Image Credit: Netflix
Happy stranger things day… well, second stranger things Day! Today, July 15, 2016, marks exactly ten years since the Duffer Brothers dropped a cool sci-fi show on Netflix. In a decade, it evolved from a nostalgic love letter to 1980s horror into a multi-billion dollar global juggernaut.
Following the cinematic finale of Season 5 late last year, fans have been anxiously waiting to see how Netflix will celebrate the big 1-0. Today, Netflix opened the door to curiosity once again, issuing a huge press release detailing a poignant new documentary along with brand new ways to watch the show, updates on some of its product lines, and a new poster for the entire series.
not big Big Although announcements (at least not yet!). Although some people had spread rumors Stranger Things: Stories from ’85 The official release date of Season 2 can be found today, from our understanding it is not so and the date of October 27 is not accurate. Similarly, we will not get any new information mainly stranger things Spin-offs or other projects today.
Image Credit: Netflix
In statements marking the 10th anniversary today, Matt and Ross Duffer and Shawn Levy released statements.
The Duffer Brothers (creators, writers, directors, executive producers) said:
“We’re feeling a lot of emotions today. Nostalgic, proud, and, yes, even a little sad, that a decade-long journey of building stranger things It is over. But most of all, we feel grateful – to our amazing cast, who we watched grow into wonderful human beings; To the hundreds of talented artists who gave so much of themselves to bring the story to life; And to you, the fans, whose dedication, patience and passion have fueled us all over the years.
so thanks.
If you want to celebrate, we humbly suggest opening the door of curiosity once again, grabbing The 3 Musketeers (maybe even some chocolate pudding!), and watching the Season 1 VHS Special Edition. If Stranger Things existed in Hawkins – sitting on a shelf in the family video – it would look exactly like this (complete with pan-and-scan)! Is it possible that your head will explode from the overload of old memories? Yes. But it’s worth the gamble! And hey, if enough of you idiots watch it, maybe we will for the rest of the season…”
Shawn Levy, director, executive producer, and cameo guest star in Season 1 (10 points in the comments if you know who that is!) said:
“It’s hard to believe it’s been ten years stranger things First turned our world upside down. What started as a brilliant script from the Duffer Brothers, about four kids playing Dungeons & Dragons in a basement, became something much bigger than any of us ever imagined. We didn’t know if anyone would watch our weird little show – we just knew it could be great. We just…believed. (And if you’re wondering, I’m still wondering!) One of the greatest joys of this past decade has been watching these characters and our incredible cast grow up alongside the fans who have made Hawkins a place they return to again and again. None of this unprecedented journey would have been possible without the fans who have been with us since the beginning, connecting with our shows with a passionate love that is no less than beautiful. We are very grateful for their devotion, and we are excited to celebrate this special anniversary with them. Hawkins forever.”
Here are the complete details of everything that happened during this period stranger things 10th anniversary celebration.
Let’s start with the statistics. According to Netflix, as of March 2026, the franchise has now been collected 1.5 billion views. After 7 Emmy-nominated final seasons, seasons 4 and 5 now sit at #3 and #4 on Netflix’s most popular list of all time. The economic impact is just as widespread: the output generated $1.4 billion To the US GDP, more than 8,000 jobs were created ($650 million to Georgia and $500 million to California).
Watch Season 1 Like It’s 1983: VHS Special Edition
As we were among the first to report earlier today, if you fire up Netflix today, you’ll notice a new way to experience the season that started it all. Netflix has a surprise release stranger things: VHS Special Edition.
Instead of glorious 4K HDR, Netflix has given the entire 8-episode first season a complete retro overhaul. The episode features a pan-and-scan 4:3 format, tracking lines, color bleeding, CRT monitor distortion, and audio crackles. It’s designed to feel exactly like that worn-out tape you just rented from the family video.
“If stranger things Hawkins – sitting on a shelf in the family video – it would look exactly like this,” the Duffer Brothers shared in a statement. “Is it possible that your head will explode under the weight of old memories? Yes. But it’s worth the gamble!”
Image Credit: Netflix
Cast Retrospective: “Strange Memories”
To get our hearts racing, Netflix released a new video feature titled “Strange Memories,” Where the lead cast reflects on growing up in The Upside Down over the course of 26 minutes and 32 seconds. In our humble opinion, this is easily the best drop of the day.
Reflecting on a decade-long journey that transformed them from “a bunch of random kids from different places” to global superstars, the cast recalled the “zero pressure” of Season 1, when they were sure the series would “never be liked.” Fast forward to today, the united crew — which views the Duffer Brothers as “one mind divided into two” and co-star Winona Ryder as a “national treasure” — compared the show’s finale to “grad school.” After spending their “significant years” growing up together on set, the stars are bidding an emotional farewell to what they consider “one of the seminal professional experiences” of their lives, and promising fans that the family they built behind the scenes shares a bond that is “unbreakable.”
Among the highlights revealed by Netflix: Millie looks on fondly as she celebrates her birthday on the set of Bobby Brown Season 1; Natalia Dyer and Joe Keery remember shooting their first scenes together (and hooking up by joking mercilessly with Charlie Heaton); And Sadie Sink laughs about the “extreme pre-teen awkwardness” of filming Season 3 during her summer vacation.
Massive Physical Media and Archives Updates and Drops
We know physical media fans have been begging for this, and Netflix is finally making it happen. A huge wave of premium collectibles is coming:
- The official story behind the Legacy series: Billed as “the director’s book,” this deluxe guidebook takes fans from the show’s entire beginning to its finale with tons of unseen material.
- All Seasons Vinyl Box Set: Audiophiles, get your wallets ready. This massive 17-LP box set includes the complete score by Kyle Dixon and Michael Stein. Pressed on red and orange “Vecna Gate vinyl”, it features a gorgeous gatefold jacket and full-color inner sleeves. it will happen will set you back a cool $350!
- Funko Pop!: A brand new Funko’s “Rightside Up/Upside Down” split-design line is available for pre-order today.
- More Netflix Shop He goes away Including the 10th anniversary poster in the form of shirts, jumpers and a blanket!
Netflix also promoted the upcoming complete series on Blu-ray™ and 4K UHD arriving July 27.
Live Experience and Stage Show Updates
For those who want to step into Hawking’s world, Netflix announced several updates to their live experiences:
- First Shadow Closing Dates: As previously announced, the Tony and Olivier Award-winning stage play Stranger Things: First Shadow will officially make its final bow on London’s West End 27 December 2026and on broadway 3 January 2027.
- $11 Broadway Lottery: If you’re in NYC today, visit the Marquis Theatre! To honor Eleven, 11 lucky fans who enter the box office lottery between 3:30 and 5:15 pm ET will win a pair of tickets to tonight’s 7:00 pm performance for just $11.
- Halloween Horror Nights: A brand new HHN house inspired by the terrifying events of Season 5 is coming to Universal Studios, opening today 28 August 2026.
- Netflix House: Don’t forget, you can currently tour The Immersive Experience at the newly opened Netflix House in Philadelphia and Face the Dark at Netflix House Dallas.
Elsewhere, if you follow us on social media, we’ve been sharing Season 1 photos and behind-the-scenes pics all day long!
Are you going to re-watch the VHS of Season 1 today? What 10th anniversary stuff are you picking up? Let us know in the comments below!
