Line #80 Franchise/StrangerThings


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10	''Stranger Things'' is a SciFiHorror-drama franchise inspired by [[TheEighties '80s classics]] and centered around the mysterious fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana. It spun out of the Creator/{{Netflix}} series ''Series/StrangerThings'', created in 2016.
11
12	Beneath the quiet rural small town veneer of Hawkins, strange supernatural events start unfolding as the result of an illicit science experiments by the government at the Hawkins National Laboratory.
13
14	These experiments have torn open a gate to an AlternateDimension called the Upside Down whose monstrous inhabitants have their own designs on our world.
15	----
16	!!Works include:
17
18	[[index]]
19	[[AC:Series]]
20	* ''Series/StrangerThings'' (2016-): After the disappearance of their friend, a group of of boys are drawn into a [[TheConspiracy conspiracy]] involving experiments into PsychicPowers and a dark alien AlternateDimension, the Upside Down.
21	* ''Beyond Stranger Things'' (2017)[[/index]]: A CompanionShow hosted by Creator/JimRash which discussed the various developments of the second season with the Duffer Brothers, Shawn Levy & various members of the cast.
22	* [[https://twitter.com/netflix/status/1544731912639356928?s=21&t=5UKvdsDoTSK7sORusuVJXw An untitled spin-off series based on an original idea by the Duffer Brothers]].
23	* [[https://deadline.com/2023/04/stranger-things-animated-series-netflix-1235321214/ An animated series]] in the style of Saturday morning cartoons animated by [[Creator/YoramGross Flying Bark Studios]] and showrun by Eric Robles (''WesternAnimation/GlitchTechs'')
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25	[[AC:ComicBooks]]
26	* [[/index]]Creator/DarkHorse ComicBook series[[index]]
27	** ''ComicBook/StrangerThings'' a.k.a. ''Stranger Things: The Other Side'' (2018-2019): A four-issue series following Will Byers after he is taken to the Upside Down by the Demogorgon.
28	** "The Game Master" (2019): A UsefulNotes/FreeComicBookDay one-shot set in the days after the final episode of Season 1.
29	** ''ComicBook/StrangerThingsSix'' (2019): A {{Prequel}} series focused on a girl named Francine, also known as Six, who predated Eleven at Hawkins Laboratory.
30	** ''ComicBook/StrangerThingsIntoTheFire'' (2020): A four-issue series about two of Dr. Brenner’s former subjects searching for powerful [[PlayingWithFire pyrokinetic]] called Nine.
31	** ''ComicBook/StrangerThingsZombieBoys'' (2020): While dealing with the trauma from what happened during season one, the boys meet a new student, Joey Kim who convinces them to make a zombie movie based on Will's drawings.
32	** "Erica's Quest" (2020): A FCBD oneshot set after season 3, the Scoops Troop discover that Erica smuggled out a dangerous object from the Russian facility.
33	** ''ComicBook/StrangerThingsTheBully'' (2020): Set during season 2, {{The Bull\|y}}ies Troy and James investigate Eleven’s PsychicPowers after she broke Troy's arm in season 1.
34	** ''ComicBook/StrangerThingsScienceCamp'' (2020): A four-issue series about Dustin attending Camp Know Where summer camp before the events of the third season.
35	** ''ComicBook/StrangerThingsHalloweenSpecial'' (2020): One-shot with the boys gathering on Halloween night days before the series’s events to scare each other with spooky stories.
36	** ''ComicBook/StrangerThingsAndDungeonsAndDragons'' (2020-2021): Co-published with Creator/IDWPublishing, this miniseries focuses on Dungeons and Dragons and how it factors into the lives of the main characters, before and during the series events.
37	** ''ComicBook/StrangerThingsTheTombOfYbwen'' (2021-2022): Set after the second season, Will gathers the gang to investigate a mysterious map that Bob left in a box of old nerdy memorabilia.
38	** ''ComicBook/StrangerThingsKamchatka'' (2022): A Russian scientist is kidnapped by Soviet troops, leaving nothing for his two teenage children but a mysterious case and a whole lot of questions.
39	** ''ComicBook/StrangerThingsTalesFromHawkins'' (2023): An anthology focusing on different characters;
40	** ''ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesXStrangerThings'' (2023): A {{Crossover}} with [[ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesMirage the original Mirage incarnations]] of the ''Franchise/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles''. In New York, the Party meet the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
41
42	[[AC:Literature]]
43	* ''Literature/StrangerThingsSuspiciousMinds'' (2019): A {{Prequel}} novel about Eleven's mother, Terry Ives, and her time as an [=MKUltra=] test subject.
44	* ''Literature/StrangerThingsDarknessOnTheEdgeOfTown'' (2019): Another novel delving into Jim Hopper's backstory. It mostly deals with a case he works on in the summer of 1977 in UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity, while his daughter Sarah was alive and marriage to Diane was happy.
45	* ''Literature/StrangerThingsRunawayMax'' (2019): A novel about Max's life in San Diego before she moved to Hawkins in 1984 and retelling of events from the second season from her perspective.
46	* ''Literature/StrangerThingsRebelRobin'' (2021): A {{Prequel}} novel spotlighting Robin and her backstory. Also had a companion podcast, ''Rebel Robin: Surviving Hawkins''.
47	* ''Literature/StrangerThingsHawkinsHorrors'' (2022): An anthology of short scary stories told by the party during a blackout.
48	* ''Literature/StrangerThingsLucasOnTheLine'' (2022): A novel focusing on Lucas after the events of season 3.
49	* ''Literature/StrangerThingsFlightOfIcarus'' (2023): An upcoming novel about Eddie Munson.
50
51	[[AC:Pinball]]
52	* ''Pinball/StrangerThings'' (December 2019): A [[PhysicalPinballTables pinball machine]] by Creator/{{Stern}}.
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54	[[AC:Theatre]]
55	* A theatrical adaptation in the form of a haunted house at the Ride/UniversalStudios theme parks' Theatre/HalloweenHorrorNights event in 2018, 2019 and 2023.
56	* A Creator/SecretCinema [[https://www.secretcinema.org/previous-worlds/stranger-things event in London in 2019-2020]].
57	* A drive through show in UsefulNotes/LosAngeles called Stranger Things: The Drive-Into Experience from 2020-2021.
58	* ''[[Theatre/StrangerThingsTheFirstShadow Stranger Things: The First Shadow]]'': A stage play prequel following young versions of Hopper, Joyce, Bob, and Victor Creel in 1959 Hawkins. Kate Trefry writes the script based on a story by herself, the Duffers, and Jack Thorne (''Film/EnolaHolmes''). Stephen Daldry (''Film/BillyElliot'') directs. Started at the Phoenix Theatre of London’s West End in late 2023 and is currently booking until August 2024.
59	* ''Stranger Things: The Experience'' (2022-2023), another immersive experience that involved pre-recorded appearances from the leads and live actors in other roles. This visited Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Atlanta, Paris, Toronto, Seattle and London.
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61	[[AC:TabletopGames]]
62	* [[/index]]A special edition of the ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'' Starter Set released by Creator/{{Hasbro}} Gaming and Creator/WizardsOfTheCoast as advertisement for the third season, with official figurines and Fifth Edition stats for the Demogorgon and Demodogs, stats for the children's D&D campaign characters (like "Will the Wise"), and an adventure "written" by Mike Wheeler.[[index]]
63	* ''Stranger Things Adventures Together'' (2021): A cooperative card game.
64	* ''Stranger Things: Attack of the Mind Flayer'' (2022): A themed version of ''TabletopGame/{{GROWL}}''.
65
66	[[AC:VideoGames]]
67	* ''VideoGame/StrangerThingsTheGame'' (2017): A {{Retraux}} top-down AdventureGame that serves as a bridge between the first and second seasons by [=BonusXP=], Inc.
68	* ''VideoGame/StrangerThingsTheVRExperience'' (2017): A short VR game.
69	* [[/index]]Creator/TelltaleGames was working on a game but in September 2018, it was cancelled along with the rest of Telltale's projects as the studio shut down. Night School Studios was working on a companion mobile game with the working title of ''Kids Next Door'' that was left in "limbo" after the cancellation.[[index]]
70	* ''VideoGame/StrangerThings3TheGame'' (2019): A co-op BeatEmUp based on the third season, also released by [=BonusXP=], Inc.
71	* ''VideoGame/StrangerThingsPuzzleTales'' (2021) A free-to-play 80s cartoon-inspired location-based puzzle role-playing mobile game developed by Next Games.
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73	[[AC:VideoGames with ''Stranger Things'' {{DLC}}]]
74	* ''VideoGame/FaceYourFears'': DLC set in Hawkins was released for Halloween, 2017.
75	* ''VideoGame/{{Fortnite}} Battle Royale'': To tie in with the premiere of the third season, Scoops Ahoy! Ice Cream Parlors and Upside Down portals were added to the map and skins of Chief Hopper and the Demogorgon were made available.
76	* ''VideoGame/DeadByDaylight'': A ''Stranger Things'' DLC was released in September 2019, adding The Demogorgon, Steve Harrington and Nancy Wheeler as playable characters.
77	* ''VideoGame/RocketLeague'': Themed vehicles and cosmetics were added for the 2019 Halloween event.
78	* ''VideoGame/TheSevenDeadlySinsGrandCross'' (JP:2019, EN:2020): A crossover event began May 11th, 2021.
79	* ''VideoGame/{{Smite}}'': A crossover event was announced in June 2021 to be released in July, featuring skins of Eleven, Hopper, the Demogorgon and the Mind Flayer, as well as a new Upside-Down-based game mode.
80	* ''VideoGame/FarCry6'': "The Vanishing" free DLC has the PC drawn into Russian experiments into the Upside Down.
81	[[/index]]
82
83	!!Tropes include:
84
85	* BaitAndSwitch: In “Science Camp”, when we see the various camp counselors, a girl named Stephanie has the hallmarks of being a classic FinalGirl: virginal, bookish and more committed to her job. [[spoiler: She’s actually the first victim.]]
86	* BigBad: The [[Characters/StrangerThingsTheMindFlayer Mind Flayer]] serves as this for the franchise as a whole, being the ruler of the Upside Down, the mastermind behind the events of the series, and even the main antagonist of [[VideoGame/FarCry6 some]] [[ComicBook/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtlesXStrangerThings crossovers]].
87	* BigStormEpisode: A blizzard strikes Hawkins during "The Tomb Of Ybwen".
88	* DarkWorld: The Upside-Down is a reflection of our world which is always cold and dark, and which is filled with toxic fog and predatory creatures.
89	* ADayInTheLimelight: The main purpose of the comics and books:
90	** “Suspicious Minds” is one for Terry Ives and Dr. Brenner, “Darkness On The Edge Of Town” is one for Hopper, and “Runaway Max” is one for Max herself, alongside Billy, her mother Susan and her stepfather/Billy’s father Neil. “Rebel Robin” is one for Robin Buckley and "Lucas On The Line" is one for Lucas.
91	** “The Game Master” is from Will’s POV during Season 1, “Six” and its sequel “Into The Fire” are from the perspectives of other kids in Dr. Brenner’s experiments, “Zombie Boys” is from Lucas’s POV, “The Bully” spotlights on Troy and James from the first season, and “Science Camp” is about Dustin and Suzie in Camp Know-Where.
92	* FormulaBreakingEpisode: "Kamchatka" takes place in Russia and introduces a brand new set of characters.
93	* GenreThrowback: The franchise is a love letter to TheEighties output of Creator/StevenSpielberg[=/=]Creator/AmblinEntertainment (particularly ''Film/ETTheExtraTerrestrial''), Creator/JohnCarpenter, Creator/DavidCronenberg, and Creator/StephenKing (particularly ''Literature/{{It}}''). In fact, the Duffer brothers [[http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/fien-print/duffer-brothers-talk-stranger-things-916180 originally intended]] to do a remake of ''It'', but were turned down by Creator/WarnerBros, the rights holders.
94	* {{Interquel}}: Most of the comics take place between seasons, save for “The Game Master”, “Six”, “The Bully”, and the 2020 Halloween special.
95	* OutOfGenreExperience:
96	** In a predominantly Sci-Fi Horror series, “Science Camp”’s main foe is a Friday The 13th style slasher. It gets LampShaded by Dustin.
97	** The novel ''Rebel Robin'' is a fairly mundane ComingOutStory with no supernatural elements.
98	** ''Lucas On The Line'' is a ComingOfAgeStory where Lucas works to discover himself as a black teenager and interests outside of [=DnD=].
99	* {{Prequel}}: Many of the tie in comics and books are this, focusing on certain characters or events either before the series or between seasons:
100	** Books: “Suspicious Minds” and “Darkness On The Edge Of Town” are both straight prequels, with the former focused on the origins of Eleven’s mother and Dr. Brenner, and the latter is a story about Hopper’s time as a NYPD detective in The 70’s. “Runaway Max” is partly this, as some chapters show her time in San Diego and shows her relationship with Billy, what happened to her dad and the events that led to the family moving to Hawkins. “Rebel Robin” is one to Season 3 from Robin’s point of view. "Lucas On The Line" shows how Lucas got to where he is when Season 4 begins.
101	** Comics: “Six” focuses on a fellow powered girl who lived at the lab alongside Eleven, and the Halloween special takes place days before the start of Season 1.
102	* {{Retcon}}: The villain of the show's season 4, [[spoiler:Vecna, is speculated by Dustin to be the Mind Flayer's general but is stated by Will to be the one controlling the Mind Flayer--Henry Creel having sculpted it into its spider-like form, with his all-consuming hatred and malice driving it. The ''Stranger Things: The First Shadow'' stage play retcons this and reveals that Dustin was right all along--the Mind Flayer having infected Henry Creel with its essence as a child, slowly corrupting him into the nihilistic sociopath he was when he first met Eleven]].

Context Franchise / StrangerThings