35 Vintage Photos That Show the Way We Were in 1987

'80s
A boy in a denim jacket and jeans sits at a desk with one leg up, holding a joystick and looking at the camera. A vintage computer, caps, and other items are on the desk, with a poster on the wall behind.

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In 1987, life had a rhythm all its own. Cassette tapes spun in Walkmans, neon colors lit up the streets, and TV nights with family felt like a tradition. It was the year of big hair, bigger dreams, and unforgettable pop culture moments.

These photos don’t just show what people wore or how they spent their days, they pull you right back into the feeling of the late eighties, when the world seemed a little simpler and every snapshot told a story worth keeping.

1. “My uncle won this truck by being closest to correctly guessing the number of jelly beans in a jar at the state fair in 1987.”

A man smiles while sitting in the drivers seat of a black pickup truck with purple graphics, parked in front of a building labeled FLIGHT STANDARDS.
V3BabyBurton

2. “Stealing a sip of wine at a wedding while my mom (behind me) isn’t looking in 1987.”

A young child in a suit and red tie sits at a dining table, sipping from a glass. The table is set with dishes, a piece of cake, and green wine bottles. Blurred adults sit in the warmly lit background.
lanko69/Reddit

3. “My dad in a 1987 computer magazine ad.”

A man wearing glasses and a colorful striped sweater sits beside a vintage computer, holding up a computer circuit board and looking at the camera. A keyboard and mouse are on the desk in front of the monitor.
miseleigh/Reddit

4. “Me and my Raleigh Burner in 1987.”

A boy stands on a sidewalk holding a BMX bike. He wears a white Adidas sweatshirt, blue pants, and sneakers. Parked cars and houses line the street in the background on a sunny day.
Cormega99/Reddit

5. “I’ve been a Pizza Hut enthusiast since 1987.”

A young child stands on the hood of a red Chevrolet parked outside a Pizza Hut, smiling and giving a thumbs up. The restaurants name is visible on the red roof. Another car is parked nearby.
JoJoPowa85/Reddit

6. Run DMC and Weird Al Yankovic hanging out in 1987

Run DMC and Weird Al Yankovic pose together at a party. Two wear black hats, sunglasses, gold chains, and black outfits, while the third wears glasses and a colorful shirt. One man holds a drink and flashes a peace sign. The background is dark.
Detroitaa/Reddit

7. “Check out my ski outfit in 1987.”

A person in a colorful retro ski outfit stands on a snowy mountain slope, holding skis, with snow-covered peaks and a vast mountain landscape in the background.
Theoldelf/Reddit

8. “My dad, a Chicago police officer, my aunt and me in 1987.”

A woman, a young boy in a White Sox cap, and a man in a police uniform stand together on a sidewalk in a suburban neighborhood on a sunny day.
LoneShark81/Reddit

9. “My parents when they were 16 and 17 in 1987. They’ve been together for 34 years now!”

A person with bright red hair and dramatic makeup leans in closely to another person with short blond hair wearing a white Batman T-shirt; they appear to be gazing at each other affectionately.
hlg97/Reddit

10. “My friends and I before an Iron Maiden show in 1987.”

Five young men pose energetically in a cluttered room decorated with band posters. They wear bandanas, rock band shirts, and make playful faces, suggesting excitement and camaraderie.
Kittenstorm93/Reddit

11. “After their first fight, my dad apologized to my mom through Polaroids in 1987.”

A man in glasses and a red tie takes four Polaroid selfies, each showing different expressions: sad, exasperated, angry, and happy. Handwritten captions describe his emotions in each photo.
jordankyler/Reddit

12. Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy hanging out in 1987

Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy walking outdoors on grass, one wearing a short-sleeve shirt and jeans, and the other in a sleeveless shirt and jeans; both appear relaxed and engaged in conversation, with trees in the background.
Detroitaa/Reddit

13. My mom with her students in 1987

A woman stands in front of a classroom wall covered with handwritten posters. She wears a light cardigan over a collared shirt. Two children sit in the foreground, one partially visible. The scene appears vintage.
thelhasby/Reddit

14. Rick Astley’s father, Ossie Astley, celebrated ‘Never Gonna Give You Up’ making it to #1 on the UK charts in 1987.

A man in a shirt that says IM RICK ASTLEYS DAD stands behind a large sign reading, WELL DONE RICK ASTLEY YOUVE ALWAYS BEEN OUR NO 1 LOVE YOU, giving a thumbs up on a roadside.
arcana07/Reddit

15. Freddie Mercury eating soup in bed with his cats in 1987

Freddie Mercury sits on a bed eating from a bowl, while two cats relax on the bed in front of him. The room has a classic wooden headboard and cozy bedding.
JAlbert653/Reddit

16. Andre the Giant and Fred Savage on the set of The Princess Bride in 1987

Andre the Giant in a pink shirt and green jacket sits on a bench with a smiling Fred Savage in a blue sports jersey on his lap. They are indoors, with ladders and studio equipment in the background.
Detroitaa/Reddit

At 7’4″ and 520 lbs, Andre the Giant was larger-than-life.

17. Counter top dancing in 1987

A young child in a colorful sweater and jeans stands laughing on a kitchen counter. There are household items and a stove visible in the foreground, with a doorway and pale walls in the background.
myworkaccountatwork/Reddit

18. L.A. Gear ad from 1987

Five women in colorful 1980s outfits, including crop tops, mini skirts, leggings, and high-top sneakers, pose together indoors with confident smiles and retro hairstyles.
Tur_Burglerson/Reddit

19. Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne at home in 1987

Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne sit closely together on a white couch, smiling at the camera. The man wears a light blue shirt and white pants; the woman wears a long blue dress. The room has white walls and a lamp on a side table.
saddadstheband/Reddit

20. Wall Street interns during lunchtime in 1987

Two young men in dress shirts, ties, and suspenders sit on outdoor steps, eating sandwiches. An old stone building is visible in the background, and both appear to be taking a break.
hotsaucerman/Reddit

21. Kathy Ireland at bat in 1987

Kathy Ireland in a white swimsuit and green cap holds a baseball bat, poised to hit a pitch on a sunny outdoor field. Spectators and a catcher in yellow uniforms are visible in the background.
brildenlanch/Reddit

22. “Me in 1987”

A young child with blonde hair, wearing a blue jacket and red sneakers, stands next to a large, tan Great Dane dog on a leash indoors, both facing the camera and appearing calm.
Patches_Mcgee

23. Jim Varney and Robin Williams in 1987

Jim Varney and Robin Williams stand side by side; one, in a cap and denim vest, laughs with his arm around the other, who wears a gray suit and colorful tie, and looks at the camera with a reserved expression.
Djf47021/Reddit

24. Gillian Anderson in 1987

Gillian Anderson with short, tousled brown hair and light eyes sits in the back seat of a car, gazing out of frame. The photo has a timestamp reading FEB 22 87 in the bottom right corner.
Berenbos/Reddit

25. Tony Hawk and his father Frank Hawk in 1987

Tony Hawk balances on a homemade wooden skateboard ramp indoors, while his dad Frank Hawk stands nearby smiling. The room is cluttered with boxes and trophies displayed on shelves in the background.
act1989/Reddit

26. Princess Diana and her son Harry in 1987.

Princess Diana in a bright pink cardigan and checkered pants sits on stone steps with a small child in a camouflage jacket on her lap, both looking down, near a green door.
neueszukunft00/Reddit

27. Skate or Die in 1987

Four boys with colorful skateboards pose on a wooden ramp on a suburban street. Three are sitting at the top, smiling, while one lies relaxed at the bottom. Its sunny and leafy trees line the street in the background.
_d__train/Reddit

28. Mike Tyson with his Rolls Royce in 1987

Mike Tyson in a sleeveless shirt leans against a dark blue Rolls-Royce parked on a residential street with older houses, a dog in a yard, and a brown car in the background.
islandradio/Reddit

29. Girl posing on the fin of her dad’s Dodge Charger Daytona in 1987

A woman does the splits on the rear spoiler of a red sports car parked in front of a house, while another woman stands nearby, watching. The car has a DAYTONA license plate.
Quick_Presentation11/Reddit

30. David Bowie at the computer in 1987

David Bowie in a plaid blazer sits at a desk, thoughtfully looking at a large, vintage computer monitor with one hand on the keyboard. Books and framed photos are visible on shelves behind him.
picklejewce/Reddit

31. “My parents and their dune buggy car.”

A man sits in a beige dune buggy with a red and yellow stripe, smiling up at a woman standing beside the car. They are outdoors, surrounded by greenery and palm trees, and both appear relaxed and happy.
Square_A

These VW Dune Buggy kits weren’t rare in the 70s, but by the time 1987 hit, this would have been considered retro.

32. Lucille Ball and Betty White in 1987

Betty White and Lucille Ball with curly hair pose together. One woman stands behind the other with her arms affectionately around her. Both wear patterned outfits and jewelry. Books and posters are visible in the background.
InevitableClear

33. Actor Christian Bale at home in Bournemouth, Dorset in 1987

Christian Bale in a denim jacket and jeans sits at a desk with one leg up, holding a joystick and looking at the camera. A vintage computer, caps, and other items are on the desk, with a poster on the wall behind.
Ok_Tip_5184/Reddit

34. Beastie Boys in the East Village in 1987

The Beastie Boys in casual 1980s attire stand outside Stromboli Pizza, a classic storefront with large windows. People sit inside eating, and a festive Santa decoration is visible on the window.
StupendousMan1995/Reddit

35. Mike Tyson playing his own video game

Mike Tyson in boxing shorts sits on a leather chair, smiling and playing a Nintendo Entertainment System console in a room with brick walls and studio equipment.
Arargh/Reddit

More Trips Back in Time

If these glimpses of 1987 brought back fond memories, you’ll love exploring more moments from the past. See 25 Vintage Photos of What Life Looked Like in the 1980s for an even broader view of the decade. Take a peek behind the curtain with 18 Vintage Behind-The-Scenes Photos of Sesame Street to relive childhood magic. And don’t miss 35 Photos of the Early 70s That Show the Way We Were (1970-1973) for another nostalgic journey through the eighties.

'80s35 Vintage Photos That Show the Way We Were in 1987
Colby Droscher
Colby Droscher
Colby has been in digital publishing for 15+ years. In a past life he was the Editor in Chief of Literally Media Entertainment brands (cracked.com, ebaumsworld.com, cheezburger.com).

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