Before Stranger Things, Super 8 Reinvented Sci-Fi Horror

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This month marks the return of Stranger Things for the first part of its fifth and final season, bringing this hugely popular Netflix series to a grand finale. Since its debut in 2016, the show – created by the Duffer Brothers – has charmed audiences with its ’80s-inspired story that blends science fiction, horror, and the experiences of growing up. It became a surprising hit and has influenced many other shows, though none have quite reached its level of success.

Although Stranger Things helped popularize a wave of similar shows, its own roots lie in earlier stories. The creators of the Netflix series drew inspiration from filmmakers like Steven Spielberg, and other storytellers who influenced them during their childhoods. A particularly overlooked influence is a 2011 film that shares many of the same themes and elements that Stranger Things fans enjoy. This movie offers a surprisingly similar narrative and is currently available to stream, offering something to watch while audiences wait for the final season of Stranger Things.

Super 8 Paved the Way for Stranger Things

Before the popular Netflix series Stranger Things debuted in 2016, the 2011 movie Super 8 offered a very similar story. Co-produced by Steven Spielberg, Super 8 centers around a group of kids in a small town who stumble upon something supernatural. Set in the late 1970s, the film follows a group of teenagers in Lillian, Ohio, as they film an amateur movie and accidentally capture footage of a mysterious creature.

The group quickly realizes they’ve stumbled into something much bigger than they expected when they discover a huge government secret: aliens are real, and one has been hidden at a local army base for over ten years. The creature they filmed is actually an alien who crashed on Earth. As the army tries to recapture the escaped alien and its spaceship, the kids must work together to survive the chaos. Super 8 features the early roles of actors Joel Courtney and Elle Fanning, alongside established performers like Kyle Chandler.

It’s easy to see the similarities between the movie Super 8 and the TV series Stranger Things. Both stories center around a group of teenagers who stumble upon a secret government conspiracy involving strange, supernatural events in their small town. But what really connects them are the shared themes. Both Super 8 and Stranger Things are set in time periods that were important to their creators, acting as affectionate tributes to their childhoods. For J.J. Abrams, Super 8 is a nostalgic homage to the late 70s and early 80s, drawing inspiration from films like Star Wars and E.T.: The Extraterrestrial.

The movie Super 8 is filled with memories from the director’s childhood, including his early fascination with filmmaking using Super 8 cameras. Similarly, the show Stranger Things draws heavily on the Duffer Brothers’ experiences growing up in the 1980s, especially their love for Dungeons & Dragons. Both stories also focus on young characters coming of age and learning to cope with difficult situations. In Super 8, the main character, Joe, deals with the loss of his mother, while Stranger Things follows a group of kids who mature into heroes as they face a dangerous threat to their town.

Since it first aired nine years ago, Stranger Things has become incredibly popular around the world. It’s one of Netflix’s biggest hits ever, and fans are eagerly awaiting the final season. However, Super 8 didn’t achieve the same level of devoted fans, despite being a successful and well-received movie when it came out.

While it didn’t remain popular for as long as many hoped, Super 8 has clearly influenced a lot of recent science fiction, including the hit series Stranger Things. It continues to inspire new filmmakers and storytellers in the genre.

What Films Inspired Super 8?

Super 8 is a nostalgic tribute to the science fiction movies J.J. Abrams enjoyed as a child. It clearly draws inspiration from Star Wars, a franchise Abrams later directed installments of—Episode VII: The Force Awakens and Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker. You can also see echoes of the sci-fi style he brought to his 2009 Star Trek reboot. However, the film is perhaps most reminiscent of…

The movie shares a lot of similarities with E.T., but the alien is initially much more of a threat in Super 8. Despite this difference, both films are ultimately about growing up and the unexpected bond that forms between a child and an alien visitor.

It’s clear that Steven Spielberg heavily influenced Super 8, not just because he was a producer, but because director J.J. Abrams, like many filmmakers today, grew up admiring Spielberg’s work. Super 8 especially echoes The Goonies, a film directed by Richard Donner but originally conceived by Spielberg.

The movie Super 8 clearly shows the influence of films like Close Encounters of the Third Kind, which also explored interactions between people and aliens. It’s a testament to Steven Spielberg’s talent that his movies continue to inspire filmmakers today, just as they did when Super 8 was created. Even after fifteen years, his work remains a major part of our culture. Popular franchises he created, such as Indiana Jones and Jurassic Park, are still expanding with new installments. And films like Jaws continue to be watched and enjoyed decades later. Ultimately, movies like Super 8 demonstrate how Spielberg’s work has inspired a new generation of storytellers, solidifying his place as one of the most influential directors ever.

How to Stream Super 8

If you’re in the mood for the exciting sci-fi adventure Super 8, you’re in luck! The 2011 film directed by J.J. Abrams is currently available to watch for free on Tubi. If you have a Paramount+ subscription, you can also stream it there. And for those who want to explore the films that inspired Super 8, they’re easy to find too: Star Wars is on Disney+, The Goonies and E.T.: The Extraterrestrial are on Netflix, and Close Encounters of the Third Kind is available to rent on Prime Video.

Fans are eagerly awaiting the final season of Stranger Things, which will be released in three parts over the next two months. The first four episodes will premiere on Netflix on November 26th, followed by another three episodes on December 25th. The two-hour series finale will air on December 31st, bringing the show’s decade-long story to a close. Just as Super 8 influenced Stranger Things, the show is expected to inspire future storytellers.

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2025-11-18 01:09