Stranger Things, created by Matt and Ross Duffer, has had a tight grasp on pop culture, affecting the music industry, fashion trends, marketing strategies, and the streaming entertainment industry for an entire decade now.
In case the average person is unaware, Stranger Things is a mystery horror TV series on Netflix that takes place in the 80s. It was created by the Duffer Brothers, with season 1 releasing in 2016, season 2 in 2017, season 3 in 2019, and season 4 in 2022. Season 5 is actively releasing with the first four episodes releasing on Nov. 26, 2025, the last four episodes releasing on Dec. 25, 2025, and the series finale releasing on Jan. 1, 2026.
In 1985, Kate Bush released a song called “Running Up That Hill.” The song was about nothing special; it’s about a man and a woman who struggle with misunderstandings and insecurities throughout their relationship.
The song performed well: It was considered a hit, reaching No. 30 on the US Billboard charts and No. 3 on the UK Billboard charts.
But in 2022, the Duffer brothers decided to add the song into Stranger Things, causing it to rise to the No. 1 song for 3 weeks in the US and UK, surpassing its release performance 37 years prior. It has done significantly better than it did on first release due to the popularity of the show.
The main way Stranger Things has affected the music industry is by reviving the 80s era of music. Like Bush’s “Running Up That Hill,” several other songs from that era have also gone mainstream once more. Some examples include: “Master of Puppets” by Metallica (1986), “Should I Stay Or Should I Go Now” by The Clash (1982), “The Never Ending Story” by Limahl (1984), “Every Breath You Take” by The Police (1983), “Africa” by Toto (1982), and many more.
As well as music, the fashion trends affected by Stranger Things come from the 80s aesthetic returning to modern times. Waisted “Mom” jeans, corduroy, graphic T-shirts, and oversized clothing are all making a return to the late 2010s and the early 2020s.
The famous Hellfire Club T-shirt worn by Joseph Quinn’s character, Eddie Munson, has been worn by teens all over the US and UK ever since its first appearance in season 4 episode 1. Sadie Sink’s character, Max Mayfeild, has taken up a skater aesthetic that has also bled into teens’ outfits today.
The Duffer Brothers originally made their show to be a call back to old 80s movies, most evidently shown in season 1. But after the explosion in popularity, it was turned into something bigger; it was turned into not just a TV series, but an event of season releases every 2-3 years. TV shows like The Umbrella Academy have taken on this approach. Though The Umbrella Academy wasn’t able to make the everlasting effects Stranger Things has made, it still ended up being well-received by audiences.
The rivalry of the 80s era and the way the show has affected the way other shows have been made, Stranger Things is a staple in pop culture.
Shawn Levy, Stranger Things executive producer, says from a book, Stranger Things: Worlds Turned Upside Down, “Our show is an anthem for the marginalized and imperfect, precisely because the Duffer brothers know from experience that the popular and easy road is rarely the most interesting one…”
