This article has been updated by Rory O'Connor.
With great characters, supernatural twists and a healthy dose of nostalgia, Stranger Things quickly became a fan-favourite on Netflix after it first premiered in 2016. With the show’s long-awaited final run of episodes now complete, we’ve put together our top picks for shows to keep you in the mood now that the dust in Hawkins has finally settled.
The following series run the gamut from ‘90s classics to more recent fan favourites, but all have in some way reminded us of Netflix’s most beloved show. Here are our recommendations—which I’ve arranged in no particular order—for 11 TV shows like Stranger Things. Read on to discover more and use the guide below to find where to stream them on services like AppleTV, Netflix, Prime Video and elsewhere.
The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
There’s no shortage of twisted familial relationships and supernatural scares in The Haunting of Hill House, a show that dives into the haunted lives of the Crain family and their terrifying home—and if you got hooked on Stranger Things for its horror aspects (and also enjoy macabre movies like Crimson Peak or The Others), you might really vibe with this one.
Based on Shirley Jackson’s classic novel, the story (in a way similar to It) jumps between two timelines—the first when the characters are kids, in Hill House, and another in the present day.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer follows Buffy Summers (Sarah Michelle Gellar), who is—you guessed it—a vampire slayer. Over seven seasons, she fights demons, vampires and other weekly monsters and big bads, all in order to keep the world safe. To do so, she relies on help and support of her two best friends, Willow (Alyson Hannigan) and Xander (Nicholas Brendon), and her teacher Giles (Anthony Head), while also rushing on a hunky vampire, named Angel (David Boreanaz).
Created by Joss Whedon, this supernatural teen drama (which surely influenced the punky vibe of later seasons of Stranger Things) is a classic ‘90s show—and if you loved Whedon’s quippy dialogue in series like Firefly and movies like The Avengers, you’ll absolutely love it. It also has one of the best musical episodes ever made.
The Last of Us (2023-)
Based on the hit video game, The Last of Us follows Joel and Ellie (Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay) as they fight to survive in a post-apocalyptic world rampant with infected, zombie-like creatures.
This one should appeal to Stranger Things fans who have a soft spot for the layered and unconventional father-daughter bond between Hopper and Eleven—a classic sci-fi trope that you can find in everything from Waterworld to The Road.
The X Files (1993-2002)
In The X-Files, FBI Special Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully investigate paranormal cases while trying to keep their simmering chemistry at bay. This is a show that will appeal to fans of Stranger Things’ mix of science fiction and government conspiracy—think shows like Fringe or The Expanse for similar comps, or Vince Gilligan's (who started out on the show) new series Pluribus.
Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny star in what I would best describe as a conspiratorial sci-fi series. In all, the show consists of 11 seasons and a couple of movies—and if that sounds like a lot, there are ways to watch it that cut out the filler and focus on the lore and wider narrative arc.
Dark (2017-2020)
Dark is a hit German Netflix series that’s all about time travel and, like Stranger Things, also takes place in a small town—and if you like the kind of stories where young people from a small community are faced with seemingly overwhelming supernatural forces (think E.T. or Super 8, but a little more on the scary side), you’re going to absolutely love this.
Over three seasons, Dark offers mind-bending prophecies and dark family secrets. It all starts to get a bit loopy after a while—but unlike most time travel stories, the ending is satisfying.
Yellowjackets (2021-)
When a group of girls find themselves stranded after a plane crash, there’s no telling what they will do to survive. That’s the setup of the psychological thriller series Yellowjackets, a show that, like Hill House, jumps back and forth between two timelines: the first taking place in the wilderness and focusing on the girls’ attempts to survive (think Lost meets Society of the Snow); the other in the present day, where dark secrets begin to surface.
With the earlier parts taking place in the 1990s, the show should appeal to anyone who enjoys the retro vibes of Stranger Things—and similar to Winona Ryder’s role as Joyce, Yellowjackets boasts ‘90s greats like Cristina Ricci, Juliette Lewis and Melanie Lynskey in its cast. Ella Purnell and Sophie Thatcher also feature amongst the younger roles.
Locke & Key (2020-2022)
Locke & Key follows three siblings who find magical keys with special powers after their father dies. The drama fantasy series is based on the graphic novels by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez and, similar to Stranger Things, will appeal to YA viewers especially.
The show has elements of horror and suspense but the vibe is primarily about young people on an adventure—imagine something in between The Goonies and The Others and you’ll have some idea what to expect.
Twin Peaks (1990-2017)
In the small town of Twin Peaks, high school student Laura Palmer is killed. The FBI and local police investigate the murder, which quickly proves to be stranger than they could have imagined.
That’s pretty much the basic setup to David Lynch’s iconic TV show, but if you know anything about Lynch you can probably guess just how weird, funny and terrifying this all gets. Twin Peaks is a phenomenal show but just be warned, it is a good bit more on the scary side than Stranger Things—so if you like that aspect of Things and appreciate Lynch’s work on movies like Blue Velvet or Mulholland Drive, it’s definitely a must watch.
Paradise (2021-2022)
Set on Spain’s Mediterranean coast, Paradise (not to be confused with the excellent Sterling K. Brown show) is about three girls who vanish from a small town in the 1990s. As the search for them gets underway, a series of supernatural forces interfere.
Like Stranger Things and Dark, this is a teen mystery series with hints of Spielberg and speculative sci-fi —so if you’re a fan of either you’ll probably be into it.
Outer Range (2022-2024)
Outer Range is a show that mixes the American Western with supernatural mystery—imagine a little bit of Signs mixed with a little bit of No Country for Old Men and you’ll have some idea of the tone. The first couple of episodes are also directed by Alonso Ruizpalacios, so there’s plenty of style here to go with the substance.
The plot follows a rancher (Josh Brolin) who discovers an inexplicable void on his farm. It’s an otherworldly drama and, much like Stranger Things, it will keep you guessing until the very end.
The Twilight Zone (2019)
The Twilight Zone is an anthology series that dives deep into the unknown, offering a wide range of stories based on everything from science fiction to the occult. This 2019 reboot was inspired by the iconic American TV series that ran from 1959 to 1964—another show that likely inspired Stranger Things.
This newer version was created partially by Jordan Peele—so if you like the incredible movies Peele has written and directed (like Get Out and Nope), you'll want to check it out.
