In 1983, "Every Breath You Take" topped the charts, Return of the Jedi packed theaters, a stamp cost 20¢, the average home went for about $89,800.
🎵 Top songs of 1983
"Every Breath You Take" — The Police
"Billie Jean" — Michael Jackson
"Flashdance... What a Feeling" — Irene Cara
🎬 In theaters
Return of the Jedi
Terms of Endearment
Flashdance
What things cost in 1983
$1.25
Gallon of gas
20¢
Postage stamp
$3.15
Movie ticket
$2.24
Gallon of milk
$89,800
Average home
$9,950
New car
$20,885
Household income
A $1.25 gallon of gas in 1983 has the buying power of roughly $3.90 in 2024 dollars. A 20¢ stamp is around 62¢ today, and a $3.15 movie ticket is about $9.75.
The biggest moments of 1983
The final episode of M*A*S*H aired on February 28 — watched by about 105 million Americans, a TV record at the time.
Sally Ride became the first American woman in space aboard Space Shuttle Challenger on June 18.
Microsoft Word was first released for MS-DOS in October.
The final episode of M*A*S*H aired on February 28 — watched by about 105 million Americans, the most-watched TV episode of all time then.
Sally Ride became the first American woman in space aboard Space Shuttle Challenger on June 18.
Microsoft Word was first released for MS-DOS in October.
Toys, TV & trends of 1983
Cabbage Patch Kids dolls were the must-have Christmas toy, with reports of fights at toy stores.
Michael Jackson's "Thriller" music video premiered on MTV in December and reset the bar for music video production.
"A Christmas Story" hit theaters in November and would become a perennial holiday classic.
Cabbage Patch Kids dolls were the must-have Christmas toy; reports of fights at toy stores made national news.
The "Thriller" music video premiered on MTV in December and reset the bar for music video production.
"A Christmas Story" hit theaters in November and would become a perennial holiday classic.
The music scene
1983 was a banner year for Michael Jackson — "Billie Jean," "Beat It," and the moonwalk debut at Motown 25 made him a global superstar. The Police topped the charts with "Every Breath You Take." Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" was inescapable.
At the movies
Terms of Endearment won the 1983 Best Picture Oscar. Return of the Jedi was the box-office champion, closing the original Star Wars trilogy. Flashdance, WarGames, and Trading Places were defining hits.
Cartoons kids loved
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (debuted September)
The Smurfs
Scooby-Doo
He-Man and the Masters of the Universe debuted in syndication on September 5 — the start of the toy-driven cartoon era. The Smurfs continued strong on NBC. G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero was preparing for its 1983 mini-series launch.
The world in 1983
World population: about 4.7 billion
U.S. President: Ronald Reagan
Korean Air Lines Flight 007 was shot down by Soviet fighters on September 1
Korean Air Lines Flight 007 was shot down by Soviet fighters on September 1, killing all 269 aboard.
A truck bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut on October 23 killed 241 American servicemen.
The U.S. invasion of Grenada (Operation Urgent Fury) took place from October 25 to 29.
1983 birthday questions
How old is someone born in 1983?
Someone born in 1983 turns 43 in 2026 (42 if their birthday has not come round yet).
What was the number one song in 1983?
"Every Breath You Take" by The Police was among the biggest hits of 1983.
What movie came out in 1983?
Return of the Jedi was one of the films packing theaters in 1983.
How much did gas cost in 1983?
A gallon of gas ran about $1.25 in 1983, and a postage stamp cost 20¢.
How much did a house cost in 1983?
The average home went for roughly $89,800 in 1983, against a typical household income of about $20,885.