7 Shows Like ‘Stranger Things’

This dark comedy series is probably one of the easiest to relate back to Stranger Things, considering that both are Netflix Original titles that include coming-of-age stories, a leading lady with mysterious supernatural abilities, and some gory, gritty action. If those kinds of things are your jam then you’re likely to love I Am Not Okay With This, which follows 17 year-old Sydney Novak (Sophia Lillis), who is trying to navigate high school and the complexities of her own sexuality all while dealing with telekinetic powers that are manifesting with her.

Where to stream I Am Not Okay With This

Yet another Netflix Original supernatural teen-drama, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina is based  on the Archie Comics series of the same name, and follows high schooler Sabrina Spellman (Kiernan Shipka) as she reconciles with being half-human, half-witch, trying to keep from being forced to choose between one or the other all while fighting dark forces of evil that threaten her, the people she cares about, and in some cases, the entire human world as we know it (talk about high stakes). Stranger Things fans are likely enjoy the show’s focus on supernatural, horror, and, of course, teen angst (the scariest thing of all).

Where to stream Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Based on Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez’s comic book series of the same name, this Netflix Original fantasy horror-drama definitely evokes Stranger Things’ penchant for building mind-bending mysteries that dabble in the dark and otherworldly. Locke & Key begins with Nina Locke (Darby Stanchfield) moving her three children Tyler (Connor Jessup), Kinsey (Emilia Jones), and Bode (Jackson Robert Scott) from Seattle to Matheson, Massachusetts following the murder of her husband and the kids’ father, Rendell (Bill Heck). They settle in Keyhouse, Rendell’s family home, where the three children quickly discover several mysterious keys that have the ability to unlock various doors in magical ways. The excitement and whimsy are challenged, however, by a demonic entity who is set on possessing the keys for its own nefarious purposes.

Where to stream Locke & Key

This Netflix Original supernatural horror-drama miniseries channels Stranger Things in both its eerie sense of mysterious foreboding and significance of the 1980s. The story centers on young American Dani Clayton (Victoria Pedretti) who moved to England in 1987 to escape her traumatic past, and in the process, becomes an au pair for the wealthy Wingrave family at Bly Manor. Unfortunately for Dani, new problems seek her out even after her change of scenery, as she begins encountering apparitions haunting the Manor, leading her on a suspense-filled journey to unravel the grim history behind her new job and home.

Where to stream The Haunting of Bly Manor

This is lighter fare compared to most of the other shows on this list, but Stranger Things��isn’t all screams and scares! One of the things fans love about the show is its humor, making Just Beyond a great show to check out for those looking for both horror and hilarity. Over the course of eight episodes, the 2021 anthology series tells thought-provoking tales about a world just slightly different from the one we currently live in, as each episode takes a different cast of characters on journeys of supernatural self-discovery that involve everything from aliens to ghosts to parallel universes. Amidst all the otherworldliness, much like Stranger Things, Just Beyond retains its emotional core of heart and humanity through its universal depictions of teenage struggles like peer pressure, bully, and anxiety, making for a viewing experience that feels both fantastical and true.

Where to stream Just Beyond

While this is a departure from the horror aspect of Stranger Things, Smallville still channels the Netflix hit through its portrayal of a young person coming-of-age in Midwestern America while trying to come to grips with a supernatural power and shocking origin that have the potential to change the world as they know it. This superhero series first premiered on The WB in 2001 and ran until 2011 (with a final home on The CW), revolving around a young Clark Kent (Tom Welling) as he tries to reconcile his place in the world and extraterrestrial origins with the ups and downs of teenage life in his hometown of Smallville, Kansas. Before he harassed his powers and became Superman, he was just a Smallville kid, which perhaps Eleven might have resonated with growing up in Hawkins, Indiana.

Where to stream Smallville

We couldn’t close out this list without mentioning the O.G. coming-of-age supernatural drama, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The show, which ran from 1997 to 2003, is chock-full of everything you love most about Stranger Things: haunts, humor, high school (the 3 Hs), and an incredibly talented cast. Buffy is led by badass high schooler Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), who has been chosen by fate to become the Slayer, a woman responsible for battling evil forces, taking down supernatural threats like vampires and demons, with the help of her Watcher, Rupert Giles (Anthony Stewart Head), and trusted friends Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan) and Xander Harris (Nicholas Brendon). Like Stranger Things, Buffy goes the extra mile to deliver emotional gut punches and moments of nuanced humanity through explorations of everything from the death of a loved one to sexuality to found families. It’s a very special show that any fan of Stranger Things is likely to love.

Where to stream Buffy the Vampire Slayer