5 ’70s and ’80s Movies That Inspired ‘Stranger Things’—See How They Shaped the Show

Stranger Things is a modern masterpiece that pays heartfelt homage to everything we loved about the ’80s. The gripping science-fiction series transports us back to that unforgettable era—and show creators Matt and Ross Duffer clearly didn’t cut corners when referencing the things they cherished from their youth. The series captures the ’80s in a way that’s far deeper than teased hair, fishnet and neon. The actions of each character, the atmospheric settings, and even the villains have all been influenced by ’70s and ’80s pop culture and films. Have you ever watched the show and felt a sense of déjà vu? Here, discover five iconic films that inspired this modern masterpiece and see how they brought your favorite memories back to life.

‘The Goonies’ (1985)

For the casual viewer, it’s clear that the dynamics between the main group of characters in Stranger Things mirrors the crew of boys at the forefront of The Goonies. Their spirit and sense of adventure resemble the group of friends who captured our hearts in the 1985 film, and it lends well to the coming-of-age themes that also come up within the series. It’s not much of a surprise that The Goonies had a bit of influence on the series—after all, Matt and Ross Duffer pitched on Goonies II before Stranger Things.

The Goonies love ran even deeper when Sean Astin, who led the 1985 film, took on the role of Bob Newby. He and the Duffer brothers even slipped in a Goonies reference! When Bob, Astin’s character, is looking at a map of Hawkins drawn by Will (played by Noah Schnapp), he asks, “What’s at the X? Pirate treasure?,” referencing the epic adventure that took place in the iconic film.

As for slipping in that joke, the Duffer brothers have no regrets. “We’re like misbehaving children,” Matt Duffer said to BuzzFeed News. “I was like, ‘I know I’m gonna get slapped for that by the critics, but I don’t care, I have to make it.’ It just presented itself; it was too easy.”

‘Alien’ (1979)

The 1979 film Alien, starring Sigourney Weaver, was another one that inspired some of Stranger Things—specifically, the setting. “We wanted it to be like a dark shadow of our world,” Ross Duffer told Variety, referring to the Upside Down. “We talked about Silent Hill, the video games were an inspiration, and Alien was an inspiration, in terms of the look. When we initially pitched the show, we said, ‘We’re never gonna go into this alternate dimension,'” continued Matt. As reported by BuzzFeed, Matt Duffer shared that the planet in the film and the particles that could be seen floating around the air were a big inspiration for them.

‘Carrie’ (1976)

In season 4 of Stranger Things, there’s a scene in which Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown, hits a girl named Angela who had been relentlessly teasing her. The buildup to this act of revenge, so to speak, was one that was inspired by the 1976 film Carrie. “That was kind of a moment where you want the audience to want to hit Angela in that way. And then it happens just the way you want it to happen, and then it’s like you really feel—oh my god, we took that too far,” said Matt Duffer to IMDb.

‘E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial’ (1982)

This iconic series has paid homage to Steven Spielberg’s work since the very first episode. Director of photography for Season 1 of Stranger Things, Tim Ives, said one of the show’s earliest scenes paid tribute to E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. “In E.T., Elliott goes to the woodshed when he’s looking to find the monster. Will is looking to get away from the monster and hide,” Ives told Quartz. “There was a shot, very similar, that was an homage. It was very wide, looking back at the house on the left and the shed on the right. It was sort of a signature shot for us that I think the audience responded quite well to.”

‘The Shining’ (1980)

Billy Hargrove, played by Dacre Montgomery, surely left a mark on viewers. His character development was certainly unique, and while there were times when he had us wanting to jump through the television and put a stop to his actions, there’s no denying Montgomery’s talent as an actor. According to The Mirror, the Duffer brothers actually told the Australian actor to seek inspiration from Jack Nicholson’s performance in The Shining (1980) to bring this part to life.

“His whole career,” Montgomery told the outlet. “Every role he’s played. Because he has this unpredictable nature. That was the thing that the Duffers had mentioned to me.” The inspiration was certainly clear during a gripping scene in season 3 in which Eleven and her crew lock Montgomery’s character in a sauna when he’s been possessed by the Mind Flayer. His desperation in the scene as he gradually becomes more and more agitated is reminiscent of the scene in The Shining in which Jack Nicholson’s character attempts to axe his way through a wooden door. These brilliant film references remind us why we fell in love with Stranger Things—it’s a beautiful tribute to the movies that made us who we are today.