While the summer season is usually when the big movie blockbusters come out, one of the most anticipated releases is season 4 of Stranger Things on Netflix. Fans have been eagerly awaiting the show’s return and are no doubt looking for similar shows and movies to enjoy as they prepare for the new season.
Fans on Ranker have identified some of the things they feel Stranger Things viewers will also like. Some of the choices are expected, like certain projects that famously influenced the series. But some are more surprising selections that these fans feel capture some of the things that have made Stranger Things such a hit.
It (2017)
The influence of Stephen King on Stranger Things is no secret and the author’s horror novel It is the clearest inspiration for the show. In fact, the recent movie adaptation of King’s novel felt like a violent and scarier version of Stranger Things.
The movie follows a group of kids living in a small and disturbed town who find themselves targeted by an ancient and evil force that presents itself as a terrifying clown. While the sequel follows the kids as adults confronting this menace, the kid-focused first movie is the superior one.
Riverdale (2017-)
Though the Archie comics were popular for a long time, few people expected that the television adaptation would be such a dark and moody teen drama. With a loose adaptation of the source material, Riverdale finds characters like Archie, Jughead, and the rest of the gang becoming entangled in the dark mysteries of their town as well as endless scandals.
With the small-town setting and the likable cast of young heroes, it is not hard to see the similarities to Stranger Things. And while the show recently announced it will be ending, it provided one of the biggest surprises on television when it first aired.
American Horror Story (2011-)
Part of the fun of Stranger Things is seeing the different horror movie aspects they draw on. While there have been a lot of monster movie aspects to the show, season 4 seems to be more of a paranormal story. There is a similar variety found in American Horror Story.
The twisted and gruesome series is certainly more intense than Stranger Things but also leans into the campier aspects of the horror genre for some fun. It is an anthology series with each season telling a new and terrifying tale with many of the same actors playing different roles in each season.
Ghostbusters (1984)
Stranger Things‘ success is less about the supernatural situations and more about seeing these likable characters dealing with those situations. That also made Ghostbusters a certified classic, along with its mix of humor and some horror elements.
The movie follows a group of scientists who start a business hunting paranormal threats. Its influence on Stranger Things is also evident as the young heroes dress up as the Ghostbusters for Halloween in the show’s second season.
Wall-E (2008)
Stranger Things is really effective at capturing a sense of wonder in the types of stories that spoke to a certain generation of kids. Perhaps that can explain why some feel that fans will also enjoy the Pixar adventure Wall-E.
The animated movie follows the titular robot who is assigned to clean up the garbage-filled and abandoned Earth only to find an unexpected romance. The movie is a sweet, exciting, and moving adventure that shows why Pixar has spoken to a new generation of young viewers.
Westworld (2016-)
Despite the fact that it is such a pop culture hit, Stranger Things is not something that can be easily put into one category. It is a sci-fi thriller, but it is also a comedy. It is a mystery, but it is also a coming-of-age story. Westworld is another show that captured the attention of fans with its genre-mashing.
The sci-fi story with a Western twist is set within an Old West theme park where guests interact with androids to fulfill their wildest fantasies. But things get complicated when the androids begin realizing their world is not as it seems.
Jurassic Park (1993)
Steven Spielberg is another huge influence on Stranger Things with movies like E.T. often being singled out as an obvious inspiration. However, the show might feel closer to his sci-fi adventure masterpiece Jurassic Park.
The classic movie is set in a theme park that has brought dinosaurs into the modern era. Of course, things soon go wrong leading to the park guests running from these hungry and dangerous prehistoric creatures. That mix of monster horror with Spielberg adventure is something Stranger Things often strives for.
Black Mirror (2011-)
It is very interesting how fans have found similarities between Stranger Things and Black Mirror as they can appear quite different. Stranger Things aims for the nostalgic feel of the 80s while Black Mirror takes an unsettling look into the future.
However, both projects have a lot of fun finding new ways to play with old and familiar sci-fi stories. Black Mirror is another anthology series with each new episode having a new set of actors and characters to explore the dark side of technology.
Jessica Jones (2015-2019)
While there are a lot of fan-favorite characters on Stranger Things, Eleven has emerged as the show’s breakout star. And with a badass female hero with some impressive superpowers as the lead, it is not hard to see how some have made the connection to Jessica Jones.
The Netflix Marvel show stars Kristen Ritter as a cynical private detective with super strength who spends her days solving cases and occasionally being a reluctant superhero. She makes for a unique and fun Marvel hero and it is not hard to see Eleven stepping into the world of the MCU.
The Goonies (1985)
Stranger Things features a cast of likable young characters going off on an adventure that exposes them to a wild new world and plenty of danger. Throw in the 80s vibe and it is hard not to see how big of an influence The Goonies had on the show.
This Amblin adventure may be less scary than Stranger Things, but it still captures that same sense of fun. It feels very much in the same spirit of that beloved movie and trying to give fans that same kind of adventure.
