Stranger Things: Everything you want to know about the series
All of season four is officially out now!
After three long years, Stranger Things officially returned to our lives in 2022, with Volume 1 of the fourth season hitting our screens on Friday 27th May and Volume 2 on 1st July. The new series followed on from season three, which dropped back in July 2019, it's safe to say that fans have been desperate for the highly-anticipated release!
With season four now officially complete, it's time to get up-to-date with this fantastic record-breaking series. BE WARNED, there are plenty of spoilers below... and a look forward to season five which will be the last, starring Terminator legend Linda Hamilton.
Stranger Things season one: Plot summary
So much has happened in Stranger Things! But here is a quick overview of the first three seasons...
In Stranger Things season one, we were introduced to a group of young boys who live in a small, fictional town called Hawkins in Indiana. Set in the 1980s - with many cultural references to the decade - the first season centres around a young boy called Will Byers who goes missing.
Will finds himself in an alternative dimension, nicknamed the Upside Down by his friends who search for him, along with his Mum Joyce, and local police chief Jim Hopper.
At the same time as Will's strange disappearance, a young girl, named Eleven by the young boys thanks to her mysterious tattoo, appears in Hawkins. Eleven escaped from the laboratory nearby and helps the boys in their search for their friend - who is thankfully returned to his family... But he's not 100% himself...
Stranger Things season two: Plot summary
In the second season, set in October 1984, Will has finally been rescued - however, not many details are known about the events at the beginning; something we learn about as the series continues. His friends soon realise that Will is still being influenced by the creatures in the Upside Down.
Meanwhile, Eleven leaves the small town to find out more about her powers and her past, to try and discover who she really is. After meeting her catatonic mother, who shares similar powers to herself, Eleven meets another girl who was tortured in the same facility and they bond - but Eleven decides to return home to her newfound family, and heads back to Hawkins.
And yes, Eleven and Mike become boyfriend and girlfriend!
Stranger Things season three: Plot summary
The third season began with a completely different feel to the previous ones - where series one and two had been dark, spooky and mysterious, series three was much more upbeat and light-hearted, with the group all hanging out at the new Starcourt Mall.
But of course, it wouldn't be Stranger Things if someone wasn't being possessed by a terrifying creature - and this time, it was the turn of Billy Hargrove (played by Dacre Montgomery), who was attacked by the Mind Flayer and used to enact revenge.
There was also the odd goings-on at the mall, with Steve and Dustin teaming up once again - this time taking on Soviet spies with the help of their new friends, Robin and Erica, Lucas' sister.
More heartbreaking deaths were brought on by the events that unfolded - with show bosses leading viewers to think that beloved police chief Hopper had been killed too... But in the post-credits scenes, fans became convinced he was alive.
The official Netflix synopsis for ST3 reads, 'It's 1985 in Hawkins, Indiana, and summer's heating up. School's out, there's a brand new mall in town, and the Hawkins crew are on the cusp of adulthood. Romance blossoms and complicates the group's dynamic, and they'll have to figure out how to grow up without growing apart. Meanwhile, danger looms.
'When the town's threatened by enemies old and new, Eleven and her friends are reminded that evil never ends; it evolves. Now they'll have to band together to survive, and remember that friendship is always stronger than fear.'
The first season dropped in July 2016 and second in October 2017. Initial predictions said the third season would come at the end of 2018, but Netflix Vice President of Original Content Cindy Holland confirmed the Stranger Things third season release date as summer 2019.
Netflix then released a teaser trailer revealing the episode titles for the series. Set in the summer of 1985, the title are Suzie, Do You Copy?, The Mall Rats, The Case of the Missing Lifeguard, The Sauna Test, The Source, The Birthday, The Bite, and The Battle of Star Court.
Stranger Things season four: Plot summary
Season four was released in two volumes a few weeks apart, in May and July 2022. Season 4 is set six months after the Battle of Starcourt which destroyed much of Hawkins. El has now moved to California with the Byers family, where she is struggling to cope with the loss of her dad (Hopper) and her special powers.
She ends up being held hostage by Dr Brenner in an underground facility, where she is rescued from by Will, Jonathan, Mike (who was visiting), and new friend Argyle.
Meanwhile, back in Hawkins, Dustin, Mike and Lucas find it difficult to adjust to high school, as Lucas starts to hang out with the basketball team, Dustin and Mike have joined the Hellfire Club, where they become friends with Eddie.
Eddie is accused of murdering a cheerleader, and goes on the run, so Dustin enlists the help of Steve, Nancy and Robin to help find him. But, after they enter the Upside Down through a gate in the lake, Nancy is possessed by Vecna.
Vecna is this season's nemesis and Steve, Nancy and Robin enter the Upside Down once again, kitted out with weapons to attack Vecna in the Creel House.
Whilst all this is happening in Hawkins, Joyce receives a parcel from Hopper saying he is in a prison in Russia, so she and Murray fly to Alaska where they meet a pilot who is to take them to the prison. Things don't go to plan however when they are drugged.
When they wake up they overpower the pilot and crash land in Russia, and eventually break into the prison where they find Hopper taking on a Demogorgon.
Is there going to be a Stranger Things season 5?
Yes, there most definitely will a season 5 of Stranger Things! Following the unbelievable success of the 80s Netflix original, co-creators the Duffer Brothers confirmed they are working on more seasons. With season four dropping in two Volumes, the brothers have also confirmed a fifth season, however it will be the last.
Speaking to EW back in September 2017 executive producer Shawn Levy also 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," and Sadie Sink AKA Max Mayfield spoke about how the events of season three would impact her character in the future.
Prior to the release of season four, fans started to become convinced that Eleven could be the show's villain, something Millie Bobby Brown has also spoken out about. After binging Volume 1, we'd be lying if we didn't say there was a split second where we thought Eleven could be temped to the dark side, but thankfully, for now (we hope), El remains on the good side!
In January 2023, Sadie opened up about 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."
Then in June 2023, it was revealed that Terminator legend Linda Hamilton would be joining the show. At Netflix's Tudum fan event, their chief action officer Arnold Schwarzenegger, introduced his former co-star saying: "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. She sent a video, and I want you to watch this video.
"So enjoy your time and have a great, great weekend. OK? Bye Bye, see you all. Hasta la vista!"
Stranger Things soundtrack
As fans of the show will know, Stranger Things season four Volume 1 has 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 - 'Rolling 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 season four soundtrack here.
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. Here's how much the Stranger Things cast get paid.
Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers
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.
David Harbour as Jim Hopper
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
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
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 and The Electric State. On top of that, Millie also launched her own beauty brand, called florence by mills.
Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson
Dustin is another of Will's friends. He has leidocranial dysplasia which causes him to lisp, however in the second season he is very proud of the two front teeth he developed. Dustin 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.
Gaten had a musical background prior to starring in Stranger Things, and following his starring role 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
Lucas is also a friend of Will's. When he first meets Eleven he is very skeptical, but later starts to trust her. He later develops a relationship with season two newbie Max, before things take a sour turn. Caleb 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
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. Noah shared a heartwarming video to his TikTok, where he documented the moment he and his family read his University acceptance letter.
Sadie Sink as Maxine 'Max' Mayfield
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.
Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler
Nancy is Mike and Holly's older sister. In the first season she becomes Steve Harrington's girlfriend, but by the season 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 becomes 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
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. In season two, however, we see him come out of his shell more as he starts to date Nancy.
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.
Joe Keery as Steve Harrington
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 the 'TikTok effect', going viral and topping UK charts, as well as going Platinum in the US and being certified Gold in the UK.
Dacre Montgomery as Billy Hargrove
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.
Matthew Modine as Dr Martin Brenner
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.
Maya Hawke as Robin
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. Robin quickly became a fan favourite, and continues to help the gang with the twists and turns they experience 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.
Grace Van Dien as Chrissy
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 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.
Joseph Quinn as Eddie Munson
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 and Hoard.
Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna/Subject 001/Henry Creel
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 terrorize 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.
Season 3 saw Cary Elwes join the cast as Mayor Larry Kline and Jake Busey as a journalist named Bruce. Other recurring characters included Brett Gelman as Murray Bauman, Paul Reiser as Dr. Sam Owens, Priah Ferguson as Lucas' sister Erica Sinclair and Francesca Reale as Heather.
The show's co-creator Matt Duffer, told Yahoo! about how Erica would be playing a bigger part: "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."
Matt's brother, and the show's other co-creator, Ross Duffer continued: "There will definitely be more Erica in season three. That is the fun thing about the show — you discover stuff as you’re filming.
"We were able to integrate more of her in, but not as much you want because the story was already going. We got to use more Erica", he continued: "That was one of the first things we said in the writers' room."
What year is Stranger Things Season 3 set in?
Co-creators the Duffer Brothers confirmed that there will be a year's jump between seasons, meaning Stranger Things 3 will be set in the autumn of 1985. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, 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."
Actor Noah Schnapp previously spoke about season 3 being set in the summer, saying it's, "Very different...because it's in the summer". He continued, "It's great because it has a lot of the dark parts from season two and a lot of the light, playful parts from season one."
Eleven in Stranger Things season 3
Actress Millie Bobby Brown recently revealed some details about her character Eleven in the third season for Stranger Things. Speaking to Variety, Millie said, "It's a beautiful storyline for Eleven this season. 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.
"From those episodes of being isolated, that when I'm back in season three, things happen – stranger things happen. I'm just saying I use that style of acting now and my method of acting for season three."
Stranger Things trailers: Season three
In 2017 fans were treated to the first trailer for Stranger Things season 2 during the Super Bowl in February. Unfortunately we didn't see a Stranger Things season 3 trailer during this year's Super Bowl, however a few weeks later Netflix released a video for Stranger Things 3 entitled Now In Production.
What do we know about Stranger Things 4?
Show star Sadie Sink, who plays Max Mayfied, opened up about season four ahead of its release, revealing that it is the "most bizarre" season yet, however due to her character Max dealing with the loss of her brother Billy, it felt "more human".
The season starts with Mike going to visit El and the Byers family in California, when Joyce disappears mysteriously before the Byers' house gets shot up by agents after El.
Making a quick get away, Jonathan, Will, Mike, El and Jonathan's friend Argyle pile in Argyle's pizza delivery van, to escape the gun fire and find themselves driving across the desert in a bid to return to Hawkins.
Meanwhile, back in Hawkins, Lucas now hangs around with the 'cool kids', shunning his former best friends Dustin, Max and Mike, while Nancy is now editor of the school newspaper. Dustin and Mike join the Hellfire Club (D&D society) where they become friends with Eddie, who ends up being a suspect in a number of supernatural murders.
When Eddie goes missing, Steve and Robin who are now working in a video rental shop, join Dustin and his friends in their hunt for Eddie, before the police find him.
Season 4 is spread across two volumes, the first consists of seven episodes. Volume 2 of the fourth season of Stranger Things only consists of two episodes - however, not to fear, as they are longer than the usual running time, with the first being 85 minutes, and the second being 150 minutes.
Is there a Stranger Things 5?
Yes, Stranger Things 5 will be the last season to be released, according the Duffer Brothers they haven't finished writing it in full, however they have shared details of the first episode of the fifth season, which is called 'Chapter One: The Crawl'.
Are there any famous Stranger Things fans?
Yes, a number of celebrities are fans of Stranger Things, with One Direction member Niall Horan revealing, shortly after the release of Stranger Things 3, that he loved it and had watched the first four episodes of the new season! His band mate Louis Tomlinson even offered to watch the programme with him, and is now a huge fan himself!
If you're a fan of Stranger Things then take a look at these 22 facts that you probably didn't know about the Netflix series.
Stranger Things seasons 1-4 are available to stream on Netflix now.
Now read:
Stranger Things season five: Everything you need to know
Stranger Things season 4 Volume 2
Stranger Things: A recap of the first three seasons