Movies Every STRANGER THINGS Fan Needs to See

For some time now, the phenomenon of nostalgia for the 1980s and 1990s has been vividly fueling the imagination of both creators and viewers. The motif of kids caught up in a mystery, pop culture references, coming-of-age themes, the electronic sound of synthesizers – it cannot be denied that this aesthetic is truly magical. The people who grew up during that unique period are now adults and gladly pay tribute to various elements of their childhood. Drawing from the abundance of narrative tropes from the works of the 1980s meets with enormous enthusiasm among audiences, as evidenced by the success of Stranger Things or It.

The quintessence of this nostalgic fascination is precisely the first of these titles – greedily drawing on the legacy of Steven Spielberg and Stephen King, it is above all a love letter to a bygone era. I have prepared a selection of productions that share this distinctive aesthetic. It includes films that we (well, at least you) watched in the 1980s, as well as those that simply embody that specific atmosphere. As always, I invite you to share your own ideas and impressions in the comments under the article and on Facebook.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

This list could not begin with anything else. Steven Spielberg flawlessly brings the world of childhood to the screen, perfectly understanding its specificity. In his young protagonists, each of us can find something of ourselves – no matter whether we are still children or already have kids of our own. The award-winning director knows very well how a child’s mind works and what it wants to see on screen.

I am convinced that more than one of you, when asked about the most important films of your childhood, would name at least one Spielberg title (in my case, number one is Jurassic Park). E.T. is undoubtedly one of such works – this emotional and moving story of a friendship between a little boy and a kind-hearted alien would melt the heart of even the greatest cynic. The creators of Stranger Things clearly have enormous affection for this film, and in referencing it, they sometimes dangerously balance on the edge of plagiarism.

A group of kids on bikes, hiding a mysterious creature, fighting against government agents – these are just some of the iconic elements of E.T. that appear in later related works.

Explorers

Explorers had no luck either during production or after its release. Due to studio interference, the director (Joe Dante, known for Gremlins) was not allowed to make the film according to his vision, and the footage was cut down. Comparisons to E.T. did not help either – the film was considered a knockoff of Spielberg’s work and ignored by cinema audiences.

Despite its financial failure, it gained a second life on VHS and is now viewed with some affection and mentioned as one of those kids’ movies from the 1980s. As the title suggests, the story follows young explorers of space, fascinated by sci-fi pop culture and convinced of their own uniqueness. It also features the classic theme of shy school love and a fight against government forces. Their interplanetary journeys allow the boys to better understand themselves and lead to incredible adventures. Fun fact: the film marks the acting debut of Ethan Hawke.

Stand by Me

The story of four growing boys lacks the fantastical elements some associate with Stephen King’s work, yet it does not lack an air of uniqueness. The central plot point – the search for a dead classmate’s body – may seem rather grim, but in this case, the journey itself matters more than its goal. At first, the boys are motivated by a desire to prove their bravery and impress others, but their attitude changes over time.

Shared experiences, conflict with a gang of bullies, and a struggle with their own fears and weaknesses – each of them returns from the journey more mature and self-aware. The entire story can be seen as a symbolic farewell to childhood innocence, something that inevitably awaits each of us. The passage into adulthood has a bittersweet taste here and provokes many reflections.

The Goonies

A collaborative effort of creators with an enormous influence on pop culture – Steven Spielberg, Richard Donner, and Chris Columbus – The Goonies is rightly regarded as a flagship example of the youthful adventure film trend. The adventures of its young heroes are a cinematic realization of typical childhood fantasies born during shared backyard play. The true strength of the film, however, lies in its more down-to-earth aspects.

The search for pirate treasure and the battle against villains undeniably fire the imagination, but it is the young characters themselves that make The Goonies so special. Each child reflects some part of us or represents someone we knew in our own early years. Each also plays an important role in the adventure and proves that everyone has something unique and potentially valuable within them.

It

A similar description fits the gang from It, another King adaptation on this list. Despite their many differences (or perhaps because of them), the kids form a strong and united group that bravely faces an unspeakable danger. They show that in extreme situations, what matters is not physical dominance but cleverness, courage, mutual support, and loyalty to one another.

The film’s aesthetic strongly evokes Stranger Things, and it also includes elements one would expect from such a title – a gang of bullies, school crushes, the ever-present bikes, and characteristic pop culture nods. However, there is no question of exploiting nostalgia here – this is an adaptation of a novel deeply rooted in American 1980s culture, so maintaining the film in the spirit of the era is entirely justified.

Super 8

One of J.J. Abrams’s less popular works, Super 8 is a remarkably sincere and unpretentious tribute to the classic representatives of the genre. The story of a group of young amateur filmmakers uncovering a paranormal mystery cleverly plays with familiar and beloved narrative tropes while adding several interesting ideas of its own. It is also hard to shake the impression that Abrams was, in a way, making a film about himself – an unyielding boy fascinated by cinema and great mysteries.

There is no forced sentimentality here; the story’s natural, unpretentious tone perfectly captures the magic of this distinctive style. Super 8 is also a visual gem, and spotting its numerous references to other works is great fun. I think this film came out a little too early – today, its release would surely cause quite a stir.

Flight of the Navigator

This is not as well-known a production as the others on this list, but it certainly deserves attention. It is a surprisingly serious and intelligent film, whose story resembles the dreamlike fantasies of a young boy. The protagonist mysteriously travels eight years into the future while remaining the same age.

This bizarre event coincides with the appearance of a spaceship with which the boy shares an inexplicable bond. These circumstances make him a kind of chosen one and lead to a series of incredible adventures. The film cleverly and engagingly explores a child’s longing for adventure and a sense of detachment from familiar reality – it is definitely worth giving it a chance.

Mud

Mud certainly differs significantly from the other productions described here, but do not be misled – it is still a story about kids caught up in an unusual situation that allows them to better understand themselves and grow. Unlike the rest, there are no fantastic or purely adventurous elements to be found here.

Instead, we are presented with a truly exceptional story firmly grounded in reality. This time, the catalyst for inner change is not a group of friends but a mentor figure. Brilliantly portrayed by Matthew McConaughey, Mud is a mysterious and deeply charismatic man – it is easy to understand why the young boys are so fascinated by him. The relationship among the three of them forms the essence of the film, which convincingly portrays the process of coming of age.

It Follows

This atmospheric horror film could easily be described as a love child of Spielberg, King, and John Carpenter. We have here a group of kids (with almost nonexistent parents), a mysterious and deadly curse, and a magnetic electronic soundtrack. The attempts to uncover the truth about a bizarre sexually transmitted curse (and survive attacks from a slowly approaching entity taking the form of random people) form the core of a story that goes well beyond its surface premise.

Viewed from a certain perspective, the protagonists’ experiences can be seen as a commentary on the consequences of parents abandoning their children to themselves. The curse itself inevitably evokes associations with STDs and HIV – after watching the film, it is worth reflecting on it and reading a few interpretations. It Follows is worth seeing at least for its stunning shots of the American suburbs and its remarkable soundtrack, which will make you long to turn back time.