The Duffer Brothers Recommend Watching These Movies Before Stranger Things Season 5

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At its core, *Stranger Things* is a loving tribute to the classic movies of Steven Spielberg and the novels of Stephen King, which creators Matt and Ross Duffer grew up with. A decade ago, the Duffer brothers—the show’s creators—created a presentation and short video filled with memorable images from 1980s pop culture to convince Netflix to greenlight the series. Visiting the set last year while working on a TIME magazine story, it truly felt like stepping back into the world of 80s fashion and style.

The creators of the show, the Duffer brothers, pay tribute to their favorite movies from when they were kids by casting actors who were popular in the 1980s, such as Winona Ryder, Paul Reiser, and Linda Hamilton. Matt Duffer explains that these actors are always eager to participate, and they intentionally choose performers who aren’t overly famous today – character actors who might be new to younger viewers. They want to introduce a generation to some talented but perhaps lesser-known faces, rather than casting huge stars like Arnold Schwarzenegger who could overshadow the story.

The show has grown beyond just relying on references to 1980s pop culture. According to Matt Duffer, they’re using those references less and less as the series develops its own unique feel. However, when asked to recommend movies that influenced the final season, the Duffer brothers listed a lot of films from the ’80s and later, showing those inspirations are still important.

The show’s influences are diverse, spanning from classics like *A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors* and *Terminator 2: Judgement Day* to some unexpected sources. Matt acknowledges that some of these choices might seem odd until viewers experience the show.

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

For years, *Stranger Things* has been fun for fans because it features actors who were famous in the 1980s, like Cary Elwes (*The Princess Bride*) and Robert Englund (*A Nightmare on Elm Street*). This season, Linda Hamilton, known for her powerful role as Sarah Connor in *Terminator*, joins the cast as a new, intriguing military character. However, according to one of the show’s creators, Matt, *Terminator 2* is a classic worth watching no matter what.

Children of Men

During a visit to the set of Stranger Things in July 2024, I watched the Duffers film a challenging sequence meant to look like one continuous shot – a technique known as an “oner.” This isn’t new to filmmaking; classic movies like Touch of Evil and Goodfellas have used it, and recently it’s become popular in TV shows such as The Bear, Adolescence, and The Studio. Director Shawn Levy, who is also an executive producer on Stranger Things and is known for Deadpool & Wolverine, had previously directed a similar oner in Season 4, featuring Will, Mike, and Jonathan escaping from government agents.

Season 5 takes things even further. After the town of Hawkins was ravaged by Vecna and new gateways to the Upside Down opened, it’s now under military quarantine. Around the middle of the season, a large-scale battle breaks out between the military and creatures from the Upside Down. The scene is packed with visual effects, including Demogorgons, stunt performers doing aerial work, and almost one hundred extras dressed as soldiers.

It’s easy to see why the creators of the show were inspired by the incredible single-take scene in Alfonso Cuarón’s *Children of Men*. The scene features Clive Owen protecting a pregnant woman in a dangerous, futuristic Britain. It starts as a normal conversation in a car, but quickly builds into one of the most thrilling action sequences ever filmed.

The Lost Boys

The movie *The Lost Boys* shares similarities with *Stranger Things*. Both feature brothers living with their divorced mother – just like Will and Jonathan Byers and their mom, Joyce. Also, like the town of Hawkins in *Stranger Things*, the setting of *The Lost Boys*, Santa Clara, is secretly a home to supernatural beings – vampires, in this case. The plot mirrors the Byers brothers’ story: when one brother falls under the influence of these creatures, the other is determined to save him, much like Jonathan’s efforts to rescue Will after he disappears into the Upside Down in Season 1.

Poltergeist

This popular horror movie centers on a seemingly normal family living in California, who are anything but. Their youngest daughter can communicate with spirits through the TV, and she eventually disappears. (Her brother also shows signs of a connection to a strange alternate dimension – his hair stands on end whenever a particular threat is near.) The movie effectively combines frightening moments with realistic family relationships, something the show *Stranger Things* also tries to do.

The Cell

The movie *The Cell*, starring Jennifer Lopez, is a thriller about a psychologist who uses experimental technology to go inside the mind of a serial killer in a coma. Her goal is to find out where he hid his most recent victim. Similar to the film *Dream Warriors*, *The Cell* shows battles taking place within dreamlike worlds. This is comparable to how Vecna invades the minds of his victims in Season 4 of *Stranger Things*. In the final episodes of that season, Eleven fights Vecna while inside Max’s mind.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

Season 4 of the show spent a lot of time inside the minds of Max and Vecna’s other victims, as Vecna twisted how they saw reality. This is similar to the movie *Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind*, which explores the memories of its main characters, and also recalls elements of films like *Dream Warriors* and *The Cell*.

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors

This classic film features intense conflicts that take place within the characters’ minds—specifically, their dreams. Interestingly, Frank Darabont, a highly respected writer and director now working on the current season of *Stranger Things*, also penned this movie. The creators of *Stranger Things*, known as the Duffers, have long admired Darabont’s work, and now they’re finally collaborating with him.

The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and The Mist

I’ve heard that Frank Darabont, who’s amazing at adapting Stephen King stories, is someone the Duffers really admire. They suggest checking out his films like *The Shawshank Redemption*, *The Green Mile*, and *The Mist*. Ross even hinted that Darabont might pop up in an episode of the show, which would be awesome!

Back to the Future

The Season 5 trailer shows Steve driving through a barrier into the Upside Down in a way that strongly resembles a scene from *Back to the Future*. Because the Upside Down is frozen in time on the day Will Byers disappeared in 1983, going there feels like traveling back in time for the characters, even if the show doesn’t feature traditional time travel.

The Great Escape

Like many great films, *The Great Escape* features a memorable chase. Steve McQueen’s character, a WWII prisoner of war, performs an incredible motorcycle jump over barbed wire. It’s easy to see how kids playing on their bikes might be inspired by McQueen, pretending to escape from authorities, monsters, or anything else their imaginations conjure up.

Home Alone

This movie suggestion might seem a bit more lighthearted compared to the others on the list. When I asked the creators about it, they pointed to how Kevin McCallister cleverly defends his home in *Home Alone*, especially using traps. They mentioned *Home Alone* specifically for its booby traps, and we’ll have to see if these traps are meant for Vecna, Dr. Kay, or a different villain altogether.

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2025-10-17 02:28