Stranger Things Season 1: How Netflix’s Hit Series Changed Television History

The Launch That Changed Streaming Forever

When Stranger Things premiered worldwide on Netflix on July 15, 2016, few could have predicted the cultural phenomenon it would become. The original concept was rejected by more than 15 studios before landing on Netflix, yet it went on to become a flagship series for Netflix, drawing record viewership with each season’s release.

As the fifth and final season currently unfolds in December 2025, fans worldwide are reflecting on the origins of this groundbreaking series and the first season that started it all.

A Nostalgic Journey to 1983 Hawkins

Stranger Things kicks off on Nov. 6, 1983, when Will Byers vanishes and Eleven escapes from Hawkins National Laboratory. Set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, the story follows a group of friends, a worried mother, a police chief and tense siblings after a creature from another dimension kidnaps Will Byers.

The first season received critical acclaim, in particular for its originality, homages to the 1980s, characterization, tone, visuals, and performances. Review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes gave the first season an approval rating of 97% based on 92 reviews, with the site’s critical consensus stating it acts as “an addictive homage to Spielberg films and vintage 1980s television”.

The Cultural Impact and Lasting Legacy

Stranger Things has brought about a renaissance of the 1980s, reviving fashion trends, music and even discontinued food brands for a new generation. The show’s influence extends far beyond entertainment, expanding into a media franchise, including an animated spin-off and a West End prequel stage play, as well as inspiring books, comics, tie-in media, and a Dungeons and Dragons board game.

The premiere season introduced audiences to the mysterious Upside Down, revealed to be a parallel version of Hawkins, inundated with shadows, living vines, terrifying monsters such as the Demogorgons, and ashlike particles. This alternate dimension would become central to the entire series mythology.

Why Season 1 Still Matters Today

As Stranger Things concludes its final season, the importance of Season 1 cannot be overstated. It established the foundation for a series that has received critical acclaim with praise for its characterization, atmosphere, acting, directing, writing, and nostalgic homage to 1980s cinema, with many publications considering it among the greatest television shows ever made.

For fans both old and new, Season 1 remains the perfect entry point into the world of Hawkins—a testament to visionary storytelling that transformed Netflix into a legitimate competitor in original programming and proved that nostalgic, character-driven genre television could capture the imagination of millions worldwide.