Netflix’s Best Stranger Things Replacement Officially Takes America By Storm

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Netflix seems to have discovered a new show that’s becoming just as popular as Stranger Things, and it’s quickly gaining fans on the streaming platform.

Every season of Stranger Things has been a huge hit on Netflix, making it one of the platform’s most popular shows. Season 4 is the third most-watched English-language series ever on Netflix, and season 3 is close behind in fourth place. Only Wednesday season 1 and the award-winning series Adolescence have been viewed more.

Netflix’s newest hit, The Boroughs, is quickly becoming popular, and many are calling it the natural follow-up to Stranger Things. The sci-fi series comes from the creators of Stranger Things, Matt and Ross Duffer, and follows a group of seniors in a retirement community who uncover a strange and supernatural conspiracy.

As of today, The Boroughs is the second most popular show on Netflix in the United States and ranks fifth globally. In the U.S., it’s only surpassed by the crime drama Nemesis, and it’s currently performing better than shows like The Roast of Kevin Hart, Worst Ex Ever, Perfect Match, Wanda Sykes: Legacy, Navy SEALs: America’s Secret Warriors, Man on Fire, Berlin and the Lady with an Ermine, and La Brea.

Jordan Williams, in a review for ScreenRant, praised The Boroughs, noting the enjoyable and relatable dynamic between its diverse group of characters. He compared it favorably to Stranger Things, saying the show captures a similar comforting feeling of camaraderie. Williams even suggested that The Boroughs effectively delivers a Stranger Thingsesque story – a group uniting against challenges – and could even serve as a sequel set in a retirement home, making a new Stranger Things* season unnecessary.

Like Stranger Things before its final season, The Boroughs is earning positive reviews from both critics and viewers, currently holding a 95% rating on the Tomatometer and an 84% score on the Popcornmeter. Geena Davis, speaking with ScreenRant, highlighted the similarities to Stranger Things, explaining that it also features a group of unlikely heroes who team up to save people. In fact, the creators of Stranger Things, the Duffer Brothers, have even acknowledged the comparison, noting that The Boroughs is similar, but uses golf carts instead of bicycles.

The main characters in The Boroughs revolve around Sam Cooper (Alfred Molina), who moves to the Boroughs retirement community after his wife, Lilly (Jane Kaczmarek), passes away. He quickly becomes involved in a mystery alongside his neighbors: Renee Joyce (Davis), Judy and Art Daniels (Alfre Woodard and Clarke Peters), Wally Peters (Denis O’Hare), and Jack Willard (Bill Pullman). Leading the community is CEO Blaine Shaw (Seth Numrich), along with his wife Anneliese (Alice Kremelberg), security guard Paz Navarro (Carlos Miranda), and head of security Hank Williams (Eric Edelstein).

The show’s quick popularity on Netflix, just two days after its release, suggests it’s likely to be renewed for a second season. Co-creator Jeffrey Addiss has mentioned to ScreenRant that he and fellow showrunner Will Matthews have a three-season arc planned and already know what would happen next, should Netflix decide to continue the series. While the main storyline and most questions are answered, a few plot points are left unresolved, hinting at potential future storylines.

Look, Netflix has Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 coming up, but if you’re really craving that classic Stranger Things vibe – that season one magic – The Boroughs is delivering. And it’s not just me saying that. The numbers and the general buzz suggest a lot of viewers are really connecting with this return to the show’s roots. It feels like they’ve tapped into what made us fall in love with Hawkins in the first place.

All episodes of The Boroughs are now streaming on Netflix.

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2026-05-23 17:28