---
title: "Stranger Things"
year: 2016
kind: "series"
canonical: "https://film.one/tv/stranger-things"
fi1m_id: "stranger-things"
imdb_id: "tt4574334"
tmdb_id: 66732
wikidata_id: "Q19798734"
fi1m_score: 77
critics_score: 77
critics_reviews: 13
published: "2026-09-10"
updated: "2026-09-16T00:22:26.729266+00:00"
region: "IT"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Stranger Things (2016)

Created by Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer · Action & Adventure, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy

## Identity

Stranger Things

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/tv/stranger-things
- **Type:** Series
- **Fi1m ID:** stranger-things
- **IMDb ID:** tt4574334
- **TMDB ID:** 66732
- **Wikidata ID:** Q19798734
- **Same entity:** https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4574334/, https://www.themoviedb.org/tv/66732, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19798734

**Fi1m score: 77** · Critics 77 from 13 reviews

*In a sentence:* Nobody’s parents are paying attention, and the government has a monster in the basement

> The first eight episodes are a well-built small-town horror story: children who can act, a two-note synthesiser score that does half the work, and Winona Ryder holding nothing back. The later runs get bigger, and not always in the right places.

## Synopsis

Hawkins, Indiana, in the autumn of 1983. A boy called Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) cycles home from a friend’s house and does not arrive. His mother Joyce (Winona Ryder) is told he will turn up; the police chief, Jim Hopper (David Harbour), starts a search he does not expect to matter. Will’s friends Mike, Dustin and Lucas (Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin) go looking on their own and find, in the woods, a girl with a shaved head who barely speaks (Millie Bobby Brown). Out on the edge of town sits a government laboratory with a great deal of security and no visible purpose. Five series, from 2016 to 2025, eight or nine episodes each.

## Review

Hawkins, Indiana, November 1983. A boy called Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) sets off home from a friend’s house on his bicycle and does not get there. His mother Joyce (Winona Ryder) is told by everyone, kindly, that he will turn up. Police chief Jim Hopper (David Harbour) starts a search mostly to be seen starting one. Will’s three friends go looking themselves and find a girl in a hospital gown who will not give her name and has a number tattooed on her wrist. Matt and Ross Duffer wrote and directed most of the first eight episodes, which arrived on 15 July 2016. It is a good series, and that first run is the best of it.

What the Duffers are attempting is plain from the first frame: the American small town as Spielberg, Carpenter and Stephen King left it, rebuilt by people who loved it. Chris Trujillo’s production design gives the Byers house wood panelling, brown carpet, a rotary phone on a wall and a fridge that hums. Costume designers Malgosia Turzanska, Amy Parris, Kim Wilcox and Kimberly Adams put the boys in corduroy and puffer waistcoats their mothers chose. The laboratory is the opposite: long fluorescent corridors, a lift, nobody about. Tim Ives, Tod Campbell and their colleagues shoot the woods blue-black with a single torch beam in them, and they let the dark stay dark.

We were frightened in the first three minutes, which is sooner than we expected. A man in a white coat runs down an empty corridor to a lift, the lights stutter, and something we never see arrives above him. What did it was the sound: Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein’s score comes in on two or three low synthesiser notes that never resolve, and the editors, Dean Zimmerman and Kevin D. Ross among them, hold the shot a beat longer than television usually dares. That pulse sits under the whole town for eight episodes. It is the series’ best idea and its cheapest, which is how good ideas often go.

Ryder plays Joyce as a woman who was frayed before her son vanished, all cigarettes and grabbing hands, and she never once asks for our sympathy. Harbour’s Hopper is heavy, hungover and quietly clever, a man who has been sad for years and stopped mentioning it. Millie Bobby Brown, as Eleven, says perhaps a few hundred words across the run and is the centre of it anyway; she does most of the acting with her jaw. The boys are properly cast. Gaten Matarazzo’s Dustin is funny on purpose, Caleb McLaughlin’s Lucas is the one who asks the sensible questions, Finn Wolfhard’s Mike is earnest to the point of pain. Among the teenagers, Natalia Dyer’s Nancy and Charlie Heaton’s Jonathan carry the plot, and Joe Keery’s Steve Harrington, introduced as the boy with the hair and the car, turns into the person we most looked forward to seeing.

Then the series kept going. Five runs between 2016 and 2025, and every one adds people: Sadie Sink in the second, Maya Hawke’s Robin in the third, both good, both taking minutes from somebody else. The monsters get bigger and the episodes get longer to hold them. Somewhere in the fourth run, with the cast split across several places and cross-cut so no scene lasts long enough to breathe, we were bored, and then cross about it, because we could see what the Duffers wanted. They wanted the small ensemble of the first series, four boys in a basement arguing over a map. They had hired too many people to have it.

The writing has a habit worth naming. Each series answers its mystery with a larger mystery, so the laboratory becomes a door and the door becomes a place and the place has a history. Some of this is fun. Some of it is the sound of writers keeping a show alive. Eight directors are credited across the run, including Shawn Levy, Andrew Stanton and Frank Darabont, and to their credit the look and the pace hold from hand to hand.

Most critics found it comfortable and slightly predictable, and we agree with both halves. The Duffers did not invent a single thing here. Borrowing well is still work, though, and in the first eight episodes they do it with real care.

Watch the first series with the lights off and something to eat. Decide about the rest afterwards. Certificate 15, and the children swear like they mean it.

*Fi1m score 77, published 10 September 2026.*

## What the critics say

Most critics like it, and they like it for the same things. The reviews return again and again to the young cast, and to Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven above all, whom several critics credit with carrying the emotional weight of the series. David Harbour’s Hopper and Winona Ryder’s frightened mother are singled out too. Nearly every review notes the debt to Spielberg, Carpenter and Stephen King, and most find the homage affectionate and well made rather than lazy, with the synth score, the small-town setting and the slow reveal of the monster praised for building real tension.

The reservations cluster around that same nostalgia. Several critics find the story predictable and the references overused, and IndieWire goes furthest, arguing the series borrows so heavily from the Eighties that it never quite develops ideas of its own. The AV Club adds that the female characters are thinner than the boys. The spread is narrow: twelve positive notices, one mixed, none negative.

## Straight answers

**Is Stranger Things worth watching?**

*Stranger Things* is worth watching, and we scored it 77, with the first eight episodes the reason to bother. The Duffer brothers rebuild the Spielberg-and-King small town with care, a two-note synthesiser score does half the frightening, and Winona Ryder and Millie Bobby Brown are the best things in it. The later runs add people and monsters and lose the tight ensemble that made the first series work.

**Where can I watch Stranger Things in Italy?**

*Stranger Things* is streaming on Netflix in Italy. Availability is checked daily; the links above go straight to each service.

**How violent or frightening is Stranger Things, and is it suitable for children?**

*Stranger Things* carries a UK 15 certificate, and it earns it with sustained dread rather than gore: dark woods, stuttering lights, a monster mostly kept off screen, and children who swear like they mean it. We were frightened within three minutes. It is not for younger children or the easily unsettled, but teenagers who like being scared should be fine.

**How does Stranger Things compare to Stand by Me?**

*Stranger Things* borrows openly from [*Stand by Me*](https://film.one/film/stand-by-me), four boys in the woods and a friendship that feels untidy and necessary, but it adds a government laboratory, a missing child and a monster. The film is the tighter and more moving of the two, a single story told once. The series is the one to pick if you want horror and mystery and are prepared to stop after the first run.

**What should I watch after Stranger Things?**

After *Stranger Things*, try [*Stand by Me*](https://film.one/film/stand-by-me) (1986, Fi1m 88): Four boys, a body in the woods and the film Stranger Things keeps looking at. Then [*Dark*](https://film.one/film/the-dark-knight-rises) (2017, Fi1m 74): A German town loses its children too, and takes the puzzle far more seriously; and [*Let the Right One In*](https://film.one/film/let-the-right-one-in) (2008, Fi1m 88): Swedish snow, a lonely boy and a strange girl next door; colder and sadder.

### Reviews we read (13)

- **The AV Club**, Emily L. Stephens (A-): The review praises the pilot's atmospheric tension, effective withholding of the monster, and strong character work for the boys and Hopper, while noting some reliance on familiar tropes and weaker development for female characters. [Read](https://www.avclub.com/stranger-things-mixes-its-nostalgic-glow-with-darkness-1798188523)
- **The Hollywood Reporter**, Daniel Fienberg (90/100, inferred): The review calls the season a satisfying, spooky and well-arced mystery that succeeds through strong juvenile performances and a welcome lead for David Harbour. It singles out the kids' authentic writing and casting, especially Millie Bobby Brown's Eleven, for carrying the emotional weight alongside the nostalgia. [Read](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-reviews/winona-ryder-netflixs-stranger-things-909336/)
- **Variety**, Maureen Ryan (90/100, inferred): The review praises the series as an enjoyable and evocative genre piece that balances familiar references with deeper emotional explorations of family and friendship. It singles out the strong casting of the young characters and Millie Bobby Brown's performance in particular for making the story binge-worthy. [Read](https://variety.com/2016/tv/reviews/stranger-things-review-winona-ryder-netflix-matthew-modine-1201808737/)
- **The Guardian** (80/100, inferred): The series is a fun, creepy retro-fest that pays pitch-perfect homage to 1980s filmmakers like Spielberg, Carpenter and Hughes. It delivers a richly enjoyable shot of nostalgia whose cockle-warming qualities compensate for a slightly predictable narrative. [Read](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/jul/15/stranger-things-review-a-shot-of-80s-nostalgia-right-to-your-heart-winona-ryder)
- **The Telegraph**, Tristram Fane Saunders (4/5): The critic praises the stylish, loving homage to Eighties sci-fi tropes with a brooding Stephen King atmosphere rather than Spielberg sentiment. The child actors, especially Millie Brown as Eleven, are singled out for strong performances that upstage Winona Ryder, while the grotesque portal design stands out as a highlight. [Read](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/on-demand/0/stranger-things-spoiler-free-review-winona-ryder-is-upstaged-by/)
- **Empire**, Jonathan Pile (70/100, inferred): The review finds the eight-episode series engaging overall despite some overused references and a lack of surprises. It singles out the group of young friends at the heart of the story for their camaraderie and the show's affectionate nostalgia for 1980s coming-of-age adventures. [Read](https://www.empireonline.com/tv/reviews/stranger-things-review/)
- **The Times**, Hugo Rifkind (70/100, inferred): The critic notes the show's strong resemblance to Stephen King stories and its tense, scary atmosphere that makes viewers wary of being home alone. It is described as really very good, with Winona Ryder likely to win awards for her role. [Read](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/yes-its-scary-but-not-enough-to-make-you-spill-your-tesco-merlot-mnsxphwbm)
- **Vulture**, Matt Zoller Seitz (70/100, inferred): Stranger Things successfully evokes 1980s films like E.T. and Poltergeist through its period-accurate world-building, synth score, and central mystery of a missing child and a mysterious lab creature. The critic highlights the strong performances from the child actors, particularly Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, while noting some minor issues with world-building logic. [Read](https://www.vulture.com/2016/07/stranger-things-a-throwback-to-80s-terror.html)
- **IndieWire**, Ben Travers (60/100, inferred): The critic finds the performances strong, especially from Winona Ryder and the young cast, but notes that the series relies heavily on 1980s homages without enough fresh ideas to feel fully alive. [Read](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/shows/stranger-things-review-netflix-winona-ryder-original-80s-horror-1201706344/)
- **The Ringer**, Chris Ryan (80/100, inferred): The critic praises the show's affectionate recreation of 1980s sci-fi adventure tropes and nostalgic childhood wonder through its small-town setting and supernatural elements. They single out the effective blend of comforting safety and genuine scariness, along with strong performances like Winona Ryder's. [Read](https://www.theringer.com/2016/07/18/stranger-things/stranger-things-netflix-80s-duffer-brothers-279deac579a9)
- **Digital Spy** (75/100, inferred): The critic describes the first episode as a suspenseful, playful tribute to 1980s horror and adventure films like Stand By Me, highlighting its fun factor, spooky atmosphere, and strong young cast despite minor flaws in subplots and casting. [Read](https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/ustv/a801231/stranger-things-review-netflixs-spooky-new-show-is-a-playful-tribute-to-80s-horror/)
- **Collider**, Chris Cabin (70/100, inferred): The series is an entertaining and impassioned throwback to 1980s Spielberg-style sci-fi and horror. The familial and neighborhood drama stands out as effective and nuanced, though the overall nostalgia limits its imagination. [Read](https://collider.com/stranger-things-review-netflix/)
- **Den of Geek**, Louisa Mellor (70/100, inferred): The series delivers comforting nostalgia through its 1980s-inspired sci-fi horror story of a boy's disappearance and the young friends who investigate it. The critic praises the convincing young cast, especially Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, and the well-paced, satisfying storytelling that blends multiple plot threads effectively. [Read](https://www.denofgeek.com/tv/netflixs-stranger-things-spoiler-free-review/)

## Details

- **Created by:** Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer
- **Creator:** Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer
- **Director:** Ross Duffer, Matt Duffer, Shawn Levy, Uta Briesewitz, Frank Darabont, Nimród Antal, Andrew Stanton, Rebecca Thomas
- **Writer:** Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Paul Dichter, Kate Trefry, Curtis Gwinn, Justin Doble, Caitlin Schneiderhan, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Alison Tatlock, William Bridges, Jessica Mecklenburg
- **Story:** Paul Dichter
- **Teleplay:** Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
- **Cinematography:** Tim Ives, Caleb Heymann, Lachlan Milne, Brett Jutkiewicz, Tod Campbell, David Franco
- **Editor:** Dean Zimmerman, Nat Fuller, Katheryn Naranjo, Kevin D. Ross, Casey Cichocki, Kat Naranjo
- **Music:** Michael Stein, Kyle Dixon, Dan Romer
- **Production design:** Chris Trujillo
- **Costume design:** Amy Parris, Kim Wilcox, Malgosia Turzanska, Kimberly Adams
- **Producer:** Rand Geiger, Lampton Enochs, Justin Doble
- **Cast:** Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers; David Harbour as Jim Hopper; Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven / Jane Hopper; Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler; Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson; Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair; Noah Schnapp as Will Byers; Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield
- **Release (Italy):** 15 July 2016
- **Genres:** Action & Adventure, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy
- **Also in:** [Emmy Outstanding Drama Series winners](https://film.one/collections/emmy-drama.md) (Nominee, 2017)
- **Trailer:** https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b9EkMc79ZSU

## Where to watch in Italy

- Netflix: streaming

*Checked 2026-09-10.*

Also available in: AE, AR, AT, AU, AZ, BE, BG, BR, CA, CH, CL, CO, CZ, DE, DK, EC, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, GR, HK, HR, HU, ID, IE, IL, IN, IS, IT, JP, KR, LT, MX, MY, NL, NO, NZ, PA, PE, PH, PL, PT, RO, RS, SE, SG, SI, SK, TH, TR, UA, US, VN, ZA. Add `?region=XX` to this URL for another country.

## If you liked this

- *Stand by Me* (1986), Fi1m 88: Four boys, a body in the woods and the film Stranger Things keeps looking at. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/stand-by-me.md)
- *Dark* (2017), Fi1m 74: A German town loses its children too, and takes the puzzle far more seriously. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/the-dark-knight-rises.md)
- *Let the Right One In* (2008), Fi1m 88: Swedish snow, a lonely boy and a strange girl next door; colder and sadder. — [Fi1m page](https://film.one/film/let-the-right-one-in.md)
- *Super 8* (2011): Children with a camera and a government secret, made by people with the same shelf of tapes.
- *Twin Peaks* (1990): The small town with something wrong underneath, done first and done stranger.

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/tv/stranger-things