8 Greatest ’80s Movies for Stranger Things Fans

The popular series returns with the first part of its fifth season, bringing viewers back to its beloved and mysterious world for a new story. This marks the beginning of the end for the Netflix hit, with the second part arriving on December 25th and a feature-length finale on December 31st.

A big part of what makes Stranger Things so appealing is its strong sense of 1980s nostalgia. The show clearly draws inspiration from classic movies of that decade, and as fans eagerly await the final season, revisiting those films really captures the spirit of the series.

Stranger Things Has Multiple References to The Terminator

Though seemingly different, Stranger Things and The Terminator actually share some interesting connections. The Terminator, a classic sci-fi film from 1984, depicts a dark future where machines have taken over and are at war with the remaining humans. In a desperate attempt to prevent the birth of John Connor, a leader of the human resistance, the machines send a Terminator—a robotic assassin—back in time forty-five years to eliminate his mother.

Although Stranger Things is generally more upbeat than The Terminator, it often nods to the classic sci-fi movie. The show’s opening credits are similar to The Terminator’s, using glowing neon letters that form the title. In the fifth and final season of Stranger Things, Linda Hamilton joins the cast as the villain, Doctor K.

Firestarter Inspired Eleven’s Stranger Things Story

The popular Netflix series Stranger Things clearly draws inspiration from the work of Stephen King, particularly his themes and storylines. One notable example is his novel Firestarter, which centers on a girl with the power to create and manipulate fire. As you might expect, the government tries to control her abilities and weaponize them. The story was first adapted into a film in 1984 starring Drew Barrymore, and then remade again in 2022.

Eleven from Stranger Things is very similar to Charlie McGee from Firestarter. Both are young girls with special powers who are experimented on by the government. They both eventually fight back against those who are holding them captive and cause destruction. While Stranger Things eventually turns Eleven into more of a traditional superhero, moving away from the horror elements of Stephen King’s story, both characters begin their journeys in comparable situations.

Stand By Me Is an Underrated Stephen King Adaptation

While many films adapt Stephen King’s horror stories, like The Shining and It, some of his most compelling work falls outside that genre. Stand By Me, directed by Rob Reiner, is a touching coming-of-age story based on King’s novella The Body. The film centers on four young boys who leave their ordinary lives in Castle Rock, Maine, on a journey to find the body of a missing boy rumored to be in the woods. Throughout their adventure, the boys forge deeper friendships and learn more about themselves.

Both Stand By Me and Stranger Things share a similar story: a group of kids facing scary circumstances who rely on their friendship to get through it. Stand By Me also has a strong sense of nostalgia, based on the author’s own childhood, which heavily influenced the feel and atmosphere of Stranger Things. If you’re a fan of the Netflix series, you’ll likely enjoy Stand By Me as well.

Aliens Mirrors the Terror of the Demogorgons in Stranger Things

Following Ridley Scott’s classic 1979 film Alien, Aliens expands the story with a larger, more intense adventure. Ellen Ripley, having previously faced a xenomorph on the Nostromo, finds herself in danger again when a human colony is attacked by a swarm of the creatures. She joins forces with a new team to battle her way to the Alien Queen, ultimately destroying her and her offspring.

The monsters in Stranger Things, especially the Demogorgon and Demodogs, clearly draw inspiration from the creatures in the Alien movies. Like the xenomorphs, the Stranger Things monsters are terrifying and deadly, offering almost no chance of survival to those who encounter them. If you’re captivated by the horror of facing these creatures in Stranger Things, you’ll likely be equally thrilled by Ellen Ripley’s battles with the xenomorphs in the Alien films.

The NeverEnding Story Has Stranger Things to Thank for Its Surge in Popularity

If you’ve watched Stranger Things, you’ve probably heard the iconic theme from The NeverEnding Story. The 1984 film, adapted from Michael Ende’s novel, centers around a boy named Bastian who finds a special book. Inside, he’s drawn into the imaginative world of Fantasia, filled with incredible creatures like Falcor the dragon and the Childlike Empress. But Fantasia is in danger – a dark force called the Nothing is trying to destroy everything.

Although Stranger Things and the 1984 film The NeverEnding Story aren’t very alike, fans of the Netflix series will likely enjoy the movie. Stranger Things is famous for its many nods to the 1980s, and The NeverEnding Story is a perfect example of the type of film the show’s characters would watch. Plus, The NeverEnding Story and its sequels are genuinely good movies.

The Thing Features Even More Horror Elements Than Stranger Things

John Carpenter’s The Thing is a classic sci-fi horror movie. Set at a lonely research station in Antarctica, the film centers around a team of scientists who discover a strange creature. This creature has the terrifying ability to perfectly copy other living things. It starts eliminating the scientists one by one, disguising itself as them to attack its next target. As the number of survivors decreases, they become increasingly suspicious of each other, realizing that anyone could be the creature in disguise.

While Stranger Things is generally an upbeat show, it frequently incorporates scary moments, especially when exploring the Upside Down. Some of these sequences are genuinely frightening and reminiscent of classic ’80s horror films. If you enjoy the horror aspects of Stranger Things, you’ll likely love monster movies like The Thing – many viewers even find its monster more terrifying than the demogorgons from the show.

E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial Features the Same Story as Stranger Things

Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is a heartwarming story about growing up. It follows young Elliott Taylor who discovers and befriends an alien. When government agents begin searching for the alien, Elliott, his siblings, and friends work together to protect him and help him return to his family.

The core idea behind Stranger Things is very similar to E.T. Millie Bobby Brown’s character, Eleven, is essentially a human version of the alien from Spielberg’s 1982 movie – she has supernatural powers, joins a group of friends, and is hunted by the government. Both shows also share a similar, nostalgic feel, clearly inspired by the childhood memories of their directors.

The Goonies Is a Major Inspiration for Stranger Things

The popular show Stranger Things draws a lot of inspiration from the classic 1985 movie The Goonies. Created with a story by Steven Spielberg, The Goonies is about a group of friends in Oregon who find a treasure map and go on an adventure to find pirate treasure. They have to be clever and avoid a dangerous family of criminals who are also after the treasure.

Many stories, including Stranger Things, are heavily inspired by the adventurous, nostalgic spirit of The Goonies. The shows often feature young characters reminiscent of the Goonies gang. Interestingly, Sean Astin, who starred in The Goonies, even appears in Stranger Things! If you’re a fan of Stranger Things, you’ll likely enjoy the movie that helped create its unique style and atmosphere.

2025-12-15 05:11