- 1980s nostalgia -
The Duffer Brothers, creators of the hit series, captured the spirit of 1980s classics like Steven Spielberg's movie "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial", the "Nightmare on Elm Street" films and Stephen King's "It" novel.
Across five seasons, the characters take on supernatural monsters while dressed in baggy jeans, T-shirts and trainers.
From Will Byers's bowl cut to Steve Harrington's tousled mullet, the show has given old-school hairstyles new life.
Kate Bush's 1985 song "Running Up That Hill", which is featured in the series, also topped UK charts in 2022 and reached one billion streams on Spotify the following year -- decades after its initial release.
- An early Netflix smash -
Nine years after it began, Stranger Things has become a global phenomenon.
One of the most-watched shows on Netflix, it transformed the streaming giant into a cultural powerhouse.
Each episode has an estimated budget of tens of millions of dollars, surpassing the production price tags of many Hollywood films.
- Marketing masterclass -
The success of its fifth chapter, which tallied nearly 60 million views at launch, is reflected in its presence in public spaces.
Major retailers have dedicated corners to the show, such as HMV on Oxford Street in London or Galeries Lafayette in Paris.
"The series made me love the 1980s -- I watched it with my father, who lived through that era," Pauline Lehobey, a 29-year-old veterinary assistant, told AFP in Paris, while holding a Demogorgon figurine.
- Stranger Things universe -
The show has made its way on to stages in London's West End and on Broadway with the play "Stranger Things: The First Shadow", launched in late 2023.
The prequel, set in 1959, explores the backstory of Henry Creel, also known as the villain Vecna in the show.
Netflix has announced for 2026 an animated spin-off series set between the second and third seasons.
A mystery novel centred around Mike's older sister, Nancy Wheeler, has also just been released.
