#FIRSTLOOK: “STRANGER THINGS” CELEBRATES TENTH ANNIVERSARY

Ten years ago, a quiet Indiana town, a missing boy, a girl with extraordinary powers, and an obsession with Eggo waffles quietly debuted on televisions worldwide. Today, Netflix invites fans across the globe to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Stranger Things, marking a decade since the series reshaped modern television, redefined global pop culture, and captured the hearts of generations.

What began as a nostalgic love letter to 1980s sci-fi and horror quickly mutated into an unprecedented multi-billion-dollar global franchise. Over five groundbreaking seasons, concluding with its cinematic final chapters in late 2025, Stranger Things evolved into a historical juggernaut, earning 1.5B views through March 2026, with Season 4 and 5 ranking #3 and #4 respectively in the Top 10 Most Popular Shows list of all time. The excitement for Season 5 propelled Seasons 1-4 back into the global top 10 for a record-breaking eight weeks.

STRANGE MEMORIES

Ten years of friendship. Ten years of adventure. The cast of Stranger Things looks back and reflects on how Hawkins has turned their lives upside down by sharing memories over the last 10 years. From Millie Bobby Brown remembering celebrating her birthday on set filming Season 1 and how special of a memory that is to her, to Natalia Dyer and Joe Keery recalling their first scenes together and bonding on set by pranking Charlie Heaton, plus Sadie Sink’s recollection of the “peak pre-teen awkwardness” that was the summer filming Season 3, hear all the stories by watching the full video.

WATCH STRANGE MEMORIES NOW
The series didn’t just reflect pop culture; it actively steered it. Over the last decade, the show’s immense footprint crossed music charts, consumer habits, and product sales.

The Great Resurrection of Kate Bush, Metallica, Diana Ross, and Prince: The Stranger Things soundtracks have consistently driven chart success, introducing a new generation of fans to 80’s nostalgia hits. Following the series finale and according to Spotify, Prince’s “Purple Rain” saw a staggering 1,341% surge in Gen Z streams, while Diana Ross’ “Upside Down” experienced a 3,538% spike in global searches. Stranger Things’ unique ability to revitalize classics was further cemented as Djo’s “End of Beginning” hit #1 on the Billboard Global 200, and staples like Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” and Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” returning to the charts following the release of Stranger Things S4, with record-breaking streaming numbers and downloads, years after their original release.
The D&D Renaissance: Once a niche pastime, Dungeons & Dragons experienced a massive global resurgence in sales and mainstream popularity, largely driven by the Hellfire Club and the boys’ basement campaigns.
Eggo Waffles Boom: In 2016, Kellogg’s saw a massive, unexpected surge in Eggo waffle sales following Eleven’s fierce obsession with the frozen breakfast.
Lasting Economic Impact: Over five seasons, Stranger Things created over 8,000 production-related jobs across the United States and has contributed more than $1.4B to the US GDP. In Georgia, where all five seasons of the series were primarily filmed, the series generated over $650M to the state’s GDP and was home to over 2,000 vendors that contributed to the series. California had the second-highest state-level contribution, with over $500M to the state’s GDP.

STRANGER THINGS: VHS SPECIAL EDITION

The series brought the world back to the ‘80s and helped the resurgence of 80s culture for a new generation, so now we’re giving fans the chance to turn your Netflix viewing experience into that of a VHS player, full with visual and audio effects.

Rewind and relive the first season with a video store vibe that’s glitchy, grainy and gloriously vintage — just like you’d have rented it in 1983. You can watch this version of season one by visiting Netflix.com/StrangerThingsVHS or searching “Stranger Things VHS” on Netflix.

ABOUT STRANGER THINGS

A love letter to the ‘80s classic genre films that captivated a generation, Stranger Things is a thrilling drama set in the seemingly normal Midwestern town of Hawkins, Indiana. After a boy vanishes into thin air, his close-knit group of friends and family search for answers and are pulled into a high-stakes and deadly series of events. Beneath the surface of their ordinary town lurks an extraordinary supernatural mystery, along with top-secret government experiments and a dangerous gateway that connects our world to a powerful yet sinister realm. Friendships will be tested and lives will be altered as what they discover will change Hawkins and possibly the world — forever.

Created by The Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things debuted in 2016 and quickly became one of Netflix’s most popular series, with Seasons 1-4 amassing over 1.2 billion views. The fifth and final season premiered in 2025 with the biggest English-language premiere week, joining Season 4 on Netflix’s Most Popular List. The final season also propelled Seasons 1–4 back into the Global Top 10 for a record eight weeks and delivered Netflix’s most-watched New Year’s Day. Rooted in ‘80s nostalgia, the series is a cultural phenomenon with unparalleled longevity, famously driving Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” and Prince’s “Purple Rain” back onto the charts. The franchise has garnered over 70 awards worldwide, including Emmys® and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. Now an evergreen global franchise, Stranger Things continues to super-serve fans with year-round engagement through the upcoming animated series Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85, the Olivier and Tony-award winning stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow, a collection of books, the touring Stranger Things: The Experience – currently at Netflix House Philadelphia, and the new immersive experience Stranger Things: Face the Dark at Netflix House Dallas. Fans also celebrate November 6 as ‘Stranger Things Day’ and follow @StrangerThings.Things for fun ways to bring the Stranger Things universe into their everyday lives. The beloved franchise celebrates its 10th anniversary in the summer of 2026.

Created by The Duffer Brothers Stranger Things is produced by Upside Down Pictures & 21 Laps Entertainment with The Duffer Brothers serving as executive producers, alongside Shawn Levy of 21 Laps Entertainment and Dan Cohen.