After nearly a decade of Demogorgons, Dungeons and Dragons, and upside-down adventures, Netflix’s hit series Stranger Things has officially come to an end. The show’s fifth and final season premiered on New Year’s Eve 2025 on Netflix and in select theaters.

Created by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things premiered in 2026 and quickly became a phenomenon, launching the careers of its young cast. The series of fiction, horror, and coming-of-age storytelling follows a group of friends as they go up against supernatural forces from an alternate dimension. The Stranger Things atmosphere revived ‘80s nostalgia in music, fashion, and film.

According to the NPR news story “ ‘Stranger Things’ brings Prince and Fleetwood Mac back to the charts” by Stephen Thompson, “Prince is back on the pop charts. So are Kate Bush and Fleetwood Mac. That can only mean one thing: Netflix’s Stranger Things finale, which dropped Dec. 31, is shaking up the Billboard Hot 100.”

Beyond its storyline, Stranger Things has had a large cultural impact. It’s sparked a new interest in 1980s fashion, music, and pop culture, with classic songs like Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill,” Purple Rain” by Prince, and “ Upside Down” by Diana Ross returning to the charts decades after their release.

While the show itself has come to an end, the impact it left on society and pop culture will live on.