The hit science-fiction-horror series “Stranger Things” returns on Friday with three new episodes from its fifth and final season, ahead of the grand finale on 1 January.
Shattering streaming records since it first hit screens in 2016, the Netflix show follows a group of teenagers in a small American town as they take on supernatural creatures and a parallel universe.
Here are five things to know:
Star-studded cast: Stranger Things brought back 1980s icons like actress Winona Ryder, who earned a Golden Globe nomination in 2017 for her role as Joyce Byers.
In another dose of 80s nostalgia, Robert Englund -- the actor behind horror icon Freddy Krueger -- made a cameo appearance in season 4.
1980s nostalgia: The Duffer Brothers, creators of the hit series, captured the spirit of 1980s classics like Steven Spielberg's movie "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial", the "Nightmare on Elm Street" films and Stephen King's "It" novel.
Across five seasons, the characters take on supernatural monsters while dressed in baggy jeans, T-shirts and trainers.
From Will Byers's bowl cut to Steve Harrington's tousled mullet, the show has given old-school hairstyles new life.
An early Netflix smash: Nine years after it began, Stranger Things has become a global phenomenon. One of the most-watched shows on Netflix, it transformed the streaming giant into a cultural powerhouse. Each episode has an estimated budget of tens of millions of dollars, surpassing the production price tags of many Hollywood films.
Marketing masterclass: The success of its fifth chapter, which tallied nearly 60 million views at launch, is reflected in its presence in public spaces. Major retailers have dedicated corners to the show, such as HMV on Oxford Street in London or Galeries Lafayette in Paris.
Stranger Things universe: The show has made its way on to stages in London’s West End and on Broadway with the play "Stranger Things: The First Shadow", launched in late 2023.
The prequel, set in 1959, explores the backstory of Henry Creel, also known as the villain Vecna in the show. Netflix has announced for 2026 an animated spin-off series set between the second and third seasons.
Source: AFP
Bdj-pratidin English/ ANI
