What movies is Stranger Things Season 4 Based on?
Introduction
Stranger Things is a cult favorite, so it’s no surprise that the show’s creators drew inspiration from many different films.
You could say that the Duffer brothers are like modern-day Spielberg—they love paying homage to classic movies and putting their spin on them. Here are some of the films from which Stranger Things season 4 is based.
The Thing (1982)
The Thing is a 1982 American science fiction horror film directed by John Carpenter, written by Bill Lancaster, and starring Kurt Russell.
The film’s title refers to its primary antagonist: a parasitic extraterrestrial lifeform that assimilates other organisms and imitates them.
It was produced by Stuart Cohen, John Carpenter, and Debra Hill, with executive producers Ronald Shusett, David Foster, and Larry J. Franco.
The story follows a group of researchers and their leader at a remote Antarctic research station who discover an alien buried in the snow for thousands of years; accidentally releasing it leads to paranoia over whether it has infected any humans with its blood.
Back to the Future (1985)
The new season of Stranger Things features two characters who are a lot like the ones in Back to the Future, especially Doc Brown.
In both movies, a scientist builds a time machine using his DeLorean car and creates a dog named Einstein.
The character of Doctor Emmett Lathrop’s “Doc” Brown (Christopher Lloyd) is known for his eccentric personality and many inventions, including a real-life hoverboard that Lexus created during the filming of Back to the Future II.
The show also has some other similarities with Back to the Future: Marty McFly (Michael J Fox) travels through time with his friends and family members by playing video games in an arcade machine; he even wears headphones like those used in arcades at that time.
The character Dustin Henderson doesn’t fit into any particular category because he’s too unique.
Still, there are some parallels between him and Marty McFly—they’re both intelligent kids who dream about getting into college someday, plus they share similar haircuts.
Jaws (1975)
Not only does Stranger Things’ fourth season have a lot in common with Jaws, but the show’s creators have stated that it’s one of their primary inspirations for the season.
The most obvious similarity is that both stories are in a beach town and involve some sort of monster.
In Stranger Things, however, there are no great white sharks or other sea creatures; instead, it’s a monster that hides beneath the surface.
But where Jaws is about people doing everything they can to stop this creature from hurting anyone else again, Stranger Things focuses more on the survivors and how they’ve been affected by what happened to them during those events.
There are also a few other parallels between these two stories: both feature an older man who hunts down dangerous animals (Driscoll vs. Hopper), and both center around female protagonists who try to understand what happened (Brody vs. Joyce).
Alien (1979)
Alien is another one of those films that fans of Stranger Things are likely to have seen, but it’s not quite as obvious a reference.
While the movie is about a spaceship crew who a vicious alien attacks, this creature is killed off in the first act after some serious carnage.
It also happens to be very similar to Eleven—a young girl who becomes incredibly strong and skilled when she’s able to harness her powers.
But there are other parallels between Alien and Stranger Things: both feature giant scary-looking creatures with sharp teeth.
And while they don’t move quite as fast as Eleven in season 3, they’re still pretty damn fast (especially when you’re trying not to get eaten).
Both these creatures have intelligence far beyond what would seem possible for such large animals; they use tools like weapons or knives effectively against their prey during their hunts.
Ghostbusters (1984)
The movie is about a team of scientists who battle supernatural forces.
It’s one of the most famous comedies ever made, and it also has an awesome theme song by Ray Parker, Jr.
The film is an excellent example of 80s filmmaking, with its flashy special effects and over-the-top campiness.
Stand by Me (1986)
Stand By Me is a 1986 film based on Stephen King’s short story, The Body. It follows four young boys as they go on an adventure to find the body of a missing boy.
Along the way, they encounter several obstacles that seem impossible initially but are overcome in the end.
Stand By Me stars Wil Wheaton (Star Trek: The Next Generation) and River Phoenix (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade).
The movie was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards and won one for Best Drama Motion Picture.
Stranger things season 4 is based on some great movies.
Stranger things season 4 is based on some great movies.
The Thing (1982). A group of scientists in the Antarctic must fight for their lives against an alien that can mimic other organisms.
Ghostbusters (1984). A pair of former parapsychologists, a medical student, and an MTA worker team up to bust ghosts in New York City.
Alien (1979). After a space merchant vessel detects an uncharted planet and its moon, the crew stops investigating only to encounter hostile creatures with acid blood.
Back to the Future (1985). Marty McFly must travel back in time for his friend Doc Brown’s plan to work out as intended
Conclusion
I hope this has been a fascinating look at some movies that inspired Stranger Things season 4.
The show has always loved the 80s, and it’s clear how much the writers enjoy referencing and paying homage to classic films from that decade. We can only imagine what other references we might see as the show progresses.