an anti-nuclear rally in New York City’s Central Park. Up to one million demonstrators attended the event, per WNYC.
44.
A courtroom sketch from the trial of John Hinckley Jr., who attempted to assassinate then-President Ronald Reagan and shot three others in March 1981. He was found not guilty by insanity on all counts in June 1982.
45.
“Young punks in Communist Hungary - Budapest, 1982.”
46.
“Sharon and Ozzy in 1982.”
47.
“My dad’s best friend, Bill, in 1982. What a boss.”
48.
“Greenpeace tries to stop radioactive waste from being dumped in the ocean, 1982.”