10 Movies That Inspired 'Stranger Things'

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The fourth installment of Stranger Things is nearly here. After roughly three years, we’re finally heading back to the Upside Down to see what’s become of Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, and more of the beloved characters we’ve seen grow up right before our eyes on the Netflix hit series. It’s hard to believe the show, which premiered in 2016, ignited such a huge following. But much of that has to do with its deep love and appreciation for the genre films that came before it.

Set in the ‘80s, Stranger Things draws on a number of beloved ‘70s and ‘80s classics we know you’ll recognize. Matt and Ross Duffer, the creators of the show, have spoken extensively about the work of Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter, and Stephen King when it comes to the pop culture that influenced them over the years and led to Stranger Things.

Now that we’re on season four of the Emmy-nominated series, the Duffers have made the series wholly their own, with each installment growing even darker with each passing episode. But in those early episodes — especially in seasons one and two — you’ll find clear references and homages to films like E.T. The Extra Terrestrial, Jaws, Firestarter, and more. Before you dive into your Stranger Things recap, rewatch, or hunker down to binge the next batch of episodes, why not check out some of the movies that inspired the series? See some of our favorite films that inspired Stranger Things here.

‘Jaws’

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From the first scenes where Chief Hopper (David Harbour) heads into Hawkins Police Department to write up a mysterious report, nods to 1975’s Jaws are everywhere. From Hopper’s car to the close-up on the report, even bits of the Demogorgon look like they were inspired directly by Jaws.

Watch Jaws on Amazon Prime Video.
Stephen King’s ‘It’

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Bear with us, we’re jumping ahead ever so slightly. Although the mini-series iteration of Stephen King’s It came out in 1990, the book that inspired the TV adaptation debuted in 1986, so we’re definitely including this entry on our list. The Duffer brothers have pulled from a number of Stephen King’s novels — so expect a few more entries on this list.

Watch on Amazon Prime Video.
‘E.T. the Extra Terrestrial’

Image Credit: ©Universal/Courtesy Everett Collection.

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and a number of Steve Spielberg’s other films made a huge impact on the Duffer Brothers. So much so, that you could argue E.T. is one of the series’ biggest influences, at least in the first season. One of the more obvious references in Stranger Things came in season one, when Dustin, Lucas, and Mike find Eleven in the woods. They take her in, and at one point dress her up with a wig and all — a direct connection back to this beloved 1982 film. Plus, we can’t forget all the bike riding.

Watch on Amazon Prime Video.
‘The Goonies’

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The Goonies also has a lot of the spirit that was injected into Stranger Things. A group of young friends bands together to find buried treasure? It might seem ever-so-slightly off from the darker tale of Stranger Things. But the way these kids work together and care for one another definitely inspired the bonds of our rag-tag AV club members in Stranger Things.

Watch The Goonies on Amazon Prime Video.
‘Firestarter’

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Another Stephen King entry, just based on this photo alone you can see where the Duffer Brothers got inspired by one of King’s novels. Firestarter follows a young girl with pyrokenetic powers. Sound familiar? Sure, Eleven can’t set things ablaze (at first) but it’s clear to see where Firestarter influenced the Stranger Things creators.

Watch Firestarter on Amazon Prime Video.
‘Aliens’

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Both Alien and Aliens left such an impact on the Duffer Brothers, they decided to bring Aliens actor Paul Reiser on board for the second season of Stranger Things. The sci-fi elements and Sigourney Weaver’s own powerful performance (which we’d like to think influenced Winona Ryder’s role as Joyce Byers) can definitely be felt throughout the series, especially as the show gets darker.

Watch Aliens on Amazon Prime Video.
‘Stand By Me’

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Our next Stephen King entry is Stand By Me. The Duffer Brothers love to pull from the more emotional elements of the prolific writer’s work. With Stand By Me, they once again highlight the relationships between their young characters, and even recreated an iconic moment from the movie when Dustin and Steve take a walk on some old train tracks in the woods during a season 2 scene.

Watch Stand By Me on Netflix.
‘Poltergeist’

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1982’s Poltergeist also had a huge influence on the Duffer Brothers. Here’s something you may have missed in season one: When Holly Wheeler wanders into one of the Byers boys’ rooms, clad in her blonde pigtails, hands, figures, and even what looks like a face start to reach out to grab her, not unlike what Carol Anne Freeling experiences in this 1982 horror classic.

Watch Poltergeist on HBO Max.
‘The Thing’

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1982’s The Thing also inspired many of the darker elements in Stranger Things. From flame throwing machines to a poster in Mike’s basement and the way the characters are constantly terrified of the Demogorgon, The Thing made quite the impact on the series’ creators.

Watch The Thing on Amazon Prime Video.
‘Close Encounters of the Third Kind’

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The 1977 Steven Spielberg film Close Encounters of the Third Kind featured one significant moment that was later replicated in not only a scene of Stranger Things, but also the entire poster. When Cary Guffey’s Barry Guiler opens the front door to a whole new world outside, it’s a jarring moment for characters and audiences alike. The moment was recreated in Stranger Things season 2, when Will Byers continues to struggle between falling in between the real world and the Upside Down.

Watch Close Encounters of the Third Kind on Amazon Prime Video.