5 Iconiс 80s Movies Stranger Things Referenced
Here’s why many Stranger Things scenes feel so familiar.
The '80s is the era of neon, leg warmers, and some of the most iconic movies ever made.
Netflix 's hit series, Stranger Things, absolutely nailed the vibe of that time while also sprinkling in delightful nods to classic '80s films. Let's break down the best of them.
Aliens (1986)
The '80s sci-fi buffs surely caught this one. Stranger Things’ Dr. Owens was portrayed by Paul Reiser, the same actor who played the notorious scientist Carter Burke in James Cameron 's Aliens. In Stranger Things, instead of being on the wrong side, he's surprisingly rooting for our heroes.
Aside from Aliens, Owens makes a subtle nod to Diner (1982), where Reiser also starred, when he offers Hopper a half of his sandwich.
Poltergeist (1982)
When Joyce desperately tries to contact Will using twinkling Christmas lights, you can’t help but remember Poltergeist, where young Carol Anne is trapped in an eerie parallel world. This iconic horror film serves as a spine-chilling blueprint for Stranger Things with its other-dimensional storyline.
The Neverending Story (1984)
The Neverending Story gets a hilarious shoutout in season 3. Dustin, after establishing contact with his girlfriend Suzie, convinces her to help in exchange for... a song. What follows is a full-on, spirited duet of The Neverending Story theme song.
Amidst the chaos, Dustin and Suzie belt it out while the rest are left utterly baffled. That catchy tune by Limahl, a chartbuster in the '80s, got a second lease on life, thanks to Stranger Things.
Halloween (1978)
There's a scene in the very first Halloween movie where Michael Myers, after being shot, mysteriously disappears. Stranger Things pays homage to this in its season 4 finale.
After being shot multiple times, Vecna falls out of the attic window of the Creel House, but when Nancy and co. go looking, there's no trace of him.
Ghostbusters ( 1984)
Season 3 takes us on a nostalgic trip when the kids don the iconic Ghostbusters outfits for Halloween. Complete with proton packs, uniforms, and a disagreement over who gets to be Stanz, this episode is a lovely hat-tip to the original film.