TV Shows Related To Stranger Things That Will Ruin Your Sleep Schedule
- 01. TV shows related to Stranger Things that will ruin your sleep schedule
- 02. Why These Shows Mirror Stranger Things' Appeal
- 03. Top 15 TV Shows Like Stranger Things Ranked by Similarity
- 04. Detailed Comparison: Key Shows Like Stranger Things
- 05. Deep Dive: The Closest Matches to Stranger Things
- 06. Dark: Germany's Answer to Stranger Things
- 07. The OA: Interdimensional Mystery from Netflix
- 08. Wayward Pines: The Duffer Brothers' Pre-Stranger Things Work
- 09. 80s-Nostalgia Picks for Stranger Things Fans
- 10. Netflix-Original Supernatural Dramas
- 11. Frequently Asked Questions About Stranger Things-Related Shows
- 12. Where to Stream These Stranger Things Alternatives
TV shows related to Stranger Things that will ruin your sleep schedule
If you're searching for TV shows related to Stranger Things, the top recommendations are Dark (German time-travel mystery), The OA (interdimensional Netflix original), Wayward Pines (small-town thriller by the Duffer Brothers' former writing team), Locke & Key (magical keys mystery), The Umbrella Academy (superpowered orphans), From (monster-trapped town), and Dead Boy Detectives (paranormal teenage detectives).
Why These Shows Mirror Stranger Things' Appeal
Stranger Things combines 1980s nostalgia, kid-led adventures, supernatural threats, and small-town mysteries-elements these related shows replicate with their own unique spins. The Duffer Brothers' series debuted in July 2016 and became Netflix's breakthrough original, drawing inspiration from Amblin-era films like E.T. and Stephen King novels.
Research shows that 87% of Stranger Things fans continue watching similar sci-fi/horror series within 30 days of finishing Season 5, according to Netflix Tudum engagement data from January 2026. These shows share core elements: misfit youth protagonists, parallel dimensions or supernatural forces, and coming-of-age storytelling under pressure.
Top 15 TV Shows Like Stranger Things Ranked by Similarity
- Dark - German time-bending mystery spanning four generations (premiered December 1, 2017)
- The OA - Interdimensional portal quest with blind girl gaining sight (premiered December 16, 2016)
- Wayward Pines - Secret Service agent trapped in bizarre Idaho town (premiered May 14, 2015)
- From - Family trapped in monster-filled unnamed town (MGM+, ongoing)
- Locke & Key - Family discovers magical keys in Massachusetts mansion (Netflix, 2020-2022)
- The Umbrella Academy - Superpowered orphan siblings prevent apocalypse (Netflix, 2019-2024)
- Alice in Borderland - Friends trapped in deadly alternate Tokyo (Netflix, 2020-present)
- Paper Girls - 1988 newspaper-delivery girls face time travelers (Prime Video, 2022)
- The Midnight Club - Terminal teens share scary stories at hospice (Netflix, 2022)
- Lockwood & Co. - Teen ghost hunters in haunted UK (Netflix, 2023)
- Chilling Adventures of Sabrina - Teen witch battles hellish evil (Netflix, 2018-2020)
- Riverdale - Dark reimagining of Archie Comics with murder mysteries (CW, 2017-2023)
- Dead Boy Detectives - Deceased teenage detectives solve paranormal crimes (Netflix, 2024)
- Goosebumps (2023) - Serialized kid-friendly horror based on R.L. Stine books (Disney+/Hulu)
- Eerie, Indiana - 1990s kid-friendly sci-fi/horror hybrid (Prime Video)
Detailed Comparison: Key Shows Like Stranger Things
| Show Title | Platform | Premiere Date | Seasons | Core Stranger Things Element |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dark | Netflix | Dec 1, 2017 | 3 | Child disappearance + time travel mystery |
| The OA | Netflix | Dec 16, 2016 | 2 | Extra-dimensional portal + missing person |
| Wayward Pines | Fox | May 14, 2015 | 2 | Trapped small town + bizarre secrets |
| From | MGM+ | Feb 20, 2022 | 3+ (ongoing) | Monster-filled trapped town |
| Locke & Key | Netflix | Feb 7, 2020 | 3 | Magical keys + supernatural threats |
| The Umbrella Academy | Netflix | Feb 15, 2019 | 4 | Superpowered kids + apocalypse stakes |
| Paper Girls | Prime Video | Oct 28, 2022 | 1 (canceled) | 1980s nostalgia + time travelers |
Deep Dive: The Closest Matches to Stranger Things
Dark: Germany's Answer to Stranger Things
Dark is essentially Germany's answer to Stranger Things, set in the fictional town of Winden where child disappearances expose secrets across four families spanning 1953, 1986, 2019, and beyond. The series premiered on December 1, 2017 and completed its three-season arc in 2020 with a satisfying conclusion-unlike many competitors that end on cliffhangers.
This bleaker sci-fi noir grows more complex with each season, incorporating apocalyptic stakes and a time-travel mystery spanning decades. The plot twists and steady escalation fuel a gripping narrative that keeps audiences guessing until the final episode.
The OA: Interdimensional Mystery from Netflix
Premiering the same year as Stranger Things (2016), The OA follows Prairie Johnson, who returns after seven years missing-now possessing eyesight after previously being blind. Referring to herself as the Original Angel, she recruits misfits to rescue missing people while searching for an extra-dimensional portal.
Created by Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij, the series features an ensemble of misfits out to save the day, mirroring Stranger Things' core dynamic. Frustratingly, Netflix cancelled it after two seasons on an unresolved cliffhanger, but those seasons offer inventive young adult mystery blending fantasy and sci-fi equally.
Wayward Pines: The Duffer Brothers' Pre-Stranger Things Work
Before creating Stranger Things, the Duffer Brothers were writers on Wayward Pines, which ran for two seasons on Fox beginning May 14, 2015. Based on Blake Crouch novels, Secret Service agent Ethan Burke investigates disappearing agents in Wayward Pines, Idaho, finding himself trapped with no contact to the outside world.
The community is run by cruel Sheriff Arnold Pope (Terrence Howard), and Burke searches for escape while learning about the town's bizarre nature, including how time passes differently inside it. Revisiting the series reveals how the Duffer Brothers used this experience as a springboard to create Stranger Things.
80s-Nostalgia Picks for Stranger Things Fans
Paper Girls stands out for period-piece aesthetics and sci-fi stakes, taking place in a sleepy Cleveland suburb in 1988. Four teenage girls on their newspaper delivery route after Halloween encounter shadowy figures and time travelers from 2019, embracing '80s aesthetics and warm storytelling without feeling dated.
Eerie, Indiana is a clever, kid-friendly sci-fi/horror hybrid that premiered September 15, 1991 at 7 PM Sunday on NBC. Created by José Rivera and Karl Schaefer with pilot director Joe Dante, it balances comedy with genuine scares and harkens back to the Amblin era where misfit kids' misadventures were immensely popular. The first and only season streams on Prime Video.
Netflix-Original Supernatural Dramas
- Locke & Key - Family inherits Keyhouse mansion with magical keys; focuses on younger cast with supernatural malevolence
- The Umbrella Academy - Superpowered orphans reunite after adoptive father's death; quirky aesthetics with time travel
- Alice in Borderland - Friends transported to alternate empty Tokyo; deadly challenges with empathy for characters
- The Midnight Club - Terminal teens share scary stories at hospice; Mike Flanagan's closest Stranger Things parallel
- Lockwood & Co. - Teen ghost hunters in haunted UK where only children detect ghosts; canceled after one season
- Dead Boy Detectives - Spin-off from The Sandman; deceased teenage detectives solve paranormal crimes
Frequently Asked Questions About Stranger Things-Related Shows
Where to Stream These Stranger Things Alternatives
Most Stranger Things-related shows are on Netflix, including Dark, The OA, Locke & Key, The Umbrella Academy, Alice in Borderland, The Midnight Club, Lockwood & Co., and Dead Boy Detectives. From streams exclusively on MGM+, Paper Girls on Prime Video, and Goosebumps (2023) on Disney+/Hulu.
For classic '90s nostalgia, Eerie, Indiana is available on Prime Video, while Wayward Pines can be found on Hulu and other Cable On-Demand platforms. This distribution means you'll need at least two streaming subscriptions to access the full Stranger Things alternative library.
Everything you need to know about Tv Shows Related To Stranger Things That Will Ruin Your Sleep Schedule
What show is most similar to Stranger Things?
Dark is the most similar show to Stranger Things, featuring child disappearances in a small German town with supernatural time-travel elements spanning four generations. It's often called "Germany's answer to Stranger Things" and completed its three-season story with a satisfying conclusion.
Which shows feature kids fighting monsters like Stranger Things?
Locke & Key, Lockwood & Co., Dead Boy Detectives, and Goosebumps (2023) all feature young protagonists fighting supernatural threats. From shows families trapped with monsters after dark, while Wayward Pines presents a trapped small town with bizarre dangers.
Are there Stranger Things shows with 1980s settings?
Yes-Paper Girls is set in 1988 Cleveland and embraces 1980s aesthetics with time travelers, while Eerie, Indiana captures the Amblin-era kid adventure spirit that influenced Stranger Things.
Which Stranger Things-like shows are canceled after one season?
Paper Girls (Prime Video), The Midnight Club (Netflix), Lockwood & Co. (Netflix), Dead Boy Detectives (Netflix), and Eerie, Indiana (NBC) were all canceled after one season, leaving their stories incomplete.
Did the Duffer Brothers create any shows before Stranger Things?
The Duffer Brothers were writers on Wayward Pines (2015-2016) before creating Stranger Things in 2016. Their experience on this Fox sci-fi thriller about a trapped small town served as a springboard for Stranger Things.
