I was born in 1988, what was the time back then? The history of this period is rich with culture and events. Here is a timeline from 1988. Exploring the year 1988 reveals a world in the midst of the The Eighties, seeing rapid changes across science, technology, movies, and music. If you are looking to see the years after you were born, this archive contains the definitive pop culture and historical timeline of 1988.
Die Hard and Sega Genesis.
John McClane saved Nakatomi Plaza, the Sega Genesis promised 16-bit power, and CDs outsold vinyl.
The Cost of Living in 1988
$1.14
$0.67
$2.55
5.14 billion
Bruce Willis starred as an everyman cop trapped in a skyscraper with terrorists, changing the action genre forever.
Sega's 16-bit console launched, beginning the fierce "console wars" of the early 90s.
The cosmology book became a massive unexpected bestseller, bringing complex physics to the masses.
The wider picture
A few more things worth remembering.
A terrorist bomb destroyed a Boeing 747 over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing 270 people.
Mario's third outing became one of the greatest and best-selling games of all time.
Hayao Miyazaki's enchanting animated film established Studio Ghibli and gave them their iconic mascot.
The groundbreaking film blended live-action and animation seamlessly, revitalizing the animation industry.
For the first time, compact discs outsold vinyl, marking a permanent shift in how music was consumed.
TAT-8 went into operation, drastically increasing international telecommunication capacity.
You arrivedThe longer view
Follow the world as it changed around you, from 1988 to today.