Stranger Things has been one of the most popular shows in the world right now. But the show has its own fair share of real-life inspirations

11 Baffling Inspirations That Lead to the Creation of Netflix’s Most Successful Show, &#8216;Stranger Things&#8217;

11 Baffling Inspirations That Lead to the Creation of Netflix’s Most Successful Show, &#8216;Stranger Things&#8217; - Netflix Junkie

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Baheen Qadri is an entertainment writer at Netflix Junkie. Currently, he is pursuing BA in Mass comm Hons from SCMC Pune. He loves binge-watching films and TV series on Netflix. He is passionate about making films and watches movies from different corners of the world to better understand the field of cinema in his free time. He also loves animes and is currently hooked on the new Demon Slayer season. One of his favorite thrillers on Netflix is Shutter Island. The film always gives him goosebumps. Apart from thrillers, he also loves sitcoms like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and The Office. Being a huge movie buff, he is a tough competition on movie trivia nights.

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All great works of art find their inspiration in some place or other. And every great artist, too, has their own inspiration. So if we are talking about the 21st century, there is no greater show that has the level of popularity that Stranger Things has. In just six years since its initial release, the show has made a mark in human history as one of the most popular works of art.
But like we said, all works of art must have some inspiration. And since the first day, the great creators of Stranger Things, The Duffer Brothers, have stated multiple inspirations that have made the show what it is today.
So let us take a look at a few real-life inspirations that make Stranger Things one of the greatest shows ever.
<h2>Movies, TV shows and books that have served as inspiration for Stranger Things</h2>
<h3 class="subbuzz__title xs-mb1 bold">Carrie by Stephen King </h3>
<a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/tag/stephen-king/">Stephen King</a>&#8216;s books influenced the teenage <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/tag/duffer-brothers/">Duffer brothers</a>&#8216; interest in a darker narrative, which would come full circle when King himself <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-stephen-king-believes-that-this-stranger-things-character-deserves-their-own-show/">tweeted his admiration for Stranger Things </a>in the days after Season 1&#8217;s premiere!
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35524 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/13CARRIE_SPAN-superJumbo.jpg" alt="" width="2048" height="1245" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/13CARRIE_SPAN-superJumbo.jpg 2048w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/13CARRIE_SPAN-superJumbo-300x182.jpg 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/13CARRIE_SPAN-superJumbo-1024x623.jpg 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/13CARRIE_SPAN-superJumbo-768x467.jpg 768w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/13CARRIE_SPAN-superJumbo-1536x934.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px" />
In many respects, Carrie is a clear analog to Stranger Things: a mistreated teenager with telekinetic talents and an abusive parental figure.
When pushed too far, Carrie, like Eleven, unleashes all of her powers on her tormentors. Also, the Rink-O-Mania incident in Season 4, Part 1, when bully Angela spills a milkshake on Eleven, is very reminiscent of the pig blood scene in Carrie.
<h3>Scream 1996</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35525 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/MV5BOTIzY2QwMmYtMTEwZS00Y2M4LWJkNDktN2JhMjZhYjhlZDRhXkEyXkFqcGdeQWVyZ3JlZW5l._V1_.jpg" alt="" width="1920" height="1080" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/MV5BOTIzY2QwMmYtMTEwZS00Y2M4LWJkNDktN2JhMjZhYjhlZDRhXkEyXkFqcGdeQWVyZ3JlZW5l._V1_.jpg 1920w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/MV5BOTIzY2QwMmYtMTEwZS00Y2M4LWJkNDktN2JhMjZhYjhlZDRhXkEyXkFqcGdeQWVyZ3JlZW5l._V1_-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/MV5BOTIzY2QwMmYtMTEwZS00Y2M4LWJkNDktN2JhMjZhYjhlZDRhXkEyXkFqcGdeQWVyZ3JlZW5l._V1_-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/MV5BOTIzY2QwMmYtMTEwZS00Y2M4LWJkNDktN2JhMjZhYjhlZDRhXkEyXkFqcGdeQWVyZ3JlZW5l._V1_-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/MV5BOTIzY2QwMmYtMTEwZS00Y2M4LWJkNDktN2JhMjZhYjhlZDRhXkEyXkFqcGdeQWVyZ3JlZW5l._V1_-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px" />
A scene from Scream is reproduced in Season 4, Part 1, when <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-heartbroken-stranger-things-fans-want-more-for-eddie-munson-and-chrissy-cunningham-the-queen-of-hawkins-high/">Chrissy Cunningham</a>&#8216;s body is carried away on a stretcher, shrouded by a sheet. The camera moves across the scene from above, as it does in Scream.
<h3 class="subbuzz__title xs-mb1 bold">Stand By Me both book and movie</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35526 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/stand-by-me-movie.png" alt="" width="1978" height="1330" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/stand-by-me-movie.png 1978w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/stand-by-me-movie-300x202.png 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/stand-by-me-movie-1024x689.png 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/stand-by-me-movie-768x516.png 768w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/stand-by-me-movie-1536x1033.png 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1978px) 100vw, 1978px" />
The Duffers were inspired by both the Stephen King story upon which the film was based and the film itself.
The Duffers had the young actors recite lines from the film during their auditions, and the sequence when Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Eleven walk down the railroad tracks looking for Will is a nod to the film.
<h3 class="subbuzz__title xs-mb1 bold">Guillermo del Toro and his monsters</h3>
<a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/set-Guillermo-del-Toro-The-Shape-of.jpg.webp"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35528 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/set-Guillermo-del-Toro-The-Shape-of.jpg.webp" alt="" width="1600" height="1122" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/set-Guillermo-del-Toro-The-Shape-of.jpg.webp 1600w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/set-Guillermo-del-Toro-The-Shape-of.jpg-300x210.webp 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/set-Guillermo-del-Toro-The-Shape-of.jpg-1024x718.webp 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/set-Guillermo-del-Toro-The-Shape-of.jpg-768x539.webp 768w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/set-Guillermo-del-Toro-The-Shape-of.jpg-1536x1077.webp 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" /></a>
One of the Duffers&#8217; influences is<a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-experience-the-new-worlds-8-chilling-horror-stories-in-guillermo-del-toro-cabinet-of-curiosities/"> Guillermo del Toro</a>, known for his terrifying and mind-bending films. Del Toro&#8217;s flicks include ethereal and meticulously designed creatures that assist in constructing an immersive universe that hooks you in. The same as in Stranger Things.
ALSO READ: <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-originals-five-analogous-details-that-connect-stranger-things-4-to-a-cult-classic-1984-horror-film/">Five Analogous Details That Connect ‘Stranger Things’ 4 to a Cult Classic 1984 Horror Film</a>
<h3 class="subbuzz__title xs-mb1 bold">Dungeons and Dragons</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35530 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/stranger_things_dustin_mike_lucas_4240.jpg" alt="" width="1400" height="788" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/stranger_things_dustin_mike_lucas_4240.jpg 1400w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/stranger_things_dustin_mike_lucas_4240-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/stranger_things_dustin_mike_lucas_4240-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/stranger_things_dustin_mike_lucas_4240-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1400px) 100vw, 1400px" />
<a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-news-3-elements-in-stranger-things-taken-from-and-inspired-by-dungeons-dragons/">There is no Stranger Things without the amazing game of D&amp;D</a>. So far, the game has been a thread across the whole series, but it is more than just the characters who become lost in its enormous narrative.
While Matt and Ross Duffer came up with the monster, they quickly flick through D&amp;D Creature Manuals to see what the kids would most likely refer to when describing the monster.
<h3>Steven Spielberg&#8217;s Jaws</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35537 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/https-cdn.cnn_.com-cnnnext-dam-assets-190627154653-007-highest-grossing-films-jaws.jpg" alt="" width="1200" height="675" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/https-cdn.cnn_.com-cnnnext-dam-assets-190627154653-007-highest-grossing-films-jaws.jpg 1200w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/https-cdn.cnn_.com-cnnnext-dam-assets-190627154653-007-highest-grossing-films-jaws-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/https-cdn.cnn_.com-cnnnext-dam-assets-190627154653-007-highest-grossing-films-jaws-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/https-cdn.cnn_.com-cnnnext-dam-assets-190627154653-007-highest-grossing-films-jaws-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />
If you look closely in Season 4, Part 1, you’ll see a Jaws poster in Will’s room, complete with the authentic &#8217;80s folded down the middle. Incidentally, the Duffers were originally planning to call their show Montauk as an homage to Jaws.
<h3 class="subbuzz__title xs-mb1 bold">Akira (1988)</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35543 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/MV5BNTRkY2Y4NmYtMjBlZi00NmU2LWIxYjQtNDdmZGUwMWM5ZmMzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjUwNzk3NDc@._V1_.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/MV5BNTRkY2Y4NmYtMjBlZi00NmU2LWIxYjQtNDdmZGUwMWM5ZmMzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjUwNzk3NDc@._V1_.jpg 1280w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/MV5BNTRkY2Y4NmYtMjBlZi00NmU2LWIxYjQtNDdmZGUwMWM5ZmMzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjUwNzk3NDc@._V1_-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/MV5BNTRkY2Y4NmYtMjBlZi00NmU2LWIxYjQtNDdmZGUwMWM5ZmMzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjUwNzk3NDc@._V1_-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/MV5BNTRkY2Y4NmYtMjBlZi00NmU2LWIxYjQtNDdmZGUwMWM5ZmMzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNjUwNzk3NDc@._V1_-768x432.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px" />
There are youngsters known as &#8220;Espers&#8221; in Akira who have psychic skills. These skills were a result of being a test subject for covert government trials.
Of course, the goal is to enhance these skills for personal advantage by the government, same as how Eleven&#8217;s capabilities were utilized to spy on Russians during the Cold War. The Espers <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/netflix-originals-why-getting-a-tattoo-similar-to-stranger-things-eleven-is-nothing-but-a-bad-idea/">also use numbers for names</a>, with Akira being the number 28.
<h3 class="subbuzz__title xs-mb1 bold">Silent Hill the video game</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35545 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/sh1e.jpg" alt="" width="1391" height="997" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/sh1e.jpg 1391w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/sh1e-300x215.jpg 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/sh1e-1024x734.jpg 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/sh1e-768x550.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1391px) 100vw, 1391px" />
Silent Hill, a horror video game, was also an inspiration for the Duffer brothers. In the game, players attempt to solve a mystery in a town overrun by shadows and terrifying animals.
<h3 class="subbuzz__title xs-mb1 bold">Evil Dead</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35548 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Evil-Dead-2.jpg" alt="" width="1600" height="900" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Evil-Dead-2.jpg 1600w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Evil-Dead-2-300x169.jpg 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Evil-Dead-2-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Evil-Dead-2-768x432.jpg 768w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Evil-Dead-2-1536x864.jpg 1536w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px" />
Sam Raimi&#8217;s legendary Evil Dead films had a huge influence on the Duffer brothers and, therefore, Stranger Things.
Similarities and homages to the series are present throughout the series. Parallels like Jonathan&#8217;s bedroom poster to a cottage in the woods with secrets beneath its floorboards, otherworldly beasts, and more.
<h3>Films by John Carpenter</h3>
<img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35549 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Best-John-Carpenter-Movies-The-Master-of-the-Macabre-StudioBinder-1.jpeg" alt="" width="1200" height="675" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Best-John-Carpenter-Movies-The-Master-of-the-Macabre-StudioBinder-1.jpeg 1200w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Best-John-Carpenter-Movies-The-Master-of-the-Macabre-StudioBinder-1-300x169.jpeg 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Best-John-Carpenter-Movies-The-Master-of-the-Macabre-StudioBinder-1-1024x576.jpeg 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Best-John-Carpenter-Movies-The-Master-of-the-Macabre-StudioBinder-1-768x432.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" />
Back in Season 2, Max disguises himself as <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/is-halloween-2007-available-on-netflix/">Halloween</a> monster Michael Myers and terrorizes Dustin, Mike, Will, and Lucas! In Season 4, when Max is kidnapped by Vecna, we discover a gravestone with &#8220;Myers&#8221; carved on it in Vecna&#8217;s frightening lair.
<h3 class="subbuzz__title xs-mb1 bold">Xenomorph from Alien </h3>
<a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/alien-1979-xenomorph.webp"><img loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-35550 lazyload" src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAAAACH5BAEKAAEALAAAAAABAAEAAAICTAEAOw==" data-src="https://netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/alien-1979-xenomorph.webp" alt="" width="1200" height="600" data-sizes="auto" data-srcset="https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/alien-1979-xenomorph.webp 1200w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/alien-1979-xenomorph-300x150.webp 300w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/alien-1979-xenomorph-1024x512.webp 1024w, https://www.staging.netflixjunkie.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/alien-1979-xenomorph-768x384.webp 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px" /></a>
According to Ross Duffer, this sci-fi horror classic was instrumental in the development of <a href="https://netflixjunkie.com/tag/stranger-things/">Stranger Things</a> later on. Its xenomorph monster also influenced the design of the show&#8217;s famous Demogorgon.
Which inspiration surprised you the most? Let us know in the comments. Also do let us know if there are other inspirations that we have missed.
<a href="https://www.netflix.com/search?q=stranger&amp;jbv=80057281" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Stream</a> Stranger Things only on Netflix.

Five Analogous Details That Connect ‘Stranger Things’ 4 to a Cult Classic 1984
Horror Film

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11 Baffling Inspirations That Lead to the Creation of Netflix’s Most Successful Show, 'Stranger Things' - Netflix Junkie

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11 Baffling Inspirations That Lead to the Creation of Netflix’s Most Successful Show, &#039;Stranger Things&#039; - Netflix Junkie

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11 Baffling Inspirations That Lead to the Creation of Netflix’s Most Successful Show, ‘Stranger Things’

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