7 Must Watch Movies or Shows Like Stranger Things

When you finish watching the latest season of Stranger Things, the void left behind by Hawkins, the Upside Down, and a nostalgic 1980s soundtrack can feel impossible to fill. Viewers searching for something similar are usually looking for a specific blend of elements: a tight-knit group of underdog kids or teens facing extraordinary threats, a heavy dose of retro nostalgia, secret government conspiracies, and supernatural or sci-fi horror that blurs the line between the everyday world and a terrifying unknown.

Finding the right follow-up watch depends on which aspect of the Duffer Brothers' hit series resonates most with you—whether it is the small-town mystery, the heartfelt coming-of-age friendship, or the terrifying creature features. This curated selection explores seven movies and television shows that capture that exact magic, offering everything from dark 1980s period pieces to modern supernatural thrillers.

1. Dark

For viewers who want the mystery, sci-fi complexity, and eerie atmosphere of Stranger Things pushed into a much darker, more mature realm, Dark is an essential watch. This German Netflix original series begins with the disappearance of a child in a small, rainy town overshadowed by a massive nuclear power plant. Much like Hawkins, the fictional town of Winden harbors deep-seated secrets, broken families, and hidden passages that connect to forces far beyond human understanding.

Unlike the youthful optimism of Eleven and her friends, Dark deals heavily with existential dread, fatalism, and intricate temporal mechanics. The narrative spans multiple generations, examining how the actions of parents in the past directly impact their children in the future. If you loved the government conspiracies, the flickering lights, and the sense of a town keeping dangerous secrets, Dark offers a masterclass in atmospheric mystery-building.

2. Super 8

Directed by J.J. Abrams and produced by Steven Spielberg, Super 8 is practically the cinematic blueprint for what would eventually become Stranger Things. Set in 1979 in a small Ohio town, the film follows a group of young aspiring filmmakers shooting a zombie movie on a Super 8 camera near a train track. They accidentally capture a catastrophic train derailment on film, which turns out to have released a dangerous extraterrestrial creature into their community.

The movie excels at capturing authentic adolescent chemistry. The kids bicker, encourage each other, fall into early crushes, and display genuine bravery when forced to confront the impossible. Blending the wonder of classic Amblin entertainment with creature-feature thrills, Super 8 matches the tonal sweet spot of Stranger Things, making it a mandatory watch for fans of the genre.

3. The X-Files

If your favorite parts of Stranger Things involve government cover-ups, shadowy agents, unexplained phenomena, and monsters lurking in the shadows, diving into the classic procedural series The X-Files provides endless entertainment. FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder—a true believer in the paranormal—and Dana Scully—a skeptical medical doctor—investigate unsolved cases known as "X-Files," ranging from alien abductions to underground mutations.

While it is an episodic procedural rather than a continuous serialized teen adventure, The X-Files established the visual and thematic vocabulary that modern sci-fi horror series rely on. The eerie synthesizer-heavy theme music, the dank and dimly lit basement offices, and the constant feeling that ordinary citizens are being manipulated by higher authorities will feel instantly familiar to any resident of Hawkins.

4. It (Chapters 1 and 2)

Few works capture the magic of kids riding bicycles through sun-dappled suburban streets to fight an ancient evil quite like Stephen King's It. While the cinematic adaptations are split into two feature-length films, the first chapter focuses entirely on "The Losers' Club"—a group of bullied outcasts in Derry, Maine, during the summer of 1989. When children begin disappearing, the kids realize they are being hunted by a shape-shifting ancient entity that usually takes the form of a dancing clown named Pennywise.

The parallels to Stranger Things are profound and intentional. Finn Wolfhard, who plays Mike Wheeler in Stranger Things, even stars as Richie Tozier in the films. The narrative heavily emphasizes the power of childhood friendship, the terror of growing up, and the way small towns hide horrific realities just beneath their quiet surfaces.

5. Paper Girls

Based on the acclaimed comic book series by Brian K. Vaughan and Cliff Chiang, Paper Girls follows four teenage newspaper delivery girls who find themselves caught in the middle of a conflict between rival time-traveling factions on the morning after Halloween in 1988. Forced to embark on a frantic journey through different eras of the future, these girls must navigate their own personal identities while trying to find a way back home.

While it was short-lived on television, the series captures the specific texture of late-1980s suburban life while adding a clever time-travel twist. The dynamic among the four young protagonists mirrors the fierce loyalty and distinct personality clashes found within the Hawkins crew, offering a fast-paced, high-concept sci-fi adventure with plenty of retro charm.

6. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

No exploration of stories about kids protecting a mysterious visitor from government agents would be complete without Steven Spielberg’s 1982 masterpiece, E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The film tells the timeless story of Elliott, a lonely young boy living in a suburban California neighborhood who discovers and befriends a gentle alien stranded on Earth. Elliott, alongside his siblings, must keep the creature hidden from scientists and government operatives while helping it communicate with its home planet.

Stranger Things wears its Spielberg influence proudly on its sleeve, referencing E.T. visually and thematically throughout its run. Watching this film highlights the cinematic lineage of Eleven’s introduction, the bicycle chases through suburban cul-de-sacs, and the emotional bond between ordinary children and extraordinary phenomena.

7. Twin Peaks

For viewers drawn to the eerie, surreal underbelly of small-town life where everyone knows everyone—until someone turns up dead—David Lynch and Mark Frost’s Twin Peaks remains the ultimate inspiration. Set in a picturesque Pacific Northwest logging town, the series begins with the shocking murder of homecoming queen Laura Palmer. Special Agent Dale Cooper arrives to investigate, quickly uncovering a labyrinth of bizarre local secrets, infidelity, psychological trauma, and supernatural malevolence lingering in the surrounding woods.

While Twin Peaks is aimed at an adult audience and leans heavily into surrealism and soap-opera drama, its DNA is woven directly into the fabric of Stranger Things. The looming threat of the dark woods, the strange phenomena that defy rational explanation, and the unsettling contrast between wholesome small-town traditions and hidden horrors all trace their roots back to this television milestone.

Comparing Recommendations Like Stranger Things

To help you choose your next viewing session based on what elements you enjoy most, the comparison table below outlines the primary vibe, era, and key themes of each recommendation.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes a movie or show feel like Stranger Things?

Shows and movies that feel like Stranger Things typically feature a blend of 1980s nostalgia, youthful camaraderie, secret government or scientific experiments, and supernatural horror. They balance heartwarming character dynamics with high-stakes peril, often set against the backdrop of an unassuming suburban or rural community hiding dark secrets.

Are all of these recommendations family-friendly?

No. While titles like Super 8 and E.T. share the youthful adventure elements of Stranger Things, series like Dark and Twin Peaks feature mature themes, complex psychological concepts, and adult content. It is recommended to check individual age ratings before watching with younger audiences.

Where can I stream these shows and movies?

Streaming availability changes frequently depending on your geographic region and current licensing agreements. Most major streaming platforms—such as Netflix, Max, Prime Video, and Apple TV—host these titles either through subscription libraries or digital rental services.

Is Dark connected to Stranger Things?

No, Dark is an entirely separate German-language original series created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese. While it shares surface similarities regarding missing children and mysterious portals, its narrative focuses strictly on time travel and philosophical determinism rather than American pop-culture nostalgia or supernatural monsters.

Which recommendation is the closest match in tone?

If you are looking for the exact combination of a kid squad on bicycles fighting an otherworldly threat in a small town, Super 8 or the It film adaptations offer the closest stylistic and emotional parallels to the Duffer Brothers' hit series.

Final Recommendation

If you want an immediate cinematic thrill tonight, start with Super 8 for its classic Spielbergian adventure and youthful heart. If you are ready to commit to a longer, more intricate binge-watch that dives deeper into sci-fi mystery and dark atmosphere, queue up Dark and prepare to get lost in its labyrinthine plot.