36 Pics of What the World Looked Like in 1984

Carly Tennes Published 10/04/2024 in wow

Though George Orwell may have famously touted 1984 as a year defined by authoritarianism and surveillance in his iconic novel, the reality was a whole lot cooler — and way less dystopian — than its science fiction counterpart. Just take a look at these punching punks, ghost-busting Ghostbusters, and elite athletes that made 1984 a year for the books.

From young skateboarders honing their skills to the first untethered space walk in history, here are 36 pics of what the world looked like in 1984.

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1.
“Bruce McCandless on an untethered spacewalk with only a jetpack to prevent him from floating off into the void.”
2.
American skier Bill Johnson competes in the 1984 Olympic Games in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He became the first American man to land a gold medal in downhill skiing.
3.
Stevie Wonder pays respects while attending Marvin Gaye’s funeral in Los Angeles. The legendary "Ain't That Peculiar” artist was shot and killed by his father the day before what would have been hi8s 45th birthday.
4.
Soviet Union leader Konstantin Chernenko as pictured on the cover of Time Magazine shortly after taking power in February 1984.
5.
Legendary Los Angeles Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after breaking the NBA all-time scoring record. Abdul-Jabbar scored his 31,420th point during a game against the Utah Jazz, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s existing record.
6.
 Radio personality Peter Boyles speaks at talk show host Alan Berg’s funeral. Berg, an outspoken liberal Jewish radio presenter, was shot and killed by the leader of a white supremacist Neo-nazi group in June 1984 .
7.
Rev. Jesse Jackson gives his famed “Rainbow Coalition” speech at the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco. "Our flag is red, white and blue, but our nation is a rainbow—red, yellow, brown, black and white—and we’re all precious in God’s sight," he said during the now-iconic address.
8.
“Beirut 1984 2/8.”
9.
“In 1984 ‘Baby Fae’ received a baboon heart transplant at just 11 days old and survived 21 days before rejecting it.”
10.
“Afghan Girl, 1984.”
11.
Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, and Ernie Hudson sport their ghost-busting uniforms in a still from “Ghostbusters,” which hit theaters in June 1984.
12.
“Ric Flair meeting a 12-year-old Dwayne Johnson circa 1984.”
13.
“Eddie Van Halen performs in San Diego (California, USA 1984).”
14.
“My parents, 1984.”
15.
 “Larry Nance at the inaugural NBA Slam Dunk Contest - 1984.”
16.
“Me and my sister in 1984.” 
17.
“Me in 1984 ‘Going to church.’”
18.
“‘Prince was the only guy who could show up at your party, in frills, and steal your girlfriend. Then steal her clothes, then steal someone else's girl in your girlfriends clothes.’ - 1984.”
19.
“Freddie Mercury said to Mary Austin in his will: ‘If things had been different you would have been my wife, and this would have been yours anyway.’ (1984).”
20.
“1984 Detroit Tigers.”
21.
“Liz Hurley 1984.”
22.
“George Lucas before CGI, 1984.”
23.
“Is 1984 Old School?”
24.
“My parents on their wedding day, 1984.”
25.
“A dinosaur being delivered to the Boston Museum of Science, 1984.”
26.
“Steve Jobs showing Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Kenny Scharf how to use a Macintosh computer (1984).”
27.
“A fight in front of CBGBs, 1984.”
28.
“1984, Legendary luchador wrestler "El Santo" (Rodolfo Guzman Huerta) reveals his face to the audience for the only time in his entire career. He passed away only 10 days later at the age of 66.”
29.
“O.J. Simpson, carrying the Olympic torch in 1984. Nicole Brown is off to the left.”
30.
“Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale (center sitting) with armed Sikh militants in the Golden Temple, a few days before the Indian army stormed the complex killing him and the majority of his followers. Amritsar, Punjub, May 1984. Photo taken by Raghu Rai.”
31.
“At my drafting table with my electric eraser before our office used computers, 1984.”
32.
A still from Apple’s “1984”-themed Super Bowl commercial. The iconic advertisement, directed by Ridley Scott, introduced the Macintosh computer.
33.
“Circa 1984 party’s hit different in the 80’s.”
34.
Hulk Hogan and The Iron Sheik face off in the 1984 World Wrestling Federation Championship match. Hogan earned the win after managing to escape the “camel clutch,” becoming the first wrestler to break out of the infamous chinlock.
35.
“Ronald and Nancy Reagan visit the Terracotta Army in Xi'an, China - 1984.”
36.
“Jeremy Corbyn at an anti-Apartheid protest in London, 1984.”

1.
“Bruce McCandless on an untethered spacewalk with only a jetpack to prevent him from floating off into the void.”
2.
American skier Bill Johnson competes in the 1984 Olympic Games in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He became the first American man to land a gold medal in downhill skiing.
3.
Stevie Wonder pays respects while attending Marvin Gaye’s funeral in Los Angeles. The legendary "Ain't That Peculiar” artist was shot and killed by his father the day before what would have been hi8s 45th birthday.
4.
Soviet Union leader Konstantin Chernenko as pictured on the cover of Time Magazine shortly after taking power in February 1984.
5.
Legendary Los Angeles Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after breaking the NBA all-time scoring record. Abdul-Jabbar scored his 31,420th point during a game against the Utah Jazz, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s existing record.
6.
 Radio personality Peter Boyles speaks at talk show host Alan Berg’s funeral. Berg, an outspoken liberal Jewish radio presenter, was shot and killed by the leader of a white supremacist Neo-nazi group in June 1984 .
7.
Rev. Jesse Jackson gives his famed “Rainbow Coalition” speech at the Democratic National Convention in San Francisco. "Our flag is red, white and blue, but our nation is a rainbow—red, yellow, brown, black and white—and we’re all precious in God’s sight," he said during the now-iconic address.
8.
“Beirut 1984 2/8.”
9.
“In 1984 ‘Baby Fae’ received a baboon heart transplant at just 11 days old and survived 21 days before rejecting it.”
10.
“Afghan Girl, 1984.”
11.
Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, and Ernie Hudson sport their ghost-busting uniforms in a still from “Ghostbusters,” which hit theaters in June 1984.
12.
“Ric Flair meeting a 12-year-old Dwayne Johnson circa 1984.”
13.
“Eddie Van Halen performs in San Diego (California, USA 1984).”
14.
“My parents, 1984.”
15.
 “Larry Nance at the inaugural NBA Slam Dunk Contest - 1984.”
16.
“Me and my sister in 1984.” 
17.
“Me in 1984 ‘Going to church.’”
18.
“‘Prince was the only guy who could show up at your party, in frills, and steal your girlfriend. Then steal her clothes, then steal someone else's girl in your girlfriends clothes.’ - 1984.”
19.
“Freddie Mercury said to Mary Austin in his will: ‘If things had been different you would have been my wife, and this would have been yours anyway.’ (1984).”
20.
“1984 Detroit Tigers.”
21.
“Liz Hurley 1984.”
22.
“George Lucas before CGI, 1984.”
23.
“Is 1984 Old School?”
24.
“My parents on their wedding day, 1984.”
25.
“A dinosaur being delivered to the Boston Museum of Science, 1984.”
26.
“Steve Jobs showing Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Kenny Scharf how to use a Macintosh computer (1984).”
27.
“A fight in front of CBGBs, 1984.”
28.
“1984, Legendary luchador wrestler "El Santo" (Rodolfo Guzman Huerta) reveals his face to the audience for the only time in his entire career. He passed away only 10 days later at the age of 66.”
29.
“O.J. Simpson, carrying the Olympic torch in 1984. Nicole Brown is off to the left.”
30.
“Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale (center sitting) with armed Sikh militants in the Golden Temple, a few days before the Indian army stormed the complex killing him and the majority of his followers. Amritsar, Punjub, May 1984. Photo taken by Raghu Rai.”
31.
“At my drafting table with my electric eraser before our office used computers, 1984.”
32.
A still from Apple’s “1984”-themed Super Bowl commercial. The iconic advertisement, directed by Ridley Scott, introduced the Macintosh computer.
33.
“Circa 1984 party’s hit different in the 80’s.”
34.
Hulk Hogan and The Iron Sheik face off in the 1984 World Wrestling Federation Championship match. Hogan earned the win after managing to escape the “camel clutch,” becoming the first wrestler to break out of the infamous chinlock.
35.
“Ronald and Nancy Reagan visit the Terracotta Army in Xi'an, China - 1984.”
36.
“Jeremy Corbyn at an anti-Apartheid protest in London, 1984.”

“Bruce McCandless on an untethered spacewalk with only a jetpack to prevent him from floating off into the void.”

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1. “Bruce McCandless on an untethered spacewalk with only a jetpack to prevent him from floating off into the void.”

2. American skier Bill Johnson competes in the 1984 Olympic Games in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He became the first American man to land a gold medal in downhill skiing.

3. Stevie Wonder pays respects while attending Marvin Gaye’s funeral in Los Angeles. The legendary "Ain't That Peculiar” artist was shot and killed by his father the day before what would have been hi8s 45th birthday.

4. Soviet Union leader Konstantin Chernenko as pictured on the cover of Time Magazine shortly after taking power in February 1984.

5. Legendary Los Angeles Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after breaking the NBA all-time scoring record. Abdul-Jabbar scored his 31,420th point during a game against the Utah Jazz, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s existing record.

6. Radio personality Peter Boyles speaks at talk show host Alan Berg’s funeral. Berg, an outspoken liberal Jewish radio presenter, was shot and killed by the leader of a white supremacist Neo-nazi group in June 1984 .

8. “Beirut 1984 2/8.”

9. “In 1984 ‘Baby Fae’ received a baboon heart transplant at just 11 days old and survived 21 days before rejecting it.”

10. “Afghan Girl, 1984.”

11. Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, and Ernie Hudson sport their ghost-busting uniforms in a still from “Ghostbusters,” which hit theaters in June 1984.

12. “Ric Flair meeting a 12-year-old Dwayne Johnson circa 1984.”

13. “Eddie Van Halen performs in San Diego (California, USA 1984).”

14. “My parents, 1984.”

15. “Larry Nance at the inaugural NBA Slam Dunk Contest - 1984.”

16. “Me and my sister in 1984.”

17. “Me in 1984 ‘Going to church.’”

18. “‘Prince was the only guy who could show up at your party, in frills, and steal your girlfriend. Then steal her clothes, then steal someone else's girl in your girlfriends clothes.’ - 1984.”

19. “Freddie Mercury said to Mary Austin in his will: ‘If things had been different you would have been my wife, and this would have been yours anyway.’ (1984).”

20. “1984 Detroit Tigers.”

21. “Liz Hurley 1984.”

22. “George Lucas before CGI, 1984.”

23. “Is 1984 Old School?”

24. “My parents on their wedding day, 1984.”

25. “A dinosaur being delivered to the Boston Museum of Science, 1984.”

26. “Steve Jobs showing Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Kenny Scharf how to use a Macintosh computer (1984).”

27. “A fight in front of CBGBs, 1984.”

28. “1984, Legendary luchador wrestler "El Santo" (Rodolfo Guzman Huerta) reveals his face to the audience for the only time in his entire career. He passed away only 10 days later at the age of 66.”

29. “O.J. Simpson, carrying the Olympic torch in 1984. Nicole Brown is off to the left.”

30. “Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale (center sitting) with armed Sikh militants in the Golden Temple, a few days before the Indian army stormed the complex killing him and the majority of his followers. Amritsar, Punjub, May 1984. Photo taken by Raghu Rai.”

31. “At my drafting table with my electric eraser before our office used computers, 1984.”

32. A still from Apple’s “1984”-themed Super Bowl commercial. The iconic advertisement, directed by Ridley Scott, introduced the Macintosh computer.

33. “Circa 1984 party’s hit different in the 80’s.”

34. Hulk Hogan and The Iron Sheik face off in the 1984 World Wrestling Federation Championship match. Hogan earned the win after managing to escape the “camel clutch,” becoming the first wrestler to break out of the infamous chinlock.

35. “Ronald and Nancy Reagan visit the Terracotta Army in Xi'an, China - 1984.”

36. “Jeremy Corbyn at an anti-Apartheid protest in London, 1984.”

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eBaum's Picks

1.
“Bruce McCandless on an untethered spacewalk with only a jetpack to prevent him from floating off into the void.”

2.
American skier Bill Johnson competes in the 1984 Olympic Games in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. He became the first American man to land a gold medal in downhill skiing.

3.
Stevie Wonder pays respects while attending Marvin Gaye’s funeral in Los Angeles. The legendary "Ain't That Peculiar” artist was shot and killed by his father the day before what would have been hi8s 45th birthday.

4.
Soviet Union leader Konstantin Chernenko as pictured on the cover of Time Magazine shortly after taking power in February 1984.

5.
Legendary Los Angeles Laker Kareem Abdul-Jabbar after breaking the NBA all-time scoring record. Abdul-Jabbar scored his 31,420th point during a game against the Utah Jazz, breaking Wilt Chamberlain’s existing record.

6.
 Radio personality Peter Boyles speaks at talk show host Alan Berg’s funeral. Berg, an outspoken liberal Jewish radio presenter, was shot and killed by the leader of a white supremacist Neo-nazi group in June 1984 .

8.
“Beirut 1984 2/8.”

9.
“In 1984 ‘Baby Fae’ received a baboon heart transplant at just 11 days old and survived 21 days before rejecting it.”

10.
“Afghan Girl, 1984.”

11.
Harold Ramis, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, and Ernie Hudson sport their ghost-busting uniforms in a still from “Ghostbusters,” which hit theaters in June 1984.

12.
“Ric Flair meeting a 12-year-old Dwayne Johnson circa 1984.”

13.
“Eddie Van Halen performs in San Diego (California, USA 1984).”

14.
“My parents, 1984.”

15.
 “Larry Nance at the inaugural NBA Slam Dunk Contest - 1984.”

16.
“Me and my sister in 1984.” 

17.
“Me in 1984 ‘Going to church.’”

18.
“‘Prince was the only guy who could show up at your party, in frills, and steal your girlfriend. Then steal her clothes, then steal someone else's girl in your girlfriends clothes.’ - 1984.”

19.
“Freddie Mercury said to Mary Austin in his will: ‘If things had been different you would have been my wife, and this would have been yours anyway.’ (1984).”

20.
“1984 Detroit Tigers.”

21.
“Liz Hurley 1984.”

22.
“George Lucas before CGI, 1984.”

23.
“Is 1984 Old School?”

24.
“My parents on their wedding day, 1984.”

25.
“A dinosaur being delivered to the Boston Museum of Science, 1984.”

26.
“Steve Jobs showing Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Kenny Scharf how to use a Macintosh computer (1984).”

27.
“A fight in front of CBGBs, 1984.”

28.
“1984, Legendary luchador wrestler "El Santo" (Rodolfo Guzman Huerta) reveals his face to the audience for the only time in his entire career. He passed away only 10 days later at the age of 66.”

29.
“O.J. Simpson, carrying the Olympic torch in 1984. Nicole Brown is off to the left.”

30.
“Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale (center sitting) with armed Sikh militants in the Golden Temple, a few days before the Indian army stormed the complex killing him and the majority of his followers. Amritsar, Punjub, May 1984. Photo taken by Raghu Rai.”

31.
“At my drafting table with my electric eraser before our office used computers, 1984.”

32.
A still from Apple’s “1984”-themed Super Bowl commercial. The iconic advertisement, directed by Ridley Scott, introduced the Macintosh computer.

33.
“Circa 1984 party’s hit different in the 80’s.”

34.
Hulk Hogan and The Iron Sheik face off in the 1984 World Wrestling Federation Championship match. Hogan earned the win after managing to escape the “camel clutch,” becoming the first wrestler to break out of the infamous chinlock.

35.
“Ronald and Nancy Reagan visit the Terracotta Army in Xi'an, China - 1984.”

36.
“Jeremy Corbyn at an anti-Apartheid protest in London, 1984.”