pop culture references in stranger things

Not only does the Demogorgons face open up in a horrific display of ferocity reminiscent of the Predator, it also makes a terrifyingly familiar clicking noise to communicate. When Nancy (Natalia Dyer) interviews Munson's uncle about the dead. This is, by comparison, an oldie albeit a thematically appropriate one given when it plays from the 1982 album Picture This.. *Sorry, there was a problem signing you up. Also recalling Fast Times: the humiliating sailor costume Steve wears as his Scoops Ahoy uniform, a pretty direct homage to the pirate costume worn by Judge Reinholds Fast Times character while working at Captain Hook Fish & Chips. To explain how Terry claims that her daughter was special and born with abilities, Terrys sister Becky asks Hopper and Joyce if theyve read any Stephen King, inadvertently referencing his novels Firestarter and Carrie, about girls who develop mental powers. It doesnt hurt that Vecna feeds off pain and need, much as Pinhead and his otherworldly buddies do. Let's check out the top 10 pop-culture references made by Deadpool in the movies. She doesnt strike back with her powers like Carrie did but its not for lack of trying. In 1984, Stephen King released a book with Peter Straub about a 12-year-old boy name Jack who leaves his home in search of The Talisman, which can save his mother from cancer. But its all the less obvious pop culture references in Stranger Things that are seamlessly slipped into the plot of the series that truly mark it as a hallmark of homages. That naturally means every season of Stranger . Poor doomed Eddie always had a look that was clearly fashioned after the metal music of the 80s; he even shared a name with the mascot for the band Iron Maiden and, of course, with the guitarist from Van Halen. Theres also a standee of Freddy at Family Video, and the death of Chrissy (Grace Van Dien) in the premiere flung to the ceiling of Eddies trailer is clearly meant to mimic the death of Tina (Amanda Wyss) in the Craven film. A coming-of-age story about a boy who discovers he possesses magical powers (sound familiar? Anyone who spent time in the 80s can tell you about the multitude of pop culture Easter eggs in Stranger Things - and theres a wide variety of memorable examples to choose from. So pour yourself a Tab, fire up your dial-up modem, and have a look. In a season filled with relics like New Coke, this institution, however unexpectedly, is one that still stands. This article contains major spoilers for Season 4 of Stranger Things; it has been updated to reflect references from the final two episodes. The Leaderboard. As always, the hit sci-fi-horror series continues to frolic in a nostalgic sandbox of references to the pop culture of the time in which it is set, which this season is 1986. 9-Across, Nine Letters: Clarice Starling and Gracie Hart. The actor and comedian reflects on his very long and very busy comedy career. Carpenter has influenced Stranger Things since the beginning, but his 1978 masterpiece, Halloween, gets a literal name-check in the second episode when Nancy (Natalia Dyer) learns about Victor Creel, a figure who has become as much of an urban legend in Hawkins as Michael Myers. The metal masterpiece Master of Puppets, from the album of the same name, which was released only a few weeks before the action of this season in early March 1986 takes place. This season, we see posters for Teen Wolf, The Coca-Cola Kid, The Man with One Red Shoe, Weird Science and a well-placed one for The Last Dragon, which serves as a backdrop to Steve and Robins conversation about their romantic woes in Episode 2. Smirnoff, Hoppers derisive nickname for Alexei, likely refers to Yakov Smirnoff, a Ukraine-born comedian who immigrated to the United States in the 70s and enjoyed success in the 80s making jokes at the Soviet Unions expense. While Hopper still takes his fashion cues from Magnum P.I., the unfortunate Toddfather has clearly moved on to more cutting-edge crime stories for his wardrobe choices. Luckily, were here to help you make sense of them all. In 1982s Poltergeist, young Carol Anne Freeling is sucked into the spiritual world through a portal, but her family is able to communicate with her through the use of electronics -in this case, a television tuned to an empty channel. A later scene in the episode will provide another nod to Romero, shooting Hawkinss neglected downtown in much the way Day of the Dead depicts the abandoned Florida city seen early in the film. Editors Note: This story contains spoilers about Season 3 of Stranger Things., Its 1985, and the only thing Hawkins, Indiana, has more of than bizarre supernatural/pseudo-scientific phenomena is a plethora of pop culture touchstones. Canadian rocker Corey Harts 1985 hit accompanies Mike and Els make-out session, and it proves so catchy that Mike has to interrupt the kissing to rock out a little bit. Released in the summer of 1984, it was the first film to bear the PG-13 rating. Stranger Things may be a lot of thngs: King, Spielberg, 80's, myself (Duffers pointed that to me) but what it is, above all, is good!! Dopinder and Deadpool's conversations are absolutely hilarious. Stranger Things is a show filled with references to '80s pop culture and homages to the '80s movies, TV shows, and books that inspired it. Theyre kissing to it in June of 1985; the song would top out at No. A poster for Jim Hensons incomparable 1982 fantasy film hangs on Mikes wall. 12:37 PM EDT, Tue July 9, 2019, New season of 'Stranger Things' coming on July 4, Phoebe Cates in 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High', Christopher Lloyd and Michael J. There has been an embarrassment (and we do mean that word) of detail. With ample sparkles, cowgirl dancers, and a jab at Ryan Reynolds. Stranger Things 3 is certainly not breaking that mold -- if anything, the new season leans even harder into the pop culture references game with some more overt references that even have a . In that case, its the victims of a young female with mental powers who bleed from their nostrils, but over time the trend has turned towards the psychics themselves leaking fluid whenever they push their abilities too far. And while this might not be the most creative choice, its also probably the song playing in the girls heads in the moment. ), using lights as a form of communication (Close Encounters), or a score lifted from Assault on Precinct 13 or The Fog, just to name a few. He begins with the passage, The brown current ran swiftly out of the heart of darkness, bearing us down towards the sea with twice the speed of our upward progress; and Kurtzs life was running swiftly, too before trailing off. They fled less than a month later, claiming the house was haunted. We already knew Hopper loved this song, from Jim Croces breakthrough 1972 album of the same name, because it soundtracked a beloved season-two dancing scene. In what has to be the only anachronism within the world of the show, a copy of American paranormal researcher Hanz Holzers 1990 book Great American Ghost Stories can be seen on a shelf when Hopper, Joyce, Jonathan, and Nancy try to contact Mike and the gang via walkie talkie. All rights reserved. By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy and to receive email correspondence from us. And theres a lot of them. Take Stranger Things, for example. What are the '80s pop culture references in Stranger Things? And the satanic panic that developed around the game in the mid-80s becomes a major part of the story, as a series of brutal murders spurs Hawkins residents to gather pitchforks for anyone who plays the game. Just in time for July 4 weekend, Netflix on Friday dropped the final two episodes of Season 4 of "Stranger Things," each the length of a feature film. The early 80s also saw the release of the hospital-set Canadian slasher hit Visiting Hours, a 1982 film starring the once-in-a-lifetime cast of Lee Grant, William Shatner, and Michael Ironside. Mermaids, like many other creatures of mythology and folklore, are regularly depicted in literature, film, music, and popular culture.In the folklore of some modern cultures, the concept of the siren has been assimilated to that of the mermaid. The King homages dont stop. On three tight seasons, Stranger Things is a solid hit for Netflix. Here, the Russian scientists manning a similar system attempting to open the Upside Down dont share their hesitation (though they obviously should). A cool connection between Bush and the world of this show is her love for Stephen Kings The Shining, a book she responded to so strongly that she wrote Get Out of My House about it. So many films and TV shows have borrowed from the scene from Enter the Dragon to John Wick: Chapter 2 that its hard to tell exactly which this episode is referencing. Released in April of 1985, it made its debut while Madonnas Crazy for You, from the Vision Quest soundtrack, was still getting a lot of airplay. Angel didnt make the cut of her bestselling greatest hits album The Immaculate Collection and Madonna hasnt performed it since 1985. Pirate treasure? It doesnt take a film historian to catch the reference, and the Duffer brothers confirmedit was an intentional homage. Stranger Things has always been heavily influenced by the '80s and includes countless references to the decade. The Hidden Fortress is a great samurai adventure film directed by Akira Kurosawa that George Lucas frequently cites as one of the many inspirations for Star Wars. A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984) There are a few ways that the classic '80s horror movie A Nightmare On Elm Street plays into season 4 of Stranger Things. It's October 1984 in Hawkins, Indiana, when Stranger Things 2 opens. From vintage denim, mullets, and bomber jackets, to interior set designs complete with wood paneling and . (See below.) Shania Twains Peoples Choice Awards Medley Did Impress Us Much. Executive-produced by Michael Mann, this cop drama starring Don Johnson and Philip Michael Thomas introduced an MTV-influenced style to network TV, mixing cool visuals with a radio-friendly soundtrack that featured songs by Phil Collins, Glenn Frey, and others. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. A complete list of 80s easter eggs and pop culture references in the first episode of season one of the supernatural Netflix series, Stranger Things. February 8, 2021 by The Editors Leave a Comment. Hanging in Maxs room: a not-so-subtle reminder that Max comes from California via this poster for Bruce Browns documentary about the 60s surf scene. Gremlins - There was a massive nod to Gremlins in the arc of Dustin an. Home to Sam Goody, The Great Cookie, and other mall favorites, Starcourt Mall is essentially a dream of the perfect 80s mall made reality. To coax Suzie into helping him, Dustin sings her the theme song to the 1984 fantasy film The NeverEnding Story. The song has had a shorter afterlife than other Madonna hits, however. As always, the hit sci-fi-horror series. Its easy to see why Hopper admires him (an admiration even more evident in later episodes), though at this point the show had peaked as a cultural phenomenon. The Hawkins moms lust over Billy to the tune of the Cars 1978 song Moving in Stereo. Never released as a single, it found a second life when it appeared in Fast Times at Ridgemont High over a Phoebe Cates scene thats probably the most-paused moment of the VHS era. Asked to name her three favorite films, Robin reels off three great titles without having to think twice. Later, in Chapter 4, Joyce hears Will singing the chorus to the song via the walkie talkie while trapped in the Upside Down. Though included on a 1983 album, this Pointer Sisters song didnt become a hit until it appeared on the soundtrack to Beverly Hills Cop in 1984. Silent Hill is the gold standard for survival horror video games that make you lose sleep and play with all the lights on. *Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) stops by Nancys house to ask her on a date to see the 1983 movie All the Right Moves because it features her lover boy from Risky Business, Tom Cruise, whom Steve says people say he resembles. Sissy Spacek in a scene from "Carrie" (1976), based on the book by Stephen King. (Woody makes another, much more tragic appearance alongside Alexei later in the season.) In December 1975, the Lutz family moved into a home in Amityville, N.Y., the site of a brutal murder a little over a year earlier, when Ronald DeFeo Jr. shot and killed six members of his family. The series filmed its Starcourt scenes inside a re-dressed Georgia mall, but Starcourt most closely resembles Ridgemont Mall from Fast Times at Ridgemont High, a bustling place filled with action and drama at all times. This season is apparently Foreigners time to shine. 3 on the American charts, but not until August of that same summer. through the series so far.. 1980s pop culture references in Stranger Things . The influential artist H.R. Teena Marie was only 28 when she had her biggest pop hit with Lovergirl, but shed already seen her share of ups and downs in a career that dated back to her childhood. The Stray Cats 1981 hit helped make the 80s safe for the 50s, and helped give the 50s revivalism of the 70s (as seen in Grease, Happy Days, and elsewhere) its own new wave. You\'ll receive the next newsletter in your inbox. (Who was the Jester? As Steve drives everyone to Cerebro, this soul hit by Jackie Wilson, referenced in R.O.C.K. Basically, Stranger Things 3 is just a big ol valentine to Carpenter, even more than previous seasons. Here, the voyeurism gets a gender reversal. Born in California, Brown traveled the world for the film, which helped spread the gospel of surf and immortalized the image of the fun-loving, easygoing surfer. Jonathan must have been a pretty big Joy Division fan, as the song was only available in the U.S. as a 1980 B-side single with the song Shes Lost Control until it was released in the bands 1988 compilation album Substance. What is it about this little wooden boy thats resonated for 150 years? Confronted with Russians on American soil, Dustins mind immediately goes to John Miliuss action-thriller Red Dawn, which imagined teens resisting their new communist overlords in the wake of a Russian invasion. Once again, Steves workplace provides a plethora of references to movies of the era, particularly films that would have been advertised at such a business in early 1986. You don't have to recognize all of them to enjoy. Stranger Things is a show filled with references to 80s pop culture and homages to the 80s movies, TV shows, and books that inspired it. Its perfect Jazzercise music, the sort of Top 40 hit kids and moms could enjoy together. Given that Steve asks in Episode 6 whether Vecna might actually be a vampire and given how the villain sucks the blood of his victims the connection isnt a stretch. Lovingly nostalgic, the show stands on the shoulders of the eras genre titans, including Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter, Ridley Scott, and Stephen King, and heavily references their work among many others. The murder of the Creel family in Stranger Things 4 is an obvious nod to the films that were made from this true story particularly the 1979 movie by Stuart Rosenberg and the design of the monster Vecnas house is similar to the one from Amityville. As El and Mac go shopping, Stranger Things goes with the obvious choice of setting the moment to Madonnas era-defining Material Girl, the second single from Madonnas hit 1984 album Like a Virgin. When Eleven ( Millie Bobby Brown) and Max ( Sadie Sink) are enjoying a girls' night in, they come across a teen magazine spread of Ralph Maccio, who . But its another Carpenter classic that influences the scenes of a possessed Billy menacing the others while behind the wheel of a car: Carpenters 1983 adaptation of Stephen Kings novel Christine, about an evil Plymouth Fury. Bad Men, Weird L.A., and 8 More Podcasts Worth Checking Out. Hops showdown in the Fun Fairs Hall of Mirrors pays homage to Orson Welless 1947 suspense film The Lady from Shanghai, which features a similar scene. As part of the lineup for the in-person and online programs. The work of Steven Spielberg, Stephen King, and John Carpenter, to name a few, serves as a pop-cultural buffet with nods to their work sprinkled throughout the series by the show's creators, The. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google 5 years ago. Stranger Things Eleven is just another in a long line of telekinetics who need a tissue every time they melt a mind. It's Something Else. After all, its about a child dragged from suburban happiness into a parallel world, which is basically the plot of the first season. Combative romantic banter between star-crossed lovers was all the rage in the 80s (see Moonlighting), and season 3 uses the clip to foreshadow a major theme, setting up expectations and unexpected twists between several of the series simmering pairings, including Mike and Eleven, Joyce and Hopper and Steve and Robin. All The Pop Culture Homages In 'Stranger Things' COLLECTION 22 LISTS Stranger Things In 1980s Indiana, a young boy disappears into another dimension. As in Zemeckiss film, Stranger Things 3 features bad guys who use a mall for their dirty deeds. It's common knowledge by now that our favorite '80s-inspired TV show, Stranger Things is intentionally packed with pop culture Easter Eggs and references from '80s and '90s movies (and some even older).. Hopper is enjoying, sort of, an episode of Magnum P.I., a hit crime drama starring Tom Selleck as a Vietnam vet who takes a job as a private investigator in the employ of a never-seen novelist (voiced, in early episodes, by Orson Welles). For those curious, she holds up Green Lantern #185 and Wonder Woman #326. Silent Hill. Its also possible Hopper is simply referring to the famed Russian vodka brand of the same name, but it seems unlikely Hoppers definitely more of a scotch kind of guy. While some are as obvious as a huge "shadow monster" taking over your city, others are far less subtle and cautiously hidden, which we will all agree is a lot cooler anyway! Despite the presence of monsters, much of what unfolds in Russia this year recalls a very different 80s movie, the buddy comedy Spies Like Us. Directed by John Landis and released in 1985, Spies Like Us stars the Saturday Night Live veterans Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd as two bumbling agents sent to the Soviet Union. Its worth noting that Curtis Gwinn, one of the writers and executive producers of Stranger Things, is working on an adaptation of the novel for Netflix, which is being executive produced by the Duffer Brothers and Steven Spielberg (who loved the book so much that he bought the rights two years before it was even published). You've got choice cuts by The Go-Gos, Wham!, and Duran Duran, and, as Mary Kate pointed out, The NeverEnding Story theme song. Stranger Things is known for being jam-packed with 1980s pop culture references, and this season is no different! Where You've Seen All the Cast Members Before Anachronisms That Take You Out of the Early '80s Thrillist 204k followers More information The 11 Most Important Pop Culture References in 'Stranger Things 3' Find this Pin and more on Art, Film, Music, Books by Gujjutigress. Jack ends up discovering something called The Territories, a parallel version of his own world. The biggest influence on Stranger Things has to be Steven Spielberg, so its no surprise that Will has a poster for Spielbergs 1975 monster classic hanging on his wall. Every Detail of T.J. Holmes and Amy Robachs. Set in 1985, Season 3 includes plenty of. ", the Clashs Should I Stay or Should I Go?. The Duffer brothers Netflix series definitely cribs a number of notes from The Goonies, and Astin himself cant help but make a callback to his childhood performance in Season 2 of Stranger Things. Its kind of an on-the-nose music cue as Billy ogles a swimming Mrs. Wheeler, but it also captures the way the American suburbs could feel perpetually mired in the 70s thanks to the deathless popularity of some acts. The work of Steven Spielberg, Stephen King, and John Carpenter, to name a few, serves as a pop-cultural buffet with nods to their work sprinkled throughout the series by the show's creators, The. From a classic teen comedy to an iconic zombie movie. the list of pop culture references grows and grows, from the arcane to the sublime: the tiger beat heartthrob-ness of "karate kid's" ralph macchio, today playing the same role in the. The success of the Netflix series Stranger Things was a bit of a surprise, but part of what fans loved is the nostalgia angle. In the movies, one such character is an Indian-American cab driver named Dopinder. In Chapter 5, Dustin, Mike, and Lucas use the Vale of Shadows chapter of the games Expert Rulebook to explain the Upside Down, the alternate dimension where Will is trapped, saying its a dimension that is a dark reflection or echo of our world. They also refer to the monster as a D&D creature called the Demogorgon. It's Something Else. They were an essential part of The Dark Phoenix Saga, wherein a telekinetic hero named Jean Grey was killed and reborn as the powerful Phoenix not unlike when Eleven was stripped of her powers only to return at the end of this season stronger than ever. The mid-80s were a kind of golden age, if thats the right term, for licensed cereals. The film sometimes gets confused with another 1980s fantasy film, Labyrinth, which starred David Bowie as Jareth the Goblin King. "Stranger Things 4" is packed full of references to slasher films. "The. The first. This is apparently Hoppers go-to when hes feeling good, whether that means teaching El what real music is or celebrating keeping her away from her boyfriend. Even Carpenters 1982 film The Thing, with its Mind Flayer-evoking protoplasmic biology and tendrils, gets referenced both in movie poster form and in Lucas eloquent analogy comparing the movie and its 1951 precursor The Thing From Another World to Classic and New Coke: they have distinctly different flavors, but you can enjoy them both. The NeverEnding Story also spun off a hit single in the form of its theme song performed by the English singer Limahl, previously the frontman of Kajagoogoo, and band best known for the 1983 hit Too Shy.. All The Pop Culture References In 'Stranger Things' Find this Pin and more on Slow cooker recipes by Alice Chapman. Some of these references are overt, others more subtle, but they all come together to create the heavy vibe of nostalgia that permeates throughout Stranger Things. You dont have to recognize all of them to enjoy the show, but a little context never hurt anyones appreciation of anything. We may never be able to travel back in time. While trying to figure out where El came from, Dustin says she might have escaped a local mental hospital just like Michael Myers, the iconic killer from John Carpenters Halloween. Bolstered by her viral success, M3gan is coming for your necks, your wigs, and an innocent old woman. A Warner Bros. Not only do they name-drop Wargames as a way for the others to understand whats happening, but the Duffers add a little of that movies score as Mike goes on to explain the plan to enlist Suzie (Gabriella Pizzolo), Dustins tech-savvy and religiously conflicted girlfriend. Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) July 17, 2016 Advertisement : The Extra Terrestrial (1982) Video via Youtube. When trying to figure out whether to trust Hoppers walkie talkie pleas, Dustin keeps saying Lando over and over, a reference to Billy Dee Williamss character Lando Calrissians double-cross of Harrison Fords Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back. Phoebe Cates in Fast Times at Ridgemont High., Doug Bradley in a scene from Hellraiser., New World Pictures, via Amazon Prime Video, Robert Englund as Freddy Krueger in his boiler room, in the original "A Nightmare on Elm Street. When Eddie has to play one rock song to save the world, what does he choose? This 1984 horror hit from Wes Craven is arguably the biggest influence on Season 4. The creature is an obvious homage to the Xenomorphs of the Alien franchise, with its oddly distended limbs and strange skin, but it also borrows some traits from a rival villain:the Predator. The third entry in George Romeros zombie series (following Night of the Living Dead and Dawn of the Dead), Day of the Dead takes place largely in an underground bunker where scientists and soldiers concoct sometimes-clashing strategies to turn back the zombie tide. All Rights Reserved. It becomes intertextual, gaining meaning from its pop culture references. That answer might be lost in time. A trip to the grocery store could mean taking home cereal bearing the images of Gremlins or Ewoks or, in this case, the Ghostbusters or Mr. T, whose cereal also pops up in Pee-wees Big Adventure. The Matrix's impact was so great that, invariably, its influences seeped into some of our favorite movies and TV shows, too. "The Empire Strikes Back," seen through Mike's Millennium Falcon, also an inspiration on the season. Stranger Things Netflix Stranger Things Fotos Watch Stranger Things Stranger Things Steve Stranger Things Aesthetic Nintendo 64 Nintendo Switch Westworld Hbo Breaking Bad More information . So, there are a lot of pop culture references to cover for Season 4. Part of what makes the series so successful at bringing audiences back to the '80s is the pop culture nods that are cleverly hidden throughout. For example, the French word for mermaid is sirne, Italian sirena, and similarly in certain other European languages. The Stranger Things kids would doubtlessly love it if they could sneak into a show. Where You've Seen All the Cast Members Before, Anachronisms That Take You Out of the Early '80s, The Very Best Characters on Stranger Things, The Villains as They Are in the Real D&D Game, All The Pop Culture References In 'Stranger Things'. And season after season, that sunny nostalgic . Earlier this year, Captain Marvel stirred nostalgia by including a scene at a Blockbuster Video. If it sounds familiar, that might be because it showed up in a first-season episode of Stranger Things. Mike and the gang use the shows references to theoretical alternate dimension in the scene after Wills funeral to ask their teacher Mr. Clarke to try and find a way to get to the Upside Down. " Stranger Things 2" returns just in time for Halloween, both in the real world and in the eerie town of Hawkins, Indiana conceived in the nostalgic minds of The Duffer Brothers. Even the characters pick up on the corollary between their enemy and Freddy; Dustin suggests in Episode 5 that perhaps Vecna has a boiler room, a place like Kruegers which is to say, a mental lair where he can be defeated. Published The plot of the first game follows Harry Mason as he crashes . Chapter 3: "The Case of the Missing Lifeguard". There may be no more direct homage to the 80s than the presence ofSean Astin, an actor who has appeared in several iconic movies throughout his lengthy Hollywood career, including The Goonies. The film remains the gold standard of sci-fi/retro/teen comedy, and as such its influence on the laugh-leaning season 3 is deeply felt, overtly (the scene revealing the DeLoreans 88 mph time-traveling capabilities plays on the multiplex screen), in tips of the hat (Dustins inventions, like his automated hammer, evoke Doc Browns Rube Goldberg-esque creations) and even more subtle nods (fans of composer Alan Silvestri will zero in on orchestral sequences that evoke his signature BTTF score later in the season). The Robert Zemeckis classic probably needs no explanation here. That several Hawkins residents also fall into the zombie-like thrall of the Mind Flayer puts a bow on top of the Romero link. Stranger Things is a unique TV series, a perfect blend of science-fiction, horror, and 1980s nostalgia, all presented through the eyes of a young group of pop-culture-aware teenagers. Everything we know about the Netflix show's future, By subscribing to this BDG newsletter, you agree to our. Meanwhile, a girl with telekinetic abilities is on the run wearing nothing but a hospital gown. E.T. When Mike brings El around his house, he picks out a Yoda action figure from The Empire Strikes Back and takes on the green Jedis backwards speech, saying, Ready are you, what knows you of ready? He also explains to El that Yoda uses the Force to move things with his mind, just like her. To test Els telekinesis, Dustin challenges her to make Mikes Millennium Falcon toy levitate before letting it fall to the ground. Subtitled A Salute to 60s Rock, this stirring song from John Mellencamps 1985 album Scarecrow (released under the name John Cougar Mellencamp) pays tribute to scrappy 60s kids with musical dreams and namechecks James Brown, Martha Reeves, Jackie Wilson, and others. Meanwhile, a girl with telekinetic abilities is on the run wearing nothing but a hospital gown. 'Stranger Things': All the Pop Culture References in Season 2 As you work your way through the second season of "Stranger Things" here is your ultimate pop culture reference. Perhaps like me, you were even one of the record-shattering 18.2 million that finished the season within the first four days. In Episode 6, Dustin convinces the gang to seek out a gate that could have opened at the scene of Vecnas most recent crime, and Eddie suggests that his D&D buddy is asking him to go to Mordor, saying that the shire is burning. Of course, these are references to the seminal fantasy books by J.R.R. With the second season being set in the Fall of 1984, folks are. The question of how to find peace hung heavily over the years most impactful records. The Netflix hit "Stranger Things" is built on nostalgia for late '70s and '80s pop culture, including the works of Steven Spielberg, Stephen King, John Carpenter and John Hughes. 17 '80s-Inspired Easter Eggs in "Stranger Things" Season 4. Will disappears near the dark road that Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin, and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) named Mirkwood after the elven forest in author J.R.R. Terms of Service apply. Password must be at least 8 characters and contain: As part of your account, youll receive occasional updates and offers from New York, which you can opt out of anytime. Everyone remembers when Sean Penns character Spicoli famously had a pizza delivered to his class, and one can picture said tasty treat being delivered by Argyle in his Surfer Boy Pizza van. More information . One can also spot a VHS copy of the first film at Family Video in the premiere episode of the season. First appearing in The Uncanny X-Men in 1980, the Hellfire Club was a group of supervillains with the world power of the wealthy elite. The final Season 4 episodes continued to pack in more nods to and Easter eggs from 1970s and 80s pop culture. Its a fun bit for the two characters, but it also feels intentional that the film takes place in the snowy climate of Russia, a major setting for Stranger Things 4.. Either way its plausible, as 1983 was smack in the early VHS era. Thomas Magnum er, Jim Hopper (David Harbour) and Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder), the Sam and Diane of Hawkins, IN. Lovingly nostalgic, the show stands on the shoulders. Stranger Things, season after season, returns to a fun 1980s small-town rural heartland that is filled with good, friendly pop culture references. Tolkiens Middle-Earth books. In its early seasons, the series ran on Fridays at 10 p.m., which would have allowed Hop time to get home from his 7 p.m. date to watch it with El, if hed been able to make it. The list of pop culture references grows and grows, from the arcane to the sublime: the Tiger Beat heartthrob-ness of Karate Kids Ralph Macchio, today playing the same role in the critically praised YouTube Premium series Cobra Kai; Dustins walkie-talkie call signs Gold Leader (referencing Star Wars), Griswald Family (the Vacation franchise) and Goof Troop (the animated TV series starring Disneys Goofy as a single dad); and the emerging mythology behind the My Little Pony toys. Stranger Things is set in the '80s, and there are many iconic nods to the era. Hell tear your soul apart. The 11 Most Important Pop Culture References in 'Stranger Things 3' Set firmly in the '80s, 'Stranger Things 3' slides in some big Easter eggs via '80s movies and TV. Stranger Sights: "Aliens," the primary inspiration for how season two plays out. There are narrative allusions to a lot those filmmakers sci-fi classics, including monsters symbiotic biology (Alien), a sensory deprivation tank (Altered States or Minority Report), using photographs to uncover clues (Blowup), otherworldly characters wandering around a house alone (E.T. Tolkien. There have been rumors of a potential release of December 2020 or early 2021. The escapist sweep of the Netflix show's story keeps clashing with its winking plunder of archival. Released in summer of 1985, the film neatly set the thematic stage for Season 3, which builds on established vibes mashing up Steven Spielberg, Stephen King and John Carpenter but adding in a dash of Romeros influence. Also thematically appropriate: this classic country song of yearning that plays as Hopper tries to warm up his relationship with Joyce, to no avail. Vecna is a villain like Freddy Krueger . And Children of Paradise is a landmark two-part French romantic epic directed by Marcel Carn and produced under seemingly impossible conditions during World War II. This years music provided a fleeting and desperately needed moment of salvation. Earlier in Chapter 6, Dustin also used a Star Wars metaphor when questioning whether he, Mike, and Lucas should fight the creature without Elle, likening it to R2-D2 going to fight Darth Vader.. In fact, visitors to the Starcourt Mall would have the chance to check out Pee-wees Big Adventure alongside a bunch of other memorable 1985 titles advertised on the theaters marquee. Huey Lewis and the News dominated mid-80s airwaves thanks to the mammoth 1983 album Sports and the groups contributions to Back to the Future. The bands 1980 hit Keep on Loving You didnt invent the form, but it became the model to which many future power balladeers aspired. Also, the password to enter Castle Byers is Radagast, a reference to Radagast the Brown, a wizard and ally of Gandalf in The Hobbit. Anyone can read what you share. For reading material, Max offers El a couple of era-appropriate issues of DC Comics titles. Would Back to the Future have happened without it? Stranger Things is known for being jam-packed with 1980s pop culture references, and this season is no different! Stranger Things is infused with 80s horror references and updates to the classic tropes of 80s teen movies and music. What is this feeling? Stranger Things captures the '80s vibe perfectly with its soundtrack. When Chief Hopper (David Harbour) goes to investigate, he tries to make small talk, saying, I love that book, its a nasty mutt, referring to the rabid dog in Kings 1981 book Cujo. There is no El without Charlie, the telekinetic heroine of the 1980 Stephen King novel, who is played by Drew Barrymore in a 1984 film by Mark L. Lester (with music by Tangerine Dream, a big influence on the synthy Stranger Things score). Maybe not. Of course, Steve also mentions the film in the season premiere, noting that a girl Robin is interested in returned the VHS tape cued to precisely 53:05, a key moment for admirers of Phoebe Cates. Its a measure of what a force Madonna was in the 80s that a song that might be another artists crowning achievement has become something like a throwaway. Did You Know That Theres a Lana Del Rey Album Coming Next March? 2022 Vox Media, LLC. Created in 1940 by former Warner Bros. animators Walter Lantz and Ben Hardaway, this mischievous Woodpecker was inescapable on 80s television thanks to the wide (and presumably cheap) syndication of his old cartoons, which Alexei takes in at Murrays place. Stephen Kings 1974 novel, Carrie, and the Brian De Palma 1976 screen adaptation have been touchstones for El since the beginning, but the bullying aspect of the original tale amplifies the connection to Els journey through the first two episodes of Stranger Things 4. Just as Carrie White suffered tormentors at her school, El is viciously abused in class, the halls, and eventually the roller rink. (A remake of the series currently airs on CBS.). Any TV show or movie set in the 1980s that plays with a Russian threat thwarted by teenagers is bound to recall this 1983 hit by John Badham starring Matthew Broderick. This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. Gilbert. On July 11, 1985, Coca-Cola announced it would be reviving the old formula under the name Coca-Cola Classic. But its definitely the sort of music douchebags listened to in 80s movies. Did you encounter any technical issues? (Enjoy What You Do). But it took this 80s-shaded throwback to classic rock and roll to put them over in the States. Not only is this chapter about an immortal being who can enter peoples minds to kill them, but the actor who plays Freddy Krueger, Robert Englund, shows up as the tormented Victor Creel in Episode 4. Will promptly beats Dustin to his house and demands #134 of X-Men, a 1963 comic that features the legendary Phoenix Saga. In a bit of ingenious but complex foreshadowing, the telekinetic Dark Phoenix teams up with the X-Men to defeat the supervillain Mastermind by pinning him to a wall with her mental powers just like El (Millie Bobby Brown) does to the monster in Chapter 8 of Stranger Things. I'm of course talking about the hit Netflix series Stranger . R.E.O. In Episode 8, Eddie even dons a Michael Myers mask to make his escape as the entire town continues to hunt him. ", From left, Dabney Coleman, Matthew Broderick and Ally Sheedy in a scene from "WarGames. Oh, yeah, excitement. Kate Bush has become more popular than ever after the use of one of her songs in a key moment of Episode 4 of this season maybe a new generation will discover a classic Metallica song, too? Should I Stay or Should I Go (The Clash). Stranger Things In 1980s Indiana, a young boy disappears into another dimension. A show drenched in pop culture and set entirely in the 1980s has no choice but to acknowledge the sheer power of the Star Wars galaxy. Weve left out some foundational texts by Stephen King, Steven Spielberg, John Hughes and John Carpenter, which have been endlessly identified and discussed with earlier seasons (lets just say that It, E.T., Sixteen Candles and The Thing continue to be influences), but weve scooped up as many others as we could. After admitting she never had any form of cancer.. The final performance will feature a panel on AAPI representation on Broadway. For starters, the kids refer to the tentacled monster at the center of this season as Vecna, a D&D monster. This brings back many nostalgic feelings and. Theres a long history in pop culture of psychic powers being depicted as causing nosebleeds, but most believe that the trope got its start in 1984s Firestarter, a film based on a Stephen King novel of the same name. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. (Stranger Things, Simpsons, Harry Potter) | The Leaderboard. The show has used the Alien films as an influence since the beginning, and it extends some of that love to the much-maligned 1992 David Fincher entry by taking its hero all the way to a far-off prison that just happens to have something like an alien, too. When Mike, Lucas, Max and Will sneak into the Starcourt multiple, the kids are watching filmmaker George A. Romeros Day of the Dead, the third in his series of genre-defining zombie movies. Mr. Clarke also references American physicist Hugh Everetts many-worlds interpretation of quantum physics. Before a reunion show in 2015, frontman Brian Smith recounted his almost famous experience for Tucson Weekly. But the Duffers take it a step further in Episode 5 when Will (Noah Schnapp), Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Jonathan call a mysterious number and realize its a computer. Gremlins, It, Stand By Me and more: Stranger Things 2's biggest pop culture references. The moment in which Dustin is freaked out by his telepathically controlled toys draws from a number of similar famous scenes in films by John Carpenter, Steven Spielberg, and Tobe Hooper. Fox in 'Back to the Future', Ted Danson as Sam Malone, Shelley Long as Diane Chambers in 'Cheers', Tom Selleck as the in 'Magnum, P.I. Maybe they would have been better prepared if theyd seen it. The presence of a tape by another Canadian rocker, Bryan Adams, on Els shelf suggests she has a musical type. The role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, Hellfire Clubs reason for living, influences the storytelling this season more than ever. It worked in Alien and Die Hard, after all. Despite his youthful appearance, Macchio was already 21 when he first played the aspiring karate star Daniel LaRusso, a role he reprised in two sequels and the ongoing YouTube Premium series Cobra Kai. Stranger Things usually isnt subtle with its needle drops, but the song playing as Nancy and Jonathan frantically make their way to work is a deep, deep cut from the Arizona band Gentlemen Afterdark, a regional favorite that never quite broke big, despite an EP co-produced by Alice Cooper. He. Even more relevant: The Stuff, a Larry Cohen horror-comedy about a yogurt-like product that devours consumers. Throughout all eight episodes of. In the Carpenter film, Myers murdered his sister before escaping from a mental hospital years later. July 2, 2022 by Amanda Prahl. See any we missed? Not that Foreigner itself was stuck in the past: The band caught a tremendous second wind thanks to the power ballad I Want to Know What Love Is in 1984. They wholeheartedly admit that the pop culture references made in Stranger Things are on purpose, hoping the people of their generation and after can catch a glimpse of the era. Before being interrupted by Dustin, Suzie spends her evening reading Ursula K. Le Guins classic fantasy novel The Wizard of Earthsea, the first of what would go on to be a six-book cycle set in the kingdom of Earthsea. Speedwagon kept the lighters burning with this 1984 hit. Mikes parents must not be as protective as Joyce Byers ( Winona Ryder), because a poster for filmmaker John Carpenters seriously rated-R classic](https://www.inverse.com/article/17334-a-brief-history-of-chainsaws-in-horror-movies-and-video-games) hangs in Mikes basement. In it, William Hurt, in his film debut, plays a Columbia University psychopathologist who experiments with the potential of the human mind within giant flotation tanks, a likely influence on Elevens arc this season. (Eddie learned it fast!) Revealing himself to be a proto-Brony, Dustin recounts the plot of a recent episode of My Little Pony. Its notable for its striking visuals, its dog-like dragon, and an extremely traumatic scene involving a horse. While imagining the erotic delights that await her with Billy, Karen seems to have a vision of the future that summons this 1986 hit from Cutting Crew, by far the most popular song the English band ever released. Below, we gathered many of the major Season 4 references, updated to reflect material from the final two episodes. This would prove to be Harts biggest hit in the U.S., surpassing the new wave-inspired 1984 single Sunglasses at Night. Hart would continue to place hits on the American charts for the rest of the 80s and even longer in Canada, where he remains a popular concert draw. More movie references abound: along with BTTF the Starcourt multiplex marquee advertises a distinctly Stranger Things-adjacent roster of 1985 films: The Stuff, cult filmmaker Larry Cohens satirical horror film sending up consumerism; D.A.R.Y.L., featuring a sophisticated A.I., in the form of a child, on the run from its government makers; and Fletch, the Chevy Chase comedy about a snarky undercover journalist that could serve as a funhouse mirror reflection of Murray Bauman. The Best SIMS Pop Culture References! And fans and viewers cannot get enough of the hype, especially with speculating for the fourth season. More From Stranger Things 3 View All 'Stranger Things' Season 4 Volume 1 Recap Victor Creel doesnt come home like Myers, but the concept of a suburban boogeyman feels like a nod to this horror classic. ), its become one of the most influential novels of the fantasy genre and an ideal introduction to Le Guins rich, probing work. (Theres more than a dash of Dolph Lundgrens enhanced Russian boxer from Rocky IV in there, too.). these latest episodes are chock-full of fun pop culture references that add an extra layer of detail . The Dungeons & Dragons group in Hawkins is named the Hellfire Club, a name that should be very familiar to 80s comic book fans (or to British historians, but the reference here feels decidedly Marvel). Just in time for July 4 weekend, Netflix on Friday dropped the final two episodes of Season 4 of Stranger Things, each the length of a feature film. Warning: This article contains spoilers for Stranger Things season 4. David Harbour has name-dropped Alien 3 as an influence on his arc this season, and when Hopper is trying to rally other bald inmates to battle a deadly creature, its hard not to imagine Sigourney Weavers Ripley in the same role. Citizen detectives, therell be a break in the case on March 24. Stranger Things volume 1 is absolutely packed with Easter eggs and references to pop culture and horror movies. This gets a bit fuzzy, however, since the regular series wouldnt debut until 1986, though some animated specials preceded it. As the sign outside the theater suggests, this is a preview screening Day wouldnt open widely until later in July. 28% of the most successful businesses have pop culture featured somewhere in their marketing campaign. **Much in the same way the show borrows pop culture references to explain itself, Dustin uses superhero analogies with Mike and Lucas to wonder whether El was born with powers like the X-Men or acquired them like Green Lantern. Fans of American new wave that sounds like it came the U.K. should check them out. With its story of a transplant to a new culture learning to make his way in a strange, hostile world, The Karate Kid would probably appeal to El. 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