The Duffer Brothers created Stranger Things as a homage to 1980s films.
1. Ghostbusters 1984
1. Ghostbusters 1984
Stranger Things salutes Ghostbusters with their use of the supernatural. The GB's wear big 'boiler suit' style outfits to fight the ghosts, similar to the men in hazmat suits in the first episode and official poster of Stranger Things. The outfits create a sense of purpose and intent to fight the forces that have put up a fight against the world in Stranger Things and Ghost Busters. Ghost busters also include 4 men working together to fight the ghosts similarly to Stranger Things, which starts off with 4 boys, before Will gets taken. GB uses intense music to create atmosphere and a sense of adventure. Music is also used heavily in ST to build tension and position the audience to expect something scary to happen, thus putting them on edge. The film includes 4 ghostbusters who appear to be the only ones capable of fighting the ghosts, as they are seen walking towards the camera in a line. ST also appears to have 4 boys who are working together to fight the demogorgon in their games of D&D.
2. The Goonies 1985
Old-fashioned yarn about a band of adventurous kids who take on the might of a property developing company which plans to destroy their home to build a country club. When the children discover an old pirate map in the attic, they follow it into an underground cavern in search of lost treasure but come up against plenty of dangerous obstacles along the way. This is very similar to that of ST. The Goonies follows children who are in the fight to help, just like ST, which includes children of a similar age, trying to get involved in a situation that would deem only acceptable to be tackled by adults. The Goonies is also adventure/romance genre which are themes both portrayed in ST, and we get to see the journey of how the children help out and take charge.
3. Sixteen Candles 1984
Sixteen candles' romantic story line is similar to that for characters Nancy and Steve. The outfits worn by both Nancy Wheeler and Samantha Baker are very similar, along with their hairstyle and innocent nature compared to their love interest. Both the young teen girls are pining for older boys that appear to have laddish tendencies as they explore through chastity and romance. SC includes Jake Ryan who is a 23 year old athlete which is a larger difference than Nancy and Steve, who only differ in one year, yet the relationship that they share still appears to have a contrast, since the male in both SC and ST are 'experienced' compared to the 16-year-old girls who are not.
2. The Goonies 1985
Old-fashioned yarn about a band of adventurous kids who take on the might of a property developing company which plans to destroy their home to build a country club. When the children discover an old pirate map in the attic, they follow it into an underground cavern in search of lost treasure but come up against plenty of dangerous obstacles along the way. This is very similar to that of ST. The Goonies follows children who are in the fight to help, just like ST, which includes children of a similar age, trying to get involved in a situation that would deem only acceptable to be tackled by adults. The Goonies is also adventure/romance genre which are themes both portrayed in ST, and we get to see the journey of how the children help out and take charge.
3. Sixteen Candles 1984
Sixteen candles' romantic story line is similar to that for characters Nancy and Steve. The outfits worn by both Nancy Wheeler and Samantha Baker are very similar, along with their hairstyle and innocent nature compared to their love interest. Both the young teen girls are pining for older boys that appear to have laddish tendencies as they explore through chastity and romance. SC includes Jake Ryan who is a 23 year old athlete which is a larger difference than Nancy and Steve, who only differ in one year, yet the relationship that they share still appears to have a contrast, since the male in both SC and ST are 'experienced' compared to the 16-year-old girls who are not.
