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Netflix Expands Stranger Things Universe: Tales From '85 Scores Early Season 2 Renewal
Stranger Things reaches 1.5B views across its five seasons
Franchise expands with new Tales From '85 collectibles and music
The Stranger Things Universe continues its epic growth. Stranger Things: Tales From '85 debuted in the Netflix Global Top 10 at #7 this week, securing a spot in the top 15 animated series debuts of all time. Furthermore, Stranger Things reached an all-new high of 1.5 Billion total views across all five seasons since its premiere through March 2026. The mystery isn't over yet for the Hawkins Investigators Club as Stranger Things: Tales From '85 has already secured an early Season 2 renewal.
After uncovering a fearsome mystery at the end of Season 1, Eleven (voiced by Brooklyn Davey Norstedt), Mike (Luca Diaz), Will (Benjamin Plessala), Dustin (Braxton Quinney), Lucas (Elisha "EJ" Williams), Max (Jolie Hoang-Rappaport), and Nikki (Odessa A'zion) will take on another perilous threat when new episodes head to Netflix this fall.
"Working on Season 1 has been an incredibly rewarding experience. Now that it's out in the world, seeing fans connect with these characters - whether they've loved them for years or are just meeting them for the first time - has been truly special. I'm excited to continue the journey," said showrunner, Eric Robles.
"We're thrilled to return to the winter of '85 for season two. The Hawkins Investigators Club is back, and a new paranormal threat has emerged from the town's abandoned silver mines. I can't wait for fans to discover where this entity and the mysterious blue flower we last saw blooming in the Upside Down at the end of Season 1 take our young heroes."
Robles executive produces alongside the Duffer Brothers and Hilary Leavitt via Upside Down Pictures, Shawn Levy via 21 Laps, and Dan Cohen.
Additional Season 1 voice cast includes Brett Gipson as Hopper, Jeremy Jordan as Steve, Janeane Garofalo as Anna, and Lou Diamond Phillips as Daniel.
THE STRANGER THINGS UNIVERSE GOES BEYOND THE SCREEN
Stay connected to the Tales From '85 gang with must-have action figures, music, and more:
Jazwares is rolling out new action figures featuring the Hawkins Investigators Club including Eleven, Mike, Will, and Nikki Baxter, alongside new creatures like the Gourd Horde and Vine Dog. Expanding the collection, Funko is introducing a new line of Pop! Vinyl figures spotlighting the core crew and Nikki.
Fans can also tap into the Upside Down with a Stranger Things: Tales From '85 Happy Meal at McDonald's, and relive the show through the official soundtrack featuring iconic tracks and an '80s-inspired original score by Brad Breeck, alongside an official Spotify playlist packed with even more hits from the show.
From screen-to-stage to real-world experiences, Stranger Things has expanded beyond Hawkins.
The Tony Award-winning play, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, is currently playing in London's West End and on Broadway in New York City with a new cast joining the production.
Fans can also step into the world of Stranger Things at Netflix House where immersive, year-round experiences bring Hawkins to life.
At Netflix House Dallas, Stranger Things: Face the Dark sends participants to explore Hawkins' ruins to find missing citizens and confront the big bad himself, Vecna. At Netflix House Philadelphia, Stranger Things: Catalyst by Sandbox VR lets fans become Dr. Brenner's test subjects in Hawkins Lab. In addition, you can test your putting skills with a Stranger Things-themed hole as part of a special mini-golf experience.
THE STRANGER THINGS EFFECT IS REAL
Created by Matt and Ross Duffer, Stranger Things has captured the zeitgeist since it first premiered in July 2016 with Seasons 4 and 5 among Netflix's Most Popular television seasons of all time. (Keep up with the Duffer Brothers' next Netflix projects here.)
The show's success also reached singer-songwriter Kate Bush, whose 1985 classic "Running Up That Hill (A Deal with God)" shot up to No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart after it was featured in Stranger Things 4. 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.
There was no shortage of enthusiasm for the bevy of Stranger Things 5 products launched in celebration of the show's final chapter. Nike's Stranger Things-inspired Dunk Lows went out of stock in minutes: The first drop sold out in 4 minutes, and the second drop sold out in 15 minutes. Plus, General Mills' limited-time Peanut Butter Boppers, featured in Season 5 as a favored military quarantine snack, sold out in hours following the launch of Season 5, Vol. 1.
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