[07/15/26 - 10:01 AM] "Stranger Things" Celebrates 10 Years 10 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.
[via press release from Netflix]
"STRANGER THINGS" CELEBRATES 10 YEARS
Reflecting on a decade in the Upside Down with exclusive cast memories, a VHS Special Edition experience, and a showcase of limited-edition anniversary collectibles
"We're feeling so many emotions today. Nostalgic, proud, and, yeah, a little sad too, that the decade-long journey of making Stranger Things has come to an end. But above all, we feel grateful - for our amazing cast, who we watched grow into wonderful human beings; for the hundreds of brilliant artists who devoted so much of themselves bringing the story to life; and for you, the fans, whose dedication, patience, and passion fueled all of us throughout the years.
So: THANK YOU.
If you want to celebrate, we humbly suggest opening up the curiosity door one more time, grabbing a 3 Musketeers (maybe some chocolate pudding too!), and watching the Season 1 VHS Special Edition. If Stranger Things existed in Hawkins - sitting on a shelf at Family Video - it would look just like this (complete with pan-and-scan)! Is it possible your head will explode from nostalgia overload? Yes. But it's worth the gamble! And hey, if enough of you nerds watch it, maybe we'll do the rest of the seasons... " - Matt & Ross Duffer (Creators, Writers, Directors, Executive Producers)
""It's hard to believe it's been ten years since Stranger Things first turned our world upside down. What began as a brilliant script by the Duffer Brothers, a story about four kids in a basement playing Dungeons & Dragons, became something far bigger than any of us ever imagined. We didn't know if anyone would watch our strange little show--we just knew it could be great. We just....BELIEVED. (And in case you're wondering, I still do!) One of the greatest joys of this past decade has been watching these characters, and our incredible cast, grow up alongside the fans who have made Hawkins a place they return to again and again. None of this phenomenal ride would have been possible without the fans who have been with us from the very beginning, connecting to our show with a passionate love that has been nothing less than beautiful. We're so grateful for their devotion, and we're excited to celebrate this special anniversary with them. Hawkins forever." - Shawn Levy (Director, Executive Producer)
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.
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.
STRANGER THINGS: THE FIRST SHADOW
Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Netflix's groundbreaking foray into live theatre, has become a global sensation across both London's West End and Broadway. After opening to five-star reviews at the Phoenix Theatre in 2023, the production earned two Olivier Awards, two Critics' Circle Awards, and the WhatsOnStage Award for Best New Play. Since its Broadway debut at the Marquis Theatre, it became the most Tony Award-winning play of 2025. With nearly 1.6 million tickets sold across more than 1,500 performances, the production has cemented itself as one of the most celebrated theatrical achievements in recent memory.
To mark the 10th anniversary of the season that started it all, today Broadway audiences will be treated to a special celebration of their own. As a nod to the show's beloved character and the decade of magic that started it all, 11 winners will have the opportunity to purchase a pair of tickets at $11 to this evening's 7pm performance. Enter in person today at the Marquis Theatre Box Office at 210 West 46th Street in New York City from 3:30-5:15pm ET. Fans still have a chance to experience the phenomenon before it takes its final bow - the West End's closing performance is December 27, 2026, and Broadway's farewell is January 3, 2027 - tickets are available at strangerthingsonstage.com.
OFFICIAL EXPERIENCES AND MERCHANDISE
Fans all over the world have been able to step into the Upside Down through a variety of live and immersive experiences. Whether it's the previously mentioned live stage show on Broadway and the West End, or Stranger Things: The Experience that has visited cities like Los Angeles, Sydney, Mexico City, Abu Dhabi and more, or the newly opened Netflix House which offers Stranger Things: The Immersive Experience in Philadelphia and Stranger Things: Face the Dark in Dallas, or an all-new Universal Studios Halloween Horror Nights offering inspired by Season 5 coming August 28 (read more here).
From iconic food integrations with Eggo, Doritos, Chips Ahoy!, Kinder Joy and Gatorade to limited-edition sneaker and apparel drops with Nike, Converse, Wrangler, GAP and Benetton, Stranger Things has solidified its status as a global nostalgic phenomenon. Beyond 80s-inspired apparel, the franchise dominated shelves with collectible must-haves from LEGO, Funko, Jazwares, Dungeons & Dragons, Care Bears and more, captivating shoppers worldwide through immersive retail takeovers at destinations such as Target, Primark and Galeries Lafayette.
Check out limited edition anniversary product offerings below.
STRANGER THINGS: THE COMPLETE SERIES ON BLU-RAY(TM) AND 4K UHD
Special and Deluxe editions of Stranger Things: The Complete Series features an array of exclusive bonus content, including bloopers, cast and crew interviews, and behind-the-scenes featurettes, designed for the ultimate Stranger Things experience.
STRANGER THINGS: THE OFFICIAL STORY BEHIND THE LEGACY SERIES
Go behind the curiosity door with the creators, cast, and crew in this definitive, deluxe guide. With never-before-seen content from the show's inception and beyond to its thrilling conclusion, this is the director's cut in book form, taking you on a visual ride through each heart-warming moment, spine-tingling adventure, and roll of the dice.
STRANGER THINGS: ALL SEASONS VINYL BOX SET
This 17-LP box set collects the complete score to all five seasons of Stranger Things, composed by Emmy-winning, Grammy-nominated duo Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein. The albums are pressed on "Vecna's Gate Vinyl" in red and orange, with gatefold jackets and full-color inner sleeves. Available for preorder starting today.
FUNKO POP!
Bring home the new Stranger Things x Funko Pop! line featuring Rightside Up/Upside Down split collectibles. The ultimate blend of spooky and iconic for every fan's shelf.
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(R) 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.
For more on Stranger Things, visit the Netflix Media Center and the official social pages:
X @Stranger_Things
Instagram @StrangerThingsTV
Facebook @StrangerThingsTV
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