Stranger Things has been famous for bringing back the nostalgia of the 1980s throughout the show’s four seasons, many of which come in the form of movie references. It’s not surprising that there are so many 80s pop culture references in Stranger Things since creators The Duffer Brothers grew up watching and loving many of the movies and shows that Stranger Things references and pays homage to.
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Stranger Things will conclude with season 5 in 2025, which will have to meet some big expectations given how popular the series has been since it came out in 2016. The stakes of Stranger Things season 5 will likely be larger than ever and will likely see the gang team up once more to defeat Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower). There are many mysteries surrounding what Stranger Things season 5 will entail, but no matter what happens, we can expect a few more '80s movie references.
15 The Ghostbusters Costumes Are Straight Out of the ‘80s
Season 2, Episode 2
In Stranger Things season 2, Mike, Will, Dustin, and Lucas all dressed up as the Ghostbusters for Halloween. The attention to detail in the homemade costumes was amazing, and it was great to see how Will was trying to reintegrate himself into daily life after going missing in Stranger Things season 1. With Ghostbusters premiering in June of 1984, having the four best friends dress as the supernatural hunters was a little spot on, especially with Stranger Things season 2 being set in October 1984.
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14 Dustin and Suzie’s “NeverEnding Story” Theme Song Performance is Iconic
Season 3, Episode 8
One of the most memorable parts of Stranger Things season 3 was Dustin reaching out to his camp girlfriend over the radio and the pair singing the theme song from NeverEnding Story while the rest of the gang from Hawkins listens in. The 1984 sci-fi classic is the perfect song for lovebirds who share an interest in science and who met at Camp Know Where. The duet was even referenced by Will Byers in Stranger Things season 4 when they traveled to Suzie’s house to get her help.
13 Dustin Quotes One of Han Solo’s Most Famous Lines
Season 4, Episode 1
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With Star Wars being such an iconic trilogy in the late 1970s and early 1980s, it’s not surprising that Dustin Henderson would be a fan. In the Stranger Things season 4 premiere, Dustin is told about the odds of rolling a certain outcome while playing Dungeons and Dragons, but he holds up a finger and exclaims “Never tell me the odds!”This line is a direct quote from Han Solo yelling at C-3PO while trying to navigate an asteroid field in The Empire Strikes Back. It’s a great moment by Dustin is one of many Star Wars references in Stranger Things.
12 Bob Newby’s Younger Life Reflects Stephen King’s “It”
Season 2, Episode 3
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Sean Astin’s Bob Newby was one of the best additions to Stranger Things season 2 and he will be forever missed. In season 2, episode 3 he tells Will a story from when he was young and how he feared a creepy clown and eventually defeated his fear by standing up to it. The backstory is eerily similar to Stephen King’s It. The novel has multiple movie adaptations, including 2017’s It, starring Stranger Things’ own Finn Wolfard. Bob’s life following the plot of King’s famed novel is a great nod to another title showcasing kids fighting an evil supernatural being.
11 “Day of The Dead” Plays At the Starcourt Mall Theater
Season 3, Episode 1
Much of Stranger Things season 3 focused on the Starcourt Mall and even culminated in a battle there. In Stranger Things season 3, episode 1 Mike, Eleven, Will, Lucas, and Max all go see Day of the Dead the day it originally premiered. While there are many 80s movie references in Stranger Things, it’s interesting to see something like Day of the Dead be worked into the show in a way that isn’t as much a reference, but something that allows audiences to figure out precisely when the season takes place.
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Related
10 Stranger Things Scenes That Define The Series
Stranger Things has been through countless brilliant episodes since the first season, with certain scenes still standing out many years later.
10 Suzie’s Sister Eden is Modeled After Allison in “The Breakfast Club”
Season 4, Episode 6
While Suzie stole the show in Stranger Things season 3, in season 4 audiences got introduced to her whole family, including her many siblings. One sibling in particular, Eden, is modeled after an iconic 80s character, Allison Reynolds from The Breakfast Club. The iconic John Hughes film is referenced in many ways throughout Stranger Things’ 4 seasons, but none is quite as overt as Eden’s design. Eden sports stringy dark hair, and dark eye makeup, and generally gives off the “basket case” vibe that Allison did in The Breakfast Club, making this homage perfect.
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9 One “War Games” Reference Was Used in Season 3
Season 3, Episode 8
The film War Games popularized the trope of two individuals having to turn keys simultaneously to deploy nuclear weapons, and so that no one person can have such power. Stranger Things season 3 took this idea and ran with it. The Russians in Stranger Things set up a two-man rule to make sure that the Upside Down couldn’t be opened or shut by just one person. This makes for some great stakes, especially when Joyce is able to turn both keys simultaneously and subvert the Russian’s security policy.
8 Steve And Nancy Pay Homage to the Tom Cruise Film “Risky Business”
Season 2, Episode 2
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For the Halloween party in Stranger Things season 2, episode 2, Steve and Nancy dress up as the two main characters from Risky Business. The couple's costume was very 1980s and both Steve and Nancy pulled off pretending to be Joel and Lana really well. Their costume may have also been an indication that Steve and Nancy’s relationship was in jeopardy as in Risky Business Joel (played by Tom Cruise) hires Lana for an evening while his parents are out of town. It was a relationship not meant to least, much like Steve and Nancy’s.
7 Vickie’s Outfit Looks Like It was Taken Out of “Pretty in Pink”
Season 4, Episode 9
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Audiences first learned that Robin was gay in Stranger Things season 3, but in season 4 audiences see how Robin struggles with having a crush on Vicky, someone who is hinted at being queer in the season’s premiere. While Robin, Steve, and the gang shop for weapons to weaken and kill Vecna, they run into Vickie and her boyfriend. However, it’s Vickie’s outfit that’s striking. With her red hair, she looks just like Molly Ringwald’s character Andie Walsh in Pretty In Pink. The hair paired with the hat, jacket, and white shirt is a clear reference to the 80s classic.
6 Billy Recreates an Iconic “The Shining” Moment
Season 3, Episode 4
The Duffer Brothers clearly take some kind of inspiration from Stephen King, as It wasn’t the only thing they’ve referenced. In Stranger Things season 3 Billy is trying to track down Max and her friends and eventually gets trapped in a sauna. In a moment very reminiscent of Jack Nicholson’s infamous door breakdown scene, Billy breaks the glass and tries to stab Max with a shard of tile. Knowing that Billy was infected and not himself also adds to Dacre Montgomery’s amazing performance.
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5 Will’s Vision References “Close Encounters of the Third Kind”
Season 2, Episode 1
After his experience in the Upside Down in Stranger Things, Will started seeing things in season 2. In Stranger Things season 2, episode 1 the door to the Byers’ house creaks open, and Will sees the red sky of the Upside Down. With lightning crackling and Will’s horrified face, the moment references Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind when Barry Guiler stands in front of a door as ominous warm-colored light lies before him. While Will’s vision wasn’t just a manifestation of his PTSD, it was an interesting insight into his psyche at the beginning of season 2.
4 Eleven’s Halloween Costume References “ET”
Season 2, Episode 2
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Much like Stephen King, The Duffer Brothers are nostalgic for classic Steven Spielberg films, and ET is no exception. In Stranger Things season 2, Eleven wants to go trick-or-treating with her friends and dresses up as a ghost under a sheet, just like how the alien ET was dressed up as a means of escape in the film. Eleven needed to hide her identity and wearing a costume like a ghost that covered her face would allow her to do that while still spending time with her friends.
3 “Return of the Jedi” is Referenced Twice in Season 3
Season 3 Episodes 1 and 8
While Star Wars may not influence Stranger Things’ themes and plot like many other 80s movies, it often gets referenced. When Dustin returns home from camp in season 3 he uses his walkie-talkie to check in with his friends as “Gold Leader.” This references Lando Calrissian’s callsign in Return of the Jedi as he leads the airstrike on the Death Star. Additionally, in Stranger Things season 3, Steve is interviewing for a job at the video store saying that his favorite movie is “the one with the teddy bears” a reference to the Ewoks in Return of the Jedi.
2 One of the Scariest Parts of “Alien” Was Adapted For the Mind Flayer
Season 3, Episodes 2 and 4
One of the creepiest parts of Stranger Things has been the Mind Flayer seen in season 3. However, the way it attacks its victims is eerily similar to how the proto Xenomorph attacks its prey in Ridley Scott’s Alien. In particular, the Xenomorph and the Mind Flayer both “face hug” their victims, killing them in a truly gruesome and creepy manner. The reference is great if someone’s an Alien fan, but not someone’s a bit squeamish.
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1 Hopper Nods to Indiana Jones Multiple Times
Season 2, Episodes 5 and 9
Stranger Things season 2 is set in 1984, the same year that the first Indiana Jones sequel, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom premiered. However, Hawkins’ favorite sheriff, Hopper takes on the persona of the famous archeologist multiple times. In the underground tunnel, the image of Hopper’s shadow is a direct homage to the Indiana Jones films. Not to mention after dropping his hat, Hopper goes back and picks it up, just as Harrison Ford always did in the movies.
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Stranger Things
Fantasy
Horror
Drama
Inspired by 80s pop-culture and elements of Stephen King's works, Stranger Things is a supernatural action-drama TV series set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana.
When a young boy goes missing, his group of friends stumbles upon a young girl with telekinetic powers who recently escaped from a mysterious facility. They soon realize that she may be their only chance at stopping an impending doom that threatens to engulf Hawkins whole.
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*Availability in US
- Cast
- Finn Wolfhard , Joe Keery , Jamie Campbell Bower , Brett Gelman , Caleb McLaughlin , Maya Hawke , David Harbour , Matthew Modine , Priah Ferguson , Gaten Matarazzo , Winona Ryder , Charlie Heaton , Sadie Sink , Millie Bobby Brown , Joseph Quinn , Dacre Montgomery , Natalia Dyer , Noah Schnapp
- Release Date
- July 15, 2016
- Seasons
- 4
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
- Writers
- Matt Duffer , Ross Duffer , Paul Dichter , Kate Trefry
- Directors
- Matt Duffer , Ross Duffer
- Showrunner
- Matt Duffer , Ross Duffer
- Franchise
- Stranger Things
