Stranger Things Spinoff Fails To Match Main Show’s Success On Netflix

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As a huge fan, it felt like a real end of an era when Stranger Things wrapped up in December 2025 after five seasons. That final episode definitely sparked a lot of debate, and now, four months later, it’s really sunk in that the show is over. Ever since it first came out in 2016, Stranger Things was a massive hit for Netflix – truly one of their most popular shows – so the finale was a big deal. But honestly, I always felt like there was so much more story to tell within that world, so it’s bittersweet to see it go.

Not long after the most recent season ended, Netflix released a new Stranger Things series. Called Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85, it’s an animated show that fits between seasons 2 and 3 of the original series. In terms of the show’s timeline, it happens after the gate is closed but before the Starcourt Mall appears. Tales From ‘85 follows Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Max, and Lucas as they befriend a new character named Nikki.

The Hawkins crew faces fresh monsters from the Upside Down, leading to a new puzzle to unravel. Tales From ‘85 offers an enjoyable glimpse into the events between seasons of Stranger Things, but sadly, the spin-off has concluded and wasn’t able to replicate the popularity of the original series.

Stranger Things’ Major Trending Streak Has Ended On Netflix

Even though its last season had some criticism, Stranger Things remains one of Netflix’s most popular and important original series. The show became a success by combining a unique idea with elements of horror, fantasy, science fiction, and drama, all set against the backdrop of the 1980s. It also built a fascinating world full of ongoing mysteries that kept both the characters and the audience engaged.

The talented cast and strong acting were crucial to the show’s popularity, and the long waits between seasons actually built up even more excitement. Because of this, Stranger Things consistently topped Netflix’s Top 10 list for at least a week after each new season launched. However, that run of success has now been broken with Tales From ‘85.

Although Tales From ‘85 briefly reached the Top 10 on Netflix, peaking at number six, it has since fallen to eighth place. The show is currently the most popular kids’ title on Netflix’s Top 10 list, but that list doesn’t get as many viewers overall.

I was so excited for Tales From ‘85 – especially since it’s connected to one of my all-time favorite Netflix shows! Everyone thought it would immediately jump to number one, and stay there for a while. Sadly, it hasn’t caught on with as many viewers as the original, and honestly, I don’t think it’s going to climb much higher on the Top 10 now that the first week is over.

Will Tales From ’85’s Viewership Impact Future Stranger Things Spinoffs?

As of today, Tales From ‘85 is the only official spinoff of Stranger Things. I remember hearing about a potential anime series called Stranger Things: Tokyo back in 2022, but Netflix and the creators, the Duffer Brothers, never actually confirmed it. There’s also talk of a live-action spinoff being made, and Finn Wolfhard recently said it’s going to be similar in style to Twin Peaks, focusing on a completely new set of characters. I’m really excited to see what they do with it!

There haven’t been any recent announcements about the live-action spinoff. While you’d think the number of viewers watching Tales From ‘85 would affect whether Stranger Things expands, this situation is a bit different. Tales From ‘85 adds to the existing story, taking place between seasons 2 and 3, but fans already knew anything that happened in it wouldn’t change the main Stranger Things storyline.

It’s not surprising that many Stranger Things fans weren’t interested in Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85, which explains why it didn’t perform as well as the main series. However, I believe this won’t hurt future Stranger Things spinoffs – in fact, it could help. The creators now have a better understanding of what doesn’t resonate with viewers and can likely develop more successful shows by exploring different locations and introducing new characters.

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2026-04-28 22:02