As the clock ticks down to its highly anticipated series finale on New Year's Eve, Stranger Things has solidified its status as a defining pop culture force of the streaming era. The release of three new episodes for Season 5, Volume 2, marks the beginning of the end for the sci-fi saga that debuted on Netflix in July 2016 and instantly captivated audiences with its tale of supernatural threats and tight-knit friendships in 1980s Hawkins, Indiana.
A Pop Culture Juggernaut's Final Bow
In the days leading up to the release of Volume 2, Netflix announced a monumental milestone: the entire Stranger Things series has surpassed 1.2 billion total views, making it the most-viewed show in the streamer's history. The first four episodes of Season 5 alone amassed 102.6 million views in their initial 25 days. The cultural impact extends far beyond the screen, having created over 8,000 jobs in the United States and contributing more than $1.4 billion to the nation's GDP.
The finale episode, titled The Rightside Up, will debut not only on Netflix but also in movie theatres across Canada on December 31st, offering fans a communal send-off. Series creators Matt and Ross Duffer have maintained that they always knew the destination for their story. "We had a sense of where it was going to go very early on," Ross Duffer told Postmedia in a 2022 interview. "We've always known what that endgame is."
Five Pillars of a Cultural Revolution
The show's influence is vast, but several key areas highlight how it fundamentally altered the entertainment landscape.
1. Fandom and Rewatch Obsession
Stranger Things cultivated one of the most dedicated fanbases of the modern television era. The premiere week for Season 5, Volume 1 was Netflix's biggest ever for an English-language show, racking up 59.6 million views and hitting the number one spot in 90 different countries. This fervour drove massive rewatches of earlier seasons, with the most-replayed scene being Nancy's possession by Vecna in Season 4. The show also spawned a global immersive experience, a Tony Award-winning stage play, and a series of spinoff novels.
2. The Soundtrack Revival Machine
The Duffer Brothers' curated 1980s soundtrack didn't just set a mood—it resurrected classic hits for new generations. After featuring in the show, Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" charted on the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time in 38 years. Metallica's "Master of Puppets" saw 17.5 million downloads in a single week following its Season 4 feature. Streaming data reveals staggering increases: Diana Ross's "Upside Down" saw a 1,250% surge in Gen Z streams, while Tiffany's "I Think We're Alone Now" jumped 880% within the same demographic.
3. A Love Letter to Genre Classics
The series served as a direct homage to the creators and films that inspired the Duffer Brothers, notably horror maestro Stephen King and director Steven Spielberg. King himself praised the show, tweeting that watching it was like seeing "Steve King's Greatest Hits." Spielberg commended its brilliance in weaving together cinematic influences. The brothers have cited inspirations ranging from A Nightmare on Elm Street for Season 4 to Children of Men and The Lost Boys for the final season. The integration of Dungeons & Dragons also led to a 673% growth in interest for the role-playing game.
4. Launching a Generation of Stars
The show acted as a powerful launchpad for its young cast. Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven) became a global star and leading lady in Netflix films like Damsel and the Enola Holmes series. Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler) transitioned to major film franchises including It and Ghostbusters. Veterans like Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers) earned award nominations, and David Harbour (Jim Hopper) found worldwide fame. "That little show... turned into this zeitgeist," Harbour reflected in 2019.
5. The Great Pineapple Pizza Debate
In a lighter but unexpectedly impactful moment, Stranger Things ignited the perennial debate over pineapple on pizza. In Season 4, character Argyle's insistence that Mike and Eleven "try before you deny" led to a viral moment. Eleven's verdict—"It's good. Really good"—was celebrated by Hawaiian pizza lovers and prompted countless fans on forums like Reddit to try the controversial topping for themselves. Actor Eduardo Franco, who played Argyle, told Postmedia he was surprised by the controversy, stating, "I genuinely didn't know that was a thing."
The Final Chapter
As Stranger Things prepares to close its gate to the Upside Down for good, its legacy is undeniable. It redefined streaming success, revived decades-old music, celebrated genre storytelling, launched careers, and even influenced pizza preferences. Volumes 1 and 2 of Season 5 are now streaming on Netflix, with the series finale premiering December 31st at 8 p.m., marking the end of a decade-long phenomenon that truly changed the face of pop culture.
