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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →If you’re wondering what to watch after Stranger Things, start with the ingredient you want more of: Paper Girls for a nostalgic young ensemble, Dark for a complicated missing-child mystery, or IT: Welcome to Derry for much more intense horror. These seven picks share parts of the hit series, but none is a one-for-one replacement.
Seven shows like Stranger Things, compared
| Show | Best match for | Tone and commitment |
|---|---|---|
| Paper Girls | Young ensemble, 1980s setting, sci-fi adventure | Time-travel adventure; eight episodes, according to Tom’s Guide. |
| Dark | Missing-child mystery, small-town secrets, time travel | Serious, intricate, and German-language. |
| IT: Welcome to Derry | Children facing supernatural evil | Much more graphic and frightening than Stranger Things. |
| Archive 81 | Unsettling recordings and occult mystery | Atmospheric horror; ended after one season. |
| The X-Files | Paranormal cases and conspiracy | Adult leads and a long episode commitment: Tom’s Guide reports 11 seasons and more than 200 episodes. |
| Star Wars: Skeleton Crew | Kids caught up in a larger adventure | Lighter, family-adventure-leaning science fiction. |
| The Umbrella Academy | Found family, superpowers, world-ending stakes | Quirky superhero dramedy rather than small-town horror. |
The table is about story and tone, not a similarity score. Streaming availability is not included because catalogs differ by country and change over time.
For a kid-led 1980s sci-fi adventure: Paper Girls
Four paper-delivery girls in 1988 are pulled into a time-travel conflict in Paper Girls, an adaptation of the graphic novel series. Of these recommendations, it is the clearest fit if what you miss most is a young ensemble, retro atmosphere, and sci-fi adventure. Its time-travel plot is its own thing, though; it does not recreate Stranger Things’ alternate-dimension mythology.
Want to explore the source material too? The series is based on the Paper Girls graphic novels.
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#1 Best Overall
![Stranger Things: The Complete Series [Deluxe Edition] [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51vN8PZKSJL._SL160_.jpg)
- In 1980s Indiana a group of friends witness supernatural forces and government exploits. In searching for answers, they unravel a series of mysteries.
For a demanding small-town mystery: Dark
In this German-language series, a missing child draws four families into a mystery that spans generations. Netflix’s official description puts it this way: “A missing child sets four families on a frantic hunt for answers as they unearth a mind-bending mystery that spans three generations.” Choose Dark for time travel, family secrets, and a dense puzzle-box story—not for the lighter, kid-led adventure side of Stranger Things.
For horror first: IT: Welcome to Derry or Archive 81
IT: Welcome to Derry
Set in 1962 Derry, IT: Welcome to Derry follows children facing a powerful evil. It shares the idea of young people confronting something beyond their understanding, but the horror is much more graphic and frightening than Stranger Things. Pick it only if you want the scare factor turned up.
Rank #2
![Stranger Things: The Complete Series [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/31Ph4iUbmSL._SL160_.jpg)
- In 1980s Indiana a group of friends witness supernatural forces and government exploits. In searching for answers, they unravel a series of mysteries.
Archive 81
Archivist Dan Turner restores damaged videotapes and becomes entangled in the mystery of a filmmaker and a strange apartment building. Archive 81 is a better fit for eerie tapes, occult clues, and slowly building supernatural dread than for an ensemble adventure. It ended after one season, so viewers who need a resolved continuation should know that the story does not get a further season.
For paranormal cases that can keep you busy: The X-Files
FBI agents investigate unexplained cases, conspiracies, and monsters in a mix of ongoing mythology and self-contained stories. The X-Files has adult leads rather than a group of kids, but it suits viewers who want supernatural investigations to unfold case by case. Tom’s Guide describes its run as 11 seasons and more than 200 episodes, making it the biggest commitment on this list.
Rank #3
![Alovzi, Stranger Things The Complete First Season Blu-ray (A Netflix Original Serie) [Season 1 Bluray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41qSOwNtNaL._SL160_.jpg)
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For a lighter young-hero adventure: Star Wars: Skeleton Crew
Kids lost in space give Star Wars: Skeleton Crew a young-heroes-in-over-their-heads premise, but its tone is lighter and more family-adventure-leaning than later seasons of Stranger Things. Choose it when you want the friendship-and-adventure setup without the same emphasis on horror.
For superpowered found-family chaos: The Umbrella Academy
A dysfunctional family of siblings with superpowers faces world-threatening stakes in this comic-book adaptation. The Umbrella Academy offers an ensemble and supernatural-scale danger, but its eccentric superhero dramedy tone is far from a small-town monster mystery.
Rank #4
- Nostalgic VHS Packaging: This exclusive collector's edition features authentic retro VHS-style packaging that captures the iconic 1980s aesthetic perfectly matching the Stranger Things era, making it a must-have display piece for fans and collectors alike
- Complete Season Two: Experience all the thrilling episodes from the second season of Stranger Things as the story continues with Eleven's return, the Mind Flayer's emergence, and the gang's adventures in Hawkins, Indiana
- Dual Format Collection: Includes both Blu-Ray and DVD formats in one package, providing flexibility to watch on multiple devices while enjoying high-definition picture quality on Blu-Ray or standard playback on DVD players
- Collector's Edition Design: This limited exclusive edition is specially designed for dedicated fans with unique retro-inspired artwork and packaging that stands out as a premium collectible item worthy of any entertainment collection
- Physical Media Ownership: Own a permanent physical copy of Season 2 that doesn't require internet streaming or subscriptions, allowing you to enjoy your favorite episodes anytime with superior audio and video quality
Where can you stream these shows?
Availability depends on country and date, so check your local streaming catalog before you settle on a show. Netflix said that every Stranger Things episode, including the series finale, was streaming on Netflix as of January 1, 2026; that is a dated status, not a guarantee for every future date or territory. JustWatch’s US guide, for example, recorded checks across 373 services with individual update timestamps around October 3–4, 2026, illustrating why platform listings should be verified locally.
Tom’s Guide’s January 4, 2026 recommendations name streaming destinations, but those listings are not proof of current availability worldwide. Check the service catalog in your region for each title.
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Best Value
![Stranger Things: The Complete Series 4K UHD [Blu-ray] [Region Free]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/412wMRlS0ML._SL160_.jpg)
- A love letter to the ‘80s classic genre films that captivated a generation, STRANGER THINGS is a thrilling drama set in the seemingly normal Midwestern town of Hawkins, Indiana.
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