In 1982, "Physical" topped the charts, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial packed theaters, a stamp cost 20¢, the average home went for about $83,900.
🎵 Top songs of 1982
"Physical" — Olivia Newton-John
"Eye of the Tiger" — Survivor
"Ebony and Ivory" — Paul McCartney & Stevie Wonder
🎬 In theaters
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Gandhi
Tootsie
What things cost in 1982
$1.31
Gallon of gas
20¢
Postage stamp
$2.94
Movie ticket
$2.24
Gallon of milk
$83,900
Average home
$9,000
New car
$20,171
Household income
A $1.31 gallon of gas in 1982 has the buying power of roughly $4.20 in 2024 dollars. A 20¢ stamp is around 64¢ today, and a $2.94 movie ticket is about $9.40.
The biggest moments of 1982
Michael Jackson released Thriller on November 30 — the best-selling album of all time.
The compact disc was introduced commercially.
Time magazine named the personal computer its "Machine of the Year."
Michael Jackson released Thriller on November 30 — the best-selling album of all time, with over 70 million copies sold worldwide.
The first commercial CD players were introduced in October; the format would take a decade to dominate.
Time magazine named the personal computer its "Machine of the Year" — the first non-human ever chosen.
Toys, TV & trends of 1982
USA Today launched on September 15 as the first U.S. national daily newspaper.
The Atari E.T. video game became infamous as one of gaming's biggest flops; unsold cartridges were famously buried in a New Mexico landfill.
Cheers debuted on NBC on September 30; the show would run 11 seasons.
USA Today launched on September 15 as the first U.S. national daily newspaper.
The Atari E.T. video game became infamous as one of gaming's biggest flops; the unsold cartridges were famously buried in a New Mexico landfill.
Cheers debuted on NBC on September 30; the show would run 11 seasons.
The music scene
1982 was the year MTV reshaped how songs broke. Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" (Rocky III) and Toto's "Africa" defined arena rock. Joan Jett dominated rock-radio crossover. Michael Jackson released Thriller in November, an album that would change pop music.
At the movies
Gandhi won the 1982 Best Picture Oscar. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was the year's box-office champion at $359M and would hold the all-time record for over a decade. Tootsie and An Officer and a Gentleman were major hits.
Cartoons kids loved
The Smurfs
Tom and Jerry
Scooby-Doo
The Smurfs dominated Saturday mornings in their second season. Pac-Man cartoon joined the lineup. He-Man's syndicated debut was still a year away. Tom and Jerry continued its decades-long syndication reign.
The world in 1982
World population: about 4.6 billion
U.S. President: Ronald Reagan
The Falklands War took place between the UK and Argentina
Britain and Argentina went to war over the Falkland Islands from April 2 to June 14; Britain prevailed.
The first artificial heart was transplanted into dentist Barney Clark on December 2 in Salt Lake City.
Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev died on November 10; Yuri Andropov succeeded him.
1982 birthday questions
How old is someone born in 1982?
Someone born in 1982 turns 44 in 2026 (43 if their birthday has not come round yet).
What was the number one song in 1982?
"Physical" by Olivia Newton-John was among the biggest hits of 1982.
What movie came out in 1982?
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial was one of the films packing theaters in 1982.
How much did gas cost in 1982?
A gallon of gas ran about $1.31 in 1982, and a postage stamp cost 20¢.
How much did a house cost in 1982?
The average home went for roughly $83,900 in 1982, against a typical household income of about $20,171.