Stranger Things: Everything you want to know about the series
Volume 1 of Season 5 is out now!
It's been three long years since our last Stranger Things dose, as the fourth season landed way back in 2022. So, as you'd expect, the news that Volume 1 of the fifth and final season was landing in November 2025 was met with open arms! As we say goodbye to the record-breaking show, get clued up on everything there is to know about the series.
We've covered all things Stranger Things in this handy guide - from how the Duffer brothers created the record-breaking supernatural series, to who is in the cast, what happened in seasons one-four, and what we know about season five. BE WARNED, there are plenty of spoilers below...
What happens in Stranger Things? What's it about?
It's no secret that there is a lot to unpack when it comes to Stranger Things - so we've prepared a full detailed recap of seasons one to four here.
When is Stranger Things 5 coming out?
The fifth season is heading our way in three volumes - with four episodes dropping in November 2025, followed by three episodes in December and The Finale on New Year's Eve 2025.
Volume 1 landed in the UK on 27th November, and this will be followed by Volume 2 on 26th December and the final episode on 31st December 2025.
Find out all the details you need on Stranger Things season five.
When was season five confirmed?
Following the unbelievable success of the 80s Netflix original, co-creators the Duffer Brothers confirmed a fifth season in February 2022 - confirming, however, that it is the last.
The brothers had previously intended on the show running for four seasons, however a fifth season was teased by producers just a year after season one's release. Speaking to EW back in September 2017, executive producer Shawn Levy said: "Hearts were heard breaking in Netflix's headquarters when the brothers made four seasons sound like an official end, and I was suddenly getting phone calls from our actors' agents."
David Harbour previously praised the writers, telling Variety: "Those guys work so hard. I mean, they just sit in their apartment and write for 12, 14 hours a day."
What will happen in season 5?
Gifted with a trailer in June 2025, it was teased that we have a dark and emotional final chapter coming our way - as the Upside Down appears to begin fully invading Hawkins. Will Byers - AKA 'where it all began' - appears to be central to the plot, continuing to struggle with a powerful connection to Vecna.
Warning his friends of the growing danger, it's fair to say the tone echoed the suspense of season one - however multiply the stakes, battles and sacrifices by 10.
Does Max die in Stranger Things?
Of course, after THAT nail-biting finale to season four, we've all been left wondering what will happen to Max Mayfield. In January 2023, Sadie Sink opened up about her character in season five, saying it was going to be sad and scary to finish the last season.
Speaking on Today with Hoda and Jenna she said: "It's going to be awful, it's going to be horrible and these kids, this entire cast and crew, this is like family."
At the end of season four, Max was left in a coma. But in an interview with Variety in Summer 2024, Sadie revealed a cryptic clue about her character and whether she makes a recovery: "They love having me run. That’s all I’ll say!"
One of the series creators, Matt Duffer, said: "Because she’s in a coma...We did film a scene the other day with her that was just absolutely heartbreaking. I don’t know how she hits those notes."
So the answer is... We don't know yet!
Stranger Things cast: Who stars in the show?
Stranger Things stars Winona Ryder and David Harbour in lead roles along with Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Cara Buono, Matthew Modine, Sadie Sink, Noah Schnapp and Joe Keery. Curious as to what a pay slip looks like for such roles? Well here's what the Stranger Things cast get paid.
Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers (Season 1 - 5)
Joyce is the mum of Will and Jonathan Byers, she is divorced and in the second season starts to date her old high school classmate Bob, played by Sean Astin. Following Bob's tragic death, she develops a more romantic relationship with Sheriff Jim Hopper.
Winona Ryder needs little introduction, famed for her range of diverse roles over the years, in huge titles such as Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, Heathers, and Girl, Interrupted. She won Best Supporting Actress at the Golden Globes in 1994 for her role in The Age of Innocence, and has won or been nominated for many more awards in the years since, including a nomination at the Golden Globes in 2017 for Best Actress in Stranger Things.
David Harbour as Jim Hopper (Season 1 - 5)
Jim is the chief at the local police station, he is divorced and had a young daughter who died of cancer. He has a connection with Joyce, and adopted Eleven at the end of season two, serving from there on as a father figure for her.
David Harbour has led an incredibly successful acting career over the decades, known for his roles in titles such as Q-Force, Pan Am, Quantum of Solace, Revolutionary Road and End of Watch.
Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler (Season 1 - 5)
Mike is one of Will's friends, the brother to Nancy and Holly, and son of Karen and Ted. He later develops feelings for Eleven and they become boyfriend and girlfriend.
Despite starring in the show from such a young age, Finn had featured in many titles before Stranger Things, however it's fair to say the show shot him to stardom. He has since featured in the huge film franchise Ghostbusters, as well as the revamped supernatural horror film IT, and its sequel. He's also a talented musician, currently playing in a band named The Aubreys.
Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven (Season 1 - 5)
When Eleven first appears in the series she has just escaped from Hawkins Laboratory, she has a shaven head and is very scared, however it's clear she has some sort of unusual powers. It is later revealed that her real name is Jane and she meets her mother, who was left catatonic by the scientists at the lab. She is adopted by Hopper, with her powers and battles with the Upside Down being the centre of Stranger Things' plot.
Millie Bobby Brown has achieved huge success in her years, starring in the Enola Holmes films, and even having producer credits on a number of titles. More recent projects include her roles in Damsel, The Electric State and two Godzilla movies. On top of that, Millie also launched her own beauty brand, called florence by mills.
Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson (Season 1 - 5)
Dustin is another of Will's friends, who causes havoc in season two after adopting one of the Demogorgon creatures as a pet, however thanks to teaming up with Steve Harrington in a heart-warming friendship, becomes invaluable in the gang's fighting force. Dustin has leidocranial dysplasia like the actor Gaten himself, who has used his platform to raise awareness of the rare condition.
Gaten has a musical background, starring on Broadway in Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Les Misérables. Following his starring role in Stranger Things, he landed his own show called Prank Encounters - a hidden-camera prank show. He has also appeared in films such as Honor Society and Please Don't Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain - as well as, who could forget, appearing in Katy Perry's iconic music video for her 2017 single 'Swish Swish'.
Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair (Season 1 - 5)
Lucas is also a friend of Will's. When he first meets Eleven he is very skeptical, but later starts to trust her. He develops a relationship with season two newbie Max, before things take a sour turn. Lucas also has a younger sister, Erica, who quickly became a fan-favourite after her introduction in season two.
Prior to Stranger Things, Caleb featured in TV series such as Shades of Blue and The New Edition Story, and has since appeared in films such as Shooting Stars and The Book of Clarence.
Noah Schnapp as Will Byers (Season 1 - 5)
Will Byers is Jonathan's younger brother and Joyce's other son. At the beginning of the first season he is captured and ends up disappearing into the Upside Down. Thankfully, he's rescued, but he has to face even worse problems in the second season as he becomes possessed by the creatures. Despite the gang seemingly getting things back on track, Will's connection to the Upside Down continues to trouble him in following seasons.
Noah Schnapp was widely praised for his outstanding performance in the series, picking up plenty of awards along the way. He has appeared in other titles such as Waiting for Anya, Abe and Bridge of Spies, as well as continuing with his studies as the actor headed off to the University of Pennsylvania in 2021.
Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler (Season 1 - 5)
Nancy is Mike and Holly's older sister. In the first season she becomes Steve Harrington's girlfriend, but by the second season they have split up and she starts going out with Jonathan Byers, and the pair work together to try and expose Hawkins Laboratory. Nancy is a rather fiery character, becoming a valuable player as she helps the gang in their ongoing fight against Vecna.
Natalia Dyer has featured in numerous TV shows and films throughout her career - starting off with a small role in the huge 2009 hit Hannah Montana: The Movie. Other titles you may recognise her from include Based on a True Story, Things Heard & Seen, Summer of '72 and Yes, God, Yes. In 2023, she appeared alongside Asa Butterfield in the horror film All Fun and Games.
Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers (Season 1 - 5)
Jonthan is Will's older brother and Joyce's son. He is a quiet teenager and not part of the popular group, often picked on by Steve Harrington and his gang. But he's instrumental in helping his mum find Will. He's also a keen photographer, which causes a rift when Steve spots him photographing his girlfriend, Nancy. In season two, however, we see him come out of his shell more as Steve and Nancy split and Jonathan starts to date her.
Having appeared in British drama series such as DCI Banks, Vera and Casualty, English actor Charlie Heaton also appeared in films such as Rise of the Footsoldier Part II, Shut In and As You Are. Since his huge role in Stranger Things, he has appeared in films such as The New Mutants, No Future and The Souvenir: Part II.
Matthew Modine as Dr Martin Brenner (Season 1 - 5)
Martin is the lead scientist at Hawkins Laboratory who is searching for Eleven, with her referring to her as 'Papa'. Dr Martin resurfaces throughout the seasons, pinned as the baddie of the show.
Matthew has led a fruitful career, playing a range of versatile roles. Gaining widespread recognition for his role in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket, his career boasts a diverse range of films, such as Birdy, The Dark Knight Rises, Short Cuts, Married to the Mob, Cutthroat Island and Pacific Heights. In the world of TV, he has appeared in titles such as And the Band Played On, Weeds, Proof and Sanctuary. Away from his career on the screen, in a sweet turn, Matthew also officiated his co-star Millie Bobby Brown's marriage to Jake Bongiovi - the son of the world-famous Jon Bon Jovi.
Joe Keery as Steve Harrington (Season 1 - 5)
Steve started off as something of a baddie in the first season, after he took Nancy's rejection quite hard. However, he was the hero of the second season, looking after the younger group and being a mentor to Dustin. This continued in further seasons, with him becoming a close friend - if not member - of the gang, and a true fan-favourite.
Joe Keery appeared in a few titles prior to Stranger Things, however his portrayal as Steve is widely considered his breakout role. His quirky and charismatic performances landed him numerous roles on the big screen, including Death to 2020 and Death to 2021, Spree and Free Guy. He is also a talented musician, releasing music under the alias Djo - in 2024, his track 'End of Beginning' benefited from the 'TikTok effect', going viral and topping UK charts.
Sadie Sink as Maxine 'Max' Mayfield (Season 2 - 5)
Max was a new character for season two, initially joining the friendship group at the invitation of Lucas and Dustin, but Mike rejects her as he's missing Eleven, who has disappeared. She's also bullied relentlessly by her cruel step-brother, Billy. By the end of the season, they're all friends and Max begins a relationship with Lucas. Throughout the seasons, we see Max's character develop, as she suffers the horrifying loss of her brother Billy, before falling victim to Vecna and being left in a coma.
Sadie Sink featured in a number of TV shows and films, before her breakout role in Stranger Things. Previous titles include shows such as Odyssey, and films such as The Bleeder and The Glass Castle. Since appearing in the show, Sadie landed a lead role in the horror film franchise Fear Street, as well as other films such as The Whale, with Brendan Fraser, and A Sacrifice. Sadie also appeared in the short-film music video for Taylor Swift's 'All Too Well (10 Minute Version)', alongside Dylan O'Brien, Shawn Levy and Taylor herself.
Dacre Montgomery as Billy Hargrove (Season 2 - 5)
Billy joined the cast in season 2 with his step-sister Max. Billy is something of a villain on the show as he is constantly bullying Max, and even comes to blows with Nancy, Jonathan and Steve. By the end of the series, we realise that he's the way he is because he's bullied by his father. Billy becomes possessed by the Mind Flayer in season three, and at the end of the season we see him try and fight back, fighting the monster and refusing to kill Eleven, however this results in the Spider Monster killing him.
Dacre is an Australian actor, who trained in theatre and appeared in various short films before his breakthrough projects in 2017 - superhero film Power Rangers, and his role as Billy in Stranger Things. Introduced in season two of the show, his performance as Billy garnered critical acclaim, later seeing the actor land roles in films such as The Broken Hearts Gallery and Elvis.
Brett Gelman as Murray Bauman (Season 2 - 5)
Brett Gelman joined the cast in season two, playing journalist Murray Bauman, who is called in to investigate the disappearance of Barb Holland. As the show progresses through seasons three and four, Murray becomes a more important character, first helping Joyce and Hopper to translate Russian when they capture scientist Dr Alexei, and later joining Joyce on her mission to rescue Hopper from a prison camp.
Actor Brett Gelman has an impressive CV, having appeared in Fleabag, The Office (US) and Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile as well as voicing Family Guy and American Dad.
Paul Reiser as Dr. Sam Owens (Season 2 - 5)
A complex character, Hawkins Lab Director, Dr Sam Owens (played by Paul Reiser) is introduced in season two, where he tries to investigate the after-effects Will Byers is suffering after his return from the upside down. Will's mum, Joyce, is unsure whether to trust him, and later removes Will from his care. But we're reassured of his good intentions, when he refuses to let Will die, along with the Mind Flayer. Despite some questionable behaviour — including tricking Eleven into returning to the hands of Dr Brenner in season four — Sam Owens seems to be determined to protect Hawkins from growing danger.
Actor Paul Reiser has previously appeared in Beverley Hills Cop, Aliens and Mad About You. He also had his own American sitcom called The Paul Reiser show, which ran for seven episodes in 2011.
Priah Ferguson as Erica Sinclair (Season 2 - 5)
Introduced in the second season as Lucas' nine-year-old sister, Erica Sinclair is played by Priah Ferguson. As the show progresses, her character becomes more central to the storyline and she plays a huge part in series three, when she crawls through the air ducts to infiltrate the secret Russian base under Starcourt Mall. Erica's aptitude for maths, confident nature and quick-wit make her a popular member of the group and a key figure when it comes to tackling Vecna and the Upside Down.
Despite her youth, actress Priah has appeared in many TV shows and movies, including 2016's Atlanta, 2022's The Curse of Bridge Hollow and in 2023, My Dad The Bounty Hunter. Stranger Things co-creator Matt Duffer, told Yahoo! in an interview: "I love Erica. She was just a local hire we made in Atlanta. Erica wasn't even supposed to be in season two as much as she was. We fell in love with this girl. I thought she's very GIF-able, if that's a word."
Maya Hawke as Robin (Season 3 - 5)
Joining Stranger Things in season three, Robin works with Steve at his summer job at the ice cream shop, in the Hawkins shopping mall. Despite Steve feeling a romantic connection with her, the pair quickly become best friends when she tells him she likes girls. Fans soon fell in love with Robin, as she continued to help the gang with the twists and turns they experienced from the Upside Down.
Maya is the talented daughter of actors Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman. Although it wasn't her first acting job, Stranger Things was her largest role to date when she joined the cast in 2019, going on to feature in films such as Do Revenge, alongside Camila Mendes, Once Upon a Time... in Hollywood and Fear Street: Part One - 1994. In 2024, Maya voiced the character Anxiety in Disney's Inside Out 2, which went on to become the highest-grossing animated film of all time globally.
Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna/Subject 001/Henry Creel (Season 4 - 5)
In season four, we were introduced to the seemingly innocent Peter Ballard, who works in Hawkins Lab and is kind to Eleven, before his character takes a sinister turn. After then being introduced to the Creel family, who used to occupy an eery home the gang are visiting, it is revealed that Peter is actually Henry Creel - the young boy with extraordinary, dark powers who became the subject of Dr. Brenner's experiments - dubbed Subject 001. Consumed by hatred, Henry goes mad and later becomes the villainous Vecna - who goes on to terrorise Hawkins. A complex character, indeed.
The talented Jamie Campbell Bower portrays the character, who you may recognise from his 2007 feature film debut in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street. Other high profile titles Jamie has featured in include The Twilight Saga, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. A talented musician, Jamie has also released his own music - with his track 'I Am' dropping shortly after the release of Stranger Things season four.
Joseph Quinn as Eddie Munson (Season 4 - 5)
We were introduced to the quirky Eddie Munson in season four, and it didn't take long for him to become a show favourite. A rather complex, and largely misunderstood character, Eddie is a metalhead outcast, who is also the leader of the school's Dungeons & Dragons club, Hellfire. With Chrissy being killed by Vecna in Eddie's trailer, the town turns on him and begins to hunt him down, thinking he was involved in her death. It becomes clear that beneath his rebellious exterior, Eddie is actually a loyal and protective character, who joins the gang in their mission to battle the supernatural threats that face Hawkins. Sadly, Eddie faces a cruel fate in the Upside Down while protecting his friends.
Joseph Quinn's portrayal of Eddie Munson gained him worldwide recognition, however that's not to say he didn't lead a fruitful career in acting beforehand. Joseph built a solid foundation in the industry with his roles in TV series such as Dickensian, Howards End, and Les Misérables. Since appearing in the show as Eddie, he has bagged huge roles in films such as A Quiet Place: Day One, Hoard, Gladiator II and The Fantastic Four. He's also set to star as George Harrison in a series of movie biopics about The Beatles, set for release in 2028.
Grace Van Dien as Chrissy (Season 4 )
Introduced in season four, Chrissy is the head cheerleader at Hawkins' High, which non-surprisingly makes her the most popular, picture-perfect girl in school. Despite this, we quickly see that beneath the surface she has a dark secret. In an attempt to suppress her disturbing visions, she befriends Eddie Munson, however we quickly see Chrissy fall victim to Vecna.
On top of her role in Stranger Things, Chrissy is recognised for her lead/recurring roles in films and TV shows such as The Binge and The Village. She also landed roles in Charlie Says, alongside Matt Smith, Chace Crawford and Suki Waterhouse, as well as Netflix's Greenhouse Academy.
Linda Hamilton as Dr Kay (Season 5)
In season 5, we'll meet Dr Kay, who is played by Terminator actress Linda Hamilton. Not much has been revealed about this character yet, but it's widely reported she's linked to the Government in some way.
Best-known for her role as Sarah Connor in The Terminator films, Linda has also appeared in Frasier, Dante's Peak and Murder, She Wrote, among many other TV shows and movies. The actress is joining Stranger Things for its final season. At a Tudum fan event, chief action officer Arnold Schwarzenegger, said: "I'm excited that I can announce that my old friend, a fantastic actress, a badass, is joining the Netflix family, in one of my favourite shows, and I know you will love this show too."
Millie Bobby Brown on her character, Eleven
Actress Millie Bobby Brown previously spoke out about her character Eleven. Speaking to Variety, Millie said: "It's a beautiful storyline for Eleven. It's really a coming of age for her and understanding what being a normal teenage girl is."
The young actress added: "I found another side of my acting that I didn't know about." She went on to tell the publication about how she found a different technique for acting: "I found techniques on how to cry and how to get angry, and I learned so much from Eleven."
Fans previously started to become convinced that Eleven could be the show's villain, something Millie Bobby Brown has also spoken out about. We'd be lying if we didn't say there was a split second where we thought Eleven could be tempted to the dark side, but thankfully, for now (we hope), El remains on the good side!
How many seasons of Stranger Things are there?
There are five series of Stranger Things in total. Season one was released allllll the way back in July 2016, followed by season two in October 2017 and season three in July 2019. The fourth season was released in two parts - the first came out in May 2022 while the second was released in July 2022. The fifth season is being released in three parts throughout November and December 2025.
How many episodes are there?
Season one consisted of eight episodes, season two had nine and season three had eight. Season four was made up of nine episodes in total - with seven being released in the first volume and the final two being released in the second.
The fifth season also has eight episodes - the first four were released in the first volume, the next three will be released in the second volume and the last episode will be released on its own on New Year's Eve.
When was Stranger Things set?
It was set in the 1980s! The first season was set in 1983, while subsequent seasons each happen the following year.
Why is there a year's gap between seasons?
Stranger Things co-creators, the Duffer Brothers, have previously spoken about why there's a year's gap between seasons. The first season is set in 1983, with each season taking place a year later. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter ahead of season three, Matt Duffer said: "Even if we wanted to hop into the action faster, we couldn't. Our kids are ageing.
"We can only write and produce the show so fast. They're going to be almost a year older by the time we start shooting season three. It provides certain challenges. You can't start right after season two ended. It forces you to do a time jump. But what I like is that it makes you evolve the show."
Where is Stranger Things filmed?
According to IMDb, the majority of the show is filmed in Georgia, USA. The site lists Emory University as the filming location for the Hawkins National Laboratory, while Gwinnett Place Mall was used as Starcourt Mall in the third season. Vecna/Henry Creel/One's house is actually a BnB in Georgia, USA, called The Claremont House and Rome.
Where to watch Stranger Things
Stranger Things is available to watch on Netflix.
Soundtrack to the show
As fans of the show will know, Stranger Things season four Volume 1 had some pretty iconic tracks playing throughout the show. From classic bops such as 'California Dreamin'' by The Mamas & The Papas playing in the background, there is of course one song that's got everybody talking - 'Running Up That Hill' by Kate Bush.
First featuring in a scene that sees Max Mayfield walking around with her walkman headphones on, the song later features in a very dramatic scene that is being dubbed 'the greatest scene in Netflix history' by fans.
Check out everything you need to know about the Stranger Things soundtrack here.
Facts about Stranger Things
There are a whole load of interesting facts about Stranger Things - from how The Duffer Brothers initially started making the show to how major moments were filmed, just like Eleven's immersion tank. And did Millie Bobby Brown really shave her head?
1) Who composed the soundtrack?
The composers of the Stranger Things soundtrack (Michael Stein and Kyle Dixon) are two members of an Austin synth band called SURVIVE; their music was featured in the soundtrack of the 2014 film The Guest, starring Dan Stevens.
2) The original trailer was based on Hollywood horror films
To help sell the show, the Duffers edited a mock 'trailer' combining clips from over 25 feature films, including E.T., Nightmare on Elm Street, Super 8 and Halloween. They found the music of US band SURVIVE and thought it'd be the perfect soundtrack for the trailer, so they requested to use it, with the band members telling Billboard in August 2016: "They had a preliminary mock trailer they made to pitch the idea and they used the last song on our first LP, 'Dirge'. They sent it to us and said, 'We have this show we're working on, are you still a band?' We hadn't released anything in a couple years and when they asked if we were available we were like, 'Yeah!' That was July 3 of last year. They asked if we had any other music and ... we sent them 50 songs the next day. They responded with a bunch of exclamation points. We had a couple calls to get to know each other and we knew we were pitching against a couple other composers."
3) Winona Ryder's hairstyle inspiration
Winona Ryder wanted her hairstyle modelled after Meryl Streep's hair in Silkwood, with Stranger Things Hair Designer Sarah Hindsgaul writing on Instagram: 'Winona is the reason I'm on Stranger Things. For this look we pulled inspiration from Meryl Streep in Silkwood. We almost cut her real hair, but a last-minute switch to a wig gave us the style you see here. And to this day, I'm grateful for her trust, her kindness, and her friendship. She's pure magic.'
4) The title sequence was 80s inspired
The title sequence was inspired by the work of Richard Greenberg, who designed a number of classic 80s title sequences including Alien, Altered States, Superman and The Goonies - which starred a young Sean Astin, who later appeared in Stranger Things as Joyce's boyfriend Bob Newby. The Duffer Brothers told Typeroom: 'What (Greenberg) specialised in was using just graphics: title graphics, titles over titles. That's something we really wanted to do. Part of it was, it felt it represented the show well. What if we just go back to the simplicity of these great titles we loved growing up? There's something to us that feels epic about those titles.'
5) The writers had an 80s movie marathon
Before starting the show, the writers all watched (or rewatched) a large list of films, including E.T., Stand By Me, The Goonies, The Thing and A Nightmare on Elm Street. They also created a 'look book' which was designed in the style of a vintage Stephen King novel, to help sell the show. They told The Hollywood Reporter how they'd created the font, with Matt saying: "We were working with this company called Imaginary Forces, and I think we sent them 14 or 15 different covers, not all Stephen King, but 90 percent Stephen King paperback covers, that we really liked. They came back with that font, and that was really close to what is in the show."
Ross added: "When we sold the show to Netflix, and when we were pitching it around to companies, we made a little look book. In the front cover, we made it look like an old Stephen King book, and we had a very similar font in the red and the outline and there was a bike that was just on the ground that was lost. It's funny, it's a year and a little bit later and I'm seeing these billboards with this bike on the ground. It's actually amazing how much, and it's exciting that Netflix just embraced the tone and they embraced what we wanted to do, that it stayed true to that feeling from beginning to end."
6) Which two stars worked together before?
Winona Ryder and Matthew Modine (Dr. Martin Brenner) have appeared together once before, in the music video for Roy Orbison's 'A Love So Beautiful'. Matthew told The Guardian about working with her: "Roy Orbison had passed when we made the music video, so no, I didn't get to meet him. It really was a tribute to him. I knew Winona from her work and vice versa – she is a passionate fan of Birdy. It was a pleasure to meet and work with her. The song is so tragically beautiful."
7) Which child stars were on Broadway?
Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin) and Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas) have both acted on Broadway. Gaten played Gavroche in Les Miserables and Caleb played Young Simba in The Lion King. The two boys knew each other but they didn't become close friends until after working on Stranger Things.
8) Two actors aren't actually American
Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers) and Millie Brown (Eleven) are both from the UK. Charlie is from Bridlington, East Yorkshire, and Millie is from Bournemouth, Dorset. Although she was originally born in Marbella, Spain to British parents, the family moved back to the UK when she was four and lived in Bournemouth for four years. They then relocated once more to Orlando, Florida four years later - so although she was brought up in a British family, she lived a lot of her life in the US as a child.
9) Gaten's voice changed throughout the first season
Gaten's voice changed so much by the time production ended that the sound team were unable to use him for additional dialogue recording. Finn Wolfhard (Mike) told GQ in 2023: "I think even in season one, people were changing pretty rapidly. Another shout out to Gaten. His voice changed halfway through filming - probably episode four. His voice is completely different. If you go back, you can tell that his voice changed, which is really funny. I guess that's the nature of working with kids for an extended period."
10) Caleb's idea on his costume
It was Caleb's request to wear a camouflage bandana in the show; he wears it for the final three episodes. He told GQ in 2019: "The bandana was my idea. I felt like Lucas would want a bandana because he was into combat and the army. So I just asked, 'Can I get a bandana over here?' I had the privilege to do that." He also told Flaunt in 2020: "When I was younger, I would go out and play with my sister in our backyard. I would put on the Captain America mask and put a cape on to get ready, and it was Lucas' moment to put on the bandana and utility belt. If he had the utility belt and wrist rocket, he definitely had a bandana."
11) How was the Demogorgon made?
The monster was achieved through a combination of prosthetics, animatronics, performance and CG. The Duffer Brothers told Entertainment Weekly: "It has always been something of a lifelong dream to create a monster and bring it to life on-screen. Not in the computer, but for real. To build it. Like so many filmmakers our age and older, we grew up on genre films that existed before computer graphics. There was something about the effects being so tangible in those films that made them especially terrifying to us when we were kids. We're specifically thinking about Ridley Scott's Alien, John Carpenter's The Thing, and Clive Barker's Hellraiser. So from very early on we knew we wanted to build an animatronic monster."
They hired concept designer Aaron Sims to help them get their initial design ideas down, then worked with company Spectral Motion who've worked with Guillermo del Toro to make the animatronic creature. They added: "It is an interdimensional being that has more in common with the shark from Jaws than Pennywise from It."
12) Monsters Inc. helped children on set
The toddlers on set were very scared by the 'monster', but they were calmed when told that he was just like the monsters in Monsters Inc. In the same Entertainment Weekly interview, they explained: "We loved it, and so did the actors. Well… not all of them. There were some toddlers on set: Millie's little sister, Ava, as well as Anniston and Tinsley, the twins who play toddler Holly. As you can expect, these little girls were all terrified by the monster. Finally someone had the clever idea to tell them that the monster was not a bad monster at all; rather, he came from world of Monstropolis in Monsters, Inc. And it worked! The monster wasn't scary to them anymore, he was a friend! This was even more satisfying given that Millie's little sister looks and behaves exactly like Boo."
13) How did they get Millie to float in the water?
The gang really did create a salt bath, and Millie Bobby Brown actually floated - there were no effects used! To get Millie to float in a kiddie pool, twelve hundred pounds of epsom salt were dissolved into the water. She told Variety in 2022: "I'm not gonna lie, that was hard. The amount of salt that they put in there in order for me to float is real. They actually do get an egg and put it in the water, and if it floats, then that's when I can get in. I'm in there for a few days, 10 to 12 hours a day. Everyone's moving around you and you can't get out. I couldn't hear anyone, because obviously my ears were underwater. So when I'd get notes, I was just hoping that I was doing what maybe they were saying. We had to use a microphone in order for them to actually get their note across to me. Also, I suffer from claustrophobia, so when we closed the tank, I definitely felt like, 'Oh my gosh, I am Eleven, I am really going through this.' Obviously, what she has to go through, reliving those memories, was probably harder, though, than a tank."
14) Millie's incredible water tank stunt
For some of the laboratory scenes, Millie (Eleven) was fully submerged in an underwater immersion tank. She was able to breathe by wearing a Sea Trek helmet, which weighs approximately 70 lbs above water; it weighs 15 lbs beneath the surface of the water. The helmet was designed for shallow 'underwater walking'.
15) Did Millie really shave her head for Stranger Things?
Millie had to shave most of her hair off for the show and as can be expected of any 11Â-year-old girl this was a terrifying prospect. The Duffers showed her how cool Charlize Theron looked in Mad Max: Fury Road after which Millie agreed to it. In 2025, she called it a "liberating experience" that she would "love" to do again now that she's older. However, Millie did not shave her head again for season four, with the Stranger Things Instagram page sharing a video in 2022 of a wig being applied to her head.
16) Stand By Me was a pivotal film for auditions
The Duffers had all the boys audition with scenes from Stand By Me. Casting director Carmen Cuba told Casting Frontier: "We made a real effort to find kids that could embody the idea of being an outsider. We hoped that interesting kids would bring the material to life. And the truth is the material was so great, so set, the tone was all clear. Sometimes when you're casting, it's a little ambiguous, and you sort of find it while you're auditioning. And that wasn't the case with this. We just needed to match the kids to the quality of the characters as written."
17) David Harbour did NOT think the show would be a success
David Harbour appeared on The One Show in 2022, and was asked if he thought it would be a success. He said: "Not at all. I remember when we were shooting the first season. We were down in Atlanta, Netflix had given us a budget of about $20 and we thought halfway through... I remember my hair person coming up to me, about episode 4 we were shooting, and she said, 'I don't think it's going to work'."
The actor continued: "So by the time we wrapped, I thought we wouldn't get a second season, we'd be the first Netflix show ever to never get a second season. We thought no one would watch it, it was going to be a disaster."
His co-star Natalia Dyer (AKA Nancy Wheeler) added to The Independent in 2020: "Nobody knew if it was going to get picked up again after we finished filming season one. There was really an air of, 'We might never see each other again'. No-one had any idea how successful the show would be. There was no preparation – there couldn't have been, even if we'd known. It was a surprising and overwhelming shock. Then it was like, 'OK, this is how it is now'."
Now read:
Stranger Things season five: Everything you need to know
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Stranger Things: A recap of the first four seasons