Decoding Stranger Things 5’s Most Notable Pop-Culture Nods

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From the very beginning, Stranger Things has openly drawn inspiration from 1980s pop culture. These references sometimes just help set the show’s time period—like when Mike sings a Corey Hart song, you know it’s 1985. But other times, they’re crucial to the plot, like Max’s love for Kate Bush, or they offer a deeper meaning related to what’s happening. For example, when the boys dress as Ghostbusters, the audience understands they’re mirroring that role in their own adventure, even if they don’t. And Dungeons & Dragons has always been a key influence, both for the characters and the overall story.

The fifth and final season of Stranger Things starts with things looking grim in Hawkins, Indiana. Following the dramatic events of season four, the town is under quarantine, though not completely isolated. The 1980s vibe remains strong, with familiar fashion, snacks, and movie nods, but this season features more references to older pop culture. Set in the fall of 1987, the new episodes pick up over a year after the last season’s finale. While not a massive time jump, the show is packed with references to 1987, alongside classic favorites. This guide, with plenty of spoilers, breaks down the pop culture moments from each episode to help you figure out which are just fun Easter eggs and which might become this season’s breakout hit like “Running Up That Hill.”

“Chapter One: The Crawl”

The show Stranger Things has a knack for bringing back actors from the 1980s, often casting them in roles very different from their most famous parts. Like Winona Ryder, who plays a worried mother instead of a typical teen, and Paul Reiser, who went from a villain in Aliens to a kind scientist, the show continues this trend with Linda Hamilton. Hamilton is best known for playing the strong and determined Sarah Connor in the Terminator films. While we haven’t seen much of her character, Dr. Kay, yet, she doesn’t seem interested in helping the heroes of Stranger Things. In fact, she appears to be the one causing trouble with the Upside Down – something the heroic Sarah Connor would definitely disapprove of.

Fans of the show Stranger Things recently discovered a significant connection to Madeleine L’Engle’s 1962 novel, A Wrinkle in Time. The show’s creators, the Duffer Brothers, subtly hinted at this influence by naming a recent episode “Escape From Camazotz,” a planet central to the book’s plot. Further clues, like unexplained disappearances and journeys through time and space, along with a heroic family facing dark forces, reinforced the connection. The show’s character Holly even named her imaginary friend “Mr. Whatsit” after a character from the novel. Interestingly, the cover of Holly’s copy of the 1976 paperback edition, instantly familiar to those who read it as children, was recently identified as the work of commercial artist Richard Bober, thanks to research by WBUR’s Endless Thread and Adam Rowe of the Retro Sci-Fi Art newsletter.

Jonathan Byers has consistently shown a love for edgy music throughout the series, starting with his punk and alternative tastes in the first episode. His choice of a Fall T-shirt indicates this preference hasn’t changed. The Fall, a band formed in Manchester, England in 1976, was largely defined by its singer, Mark E. Smith, and a rotating lineup of musicians who played with him over the band’s 42 years. Though often considered punk, The Fall explored various musical styles, always marked by Smith’s sharp lyrics and unique vocal style. If Jonathan appreciates The Fall’s experimental nature and willingness to break musical boundaries, as Murray suspects, he’ll likely enjoy John Coltrane’s A Love Supreme, a landmark 1965 album considered the saxophonist’s masterpiece (though the expanded version shown in the series wasn’t widely available until recently).

Robin’s sweatshirt references the classic sci-fi show Star Trek. Even though it originally aired in the 1960s, Star Trek remained popular in the 80s through reruns, a series of films (including Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, released in 1986), and the new show Star Trek: The Next Generation, which had just premiered. Robin being a fan, and wearing a humorous shirt like this, fits her character perfectly. The shirt’s design was created for Stranger Things (and is available in the Netflix shop), but similar jokes referencing being “beamed up” have appeared on unofficial Star Trek merchandise for years.

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WSQK plays a surprising mix of music! Despite being run by students, the station doesn’t seem focused on current hits. The most recent song we hear is The Psychedelic Furs’ “Pretty in Pink,” which originally came out in 1981. The song gained popularity again when it was used in the 1986 film of the same name. This explains why Robin plays it for Vickie (Amybeth McNulty), and why Vickie’s style is inspired by Molly Ringwald in the movie.

Robin performs a cover of “Rockin’ Robin,” originally a 1958 hit by Bobby Day and also famously covered by Michael Jackson in 1972. This song is where Robin got her DJ name and serves as her signature tune. However, she isn’t the only character on Stranger Things to have a song associated with them. The show reminds us how important The Clash’s “Should I Stay or Should I Go” was to the Byers family, and we see Lucas repeatedly play Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” while watching over Max. (It’s a fantastic song, but one has to wonder if even someone in a coma might get tired of hearing it over and over.)

The show Stranger Things also deserves recognition for its timing in using Diana Ross’s “Upside Down.” This disco hit, written by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards of Chic, was popular in September 1980 and plays during the episode’s closing credits. The song came out after Ross starred in The Wiz (1978), a film adaptation of the Broadway musical inspired by The Wizard of Oz, but set in a city. Robin is right to call the movie a box-office failure; its poor performance unfortunately led to fewer film opportunities for Black actors for years to come. However, The Wiz wasn’t Ross’s first movie role. She had previously starred in the biopic Lady Sings the Blues and the 1975 drama Mahogany.

Lucas’s haircut – a high-top fade – is a fun nod to the late 1980s setting of Stranger Things. He was ahead of the trend last season, and it’s still relatively new in 1987, though this style really took off in 1988 with artists like Big Daddy Kane and Kid ’N Play. It could also be inspired by the hairstyles of NBA players at the time. This bold look fits with the show’s theme of characters becoming more confident and expressing themselves, even if it means going against the grain.

Coca-Cola Classic is the name you see on Coke cans today, but it wasn’t always that way. In 1985, Coca-Cola changed its formula, creating what was known as “New Coke.” The change was so unpopular that the original formula was brought back just three months later, but this time it was called Coca-Cola Classic. The show Stranger Things featured “New Coke” in its third season, briefly bringing it back into the spotlight.

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The first episode of the season features a snake named Jake. The name might be a playful rhyme, but it’s more likely a tribute to Jake “the Snake” Roberts, a famous wrestler who was gaining popularity in 1986. Roberts was known for bringing a snake to his wrestling matches. Though he no longer performs, Roberts remains involved in wrestling despite facing health challenges.

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Holly’s room is decorated with lots of things popular with girls in the 80s, like Care Bears and a poster for the movie An American Tail. It’s not too surprising she also likes Rainbow Brite, a series that started in 1984. But thinking about Rainbow Brite’s story – a happy girl who travels to a dark, strange underground world called “the Pits” – makes you wonder. Could this be a hint about what’s to come in the show? Will Holly maybe even meet a flying horse this season?

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“Chapter Two: The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler”

The song “Fernando” by ABBA, featured in a key scene during the Demogorgon’s attack on the Wheeler house, tells the story of two older revolutionaries reminiscing about a crucial battle. Many fans have drawn parallels between the song’s lyrics and the events unfolding in Stranger Things 5, which feels like a final stand for Hawkins. Interestingly, the original Swedish lyrics are actually about a man named Fernando who is heartbroken. With ABBA recently becoming active again, there’s a possibility they could rewrite the lyrics specifically for the show. Though, a playful attempt to connect the song to Eleven with the line “Can you hear the Eggos, El-ando?” doesn’t quite fit.

Peanut Butter Boppers were a popular snack from the 1980s – tubes of peanut butter covered in candy! Though marketed as healthy by Nature Valley, they came in tempting flavors like Fudge Chip and Cookie Crunch. Despite their initial success, they didn’t last long, but you can still find a recipe on Nature Valley’s website to make them yourself. They’re also a fun throwback for fans of the 1987 movie The Lost Boys, where they famously appeared on screen. The unique combination of crunchy and gooey textures would later inspire someone named Steve.

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Okay, so this is brilliant. Robin and Will realize Joyce has been a little… preoccupied with saving everyone from the Upside Down for the last few years, which means she never saw Back to the Future when it came out in 1985. Seriously, Joyce? Priorities! Luckily, she’s got a couple of years to catch up before Back to the Future Part II drops in ’89. And thankfully, Hawkins’ Family Video is still around, at least as of this season. It’s kind of amazing, actually – that chain lasted way longer than most video stores, only finally closing its doors in 2021 because of the COVID lockdowns. As a movie fan, that little detail really got to me!

“Chapter 3: The Turnbow Trap”

Lowrey’s Beef Jerky offers a nostalgic taste of the past. While most beef jerky today comes in plastic bags, Lowrey’s still packages some of its jerky in unique cylindrical containers, similar to tennis ball cans – a throwback to how it was often sold before. Though not as common as it was in 1987, you can still find this classic packaging.

Play-Doh Creepies weren’t actually scary! These sets came with molds that let kids make small, reptile-like creatures – the packaging called them “colorful critters.” However, the name ‘Creepies’ might be a hint, as we’re still unsure of Dr. Kay’s plans and the show has definitely featured plenty of strange monsters.

Tiffany burst onto the music scene in 1987 with her hit song, “I Think We’re Alone Now.” Born Tiffany Darwish in California, she initially tried to become a country singer and even appeared on the TV show Star Search as a teenager. Her first album wasn’t an immediate success, but a clever promotional tour of shopping malls across the country helped launch her cover of “I Think We’re Alone Now” to the top of the charts. The song, originally a hit in 1967, benefited from Tiffany’s wholesome image, despite its slightly suggestive lyrics. While the song’s lyrics might seem a little eerie now, it made her a star. Unfortunately, changing musical trends, legal issues, and a disappointing second album in 1989 quickly ended her time in the spotlight. However, Tiffany continues to make music, tour, and occasionally appears in acting roles and reality TV shows.

In 1985, the American Library Association launched its successful Celebrity READ Campaign, using posters of famous people to inspire reading. While the first poster featured Bill Cosby, the show Stranger Things recently chose David Bowie for a new version. The 1987 poster shows Bowie, barefoot and wearing a letterman jacket, reading Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Idiot. Bowie was a passionate reader with diverse tastes – his list of 100 favorite books included authors like Dante and Fran Lebowitz, though Dostoevsky wasn’t among them.

Derek Turnbow’s room is packed with iconic items from the 1980s, like Garbage Pail Kids, G.I. Joe, Transformers, and Masters of the Universe. It’s as if the show’s creators filled his space with references they couldn’t fit anywhere else – or perhaps each item subtly connects to the series’ themes. The often-crude Garbage Pail Kids feel like a darker take on Cabbage Patch Kids, and the heroic G.I. Joes seem to be fighting against a villain very much like Cobra Commander. (Derek’s G.I. Joe lunchbox even appears in the fourth episode!) Many of these toys – including Transformers and Masters of the Universe, along with Holly’s Care Bears and Rainbow Brite – became popular because of changes in the 1980s that blurred the line between entertainment and advertising. A poster for Pee-wee’s Big Adventure shows Derek has good taste, but also reminds us of Pee-wee’s spoiled rival, Francis, who also had every toy imaginable.

Derek has a lot of video games, including the classic Ghosts ’n Goblins, a fantasy adventure where players battle ghosts and goblins. He’s also incredibly lucky to own a full-size arcade cabinet of Hang-On, a 1985 Sega racing game. This game was special for its 16-bit graphics and helped revitalize the video game industry after a difficult period in 1983.

The elaborate traps set in the Turnbow house might remind you of Home Alone, but that movie wasn’t released until years later. Stranger Things actually prepared us for this scene by naming one of its main characters Nancy – the same name as the protagonist in Wes Craven’s A Nightmare on Elm Street. Stranger Things clearly draws inspiration from Craven’s film, and even paid tribute by casting Robert Englund – the original Freddy Krueger – in its fourth season. In A Nightmare on Elm Street, Nancy defeats Krueger by luring him into the real world and using traps she learned from a book on homemade security devices. (David Bowie would have likely appreciated that detail!)

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Robin, having grown up in the Midwest, knows to dress for changing weather. Under her Star Trekthemed sweatshirt, she wears a Tom Waits t-shirt. Tom Waits began his career in the early 1970s and quickly gained a following for his gritty, Beat-influenced songs sung in a distinctive, gravelly voice. In the 1980s, he released several critically acclaimed albums, including Swordfishtrombones, Rain Dogs, and Frank’s Wild Years (released in 1987, the same year as the setting of Stranger Things 5). Robin seems like the type of person who would appreciate Tom Waits’ music. Interestingly, Maya Hawke’s Stranger Things co-star, Winona Ryder, is also a fan – she even wore a Tom Waits t-shirt on the Hot Ones* web series.

“Chapter 4: Sorcerer”

The Miller family was settling in for a peaceful evening watching the 1963 Disney movie The Sword in the Stone, which had recently become available on home video in 1986. They certainly didn’t expect a visit from the military police! A memorable scene featuring a wizard duel in the film mirrors the dramatic peak of this episode.

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Max’s cluttered cave includes various small items and a copy of Walden Two, a novel by psychologist B.F. Skinner that describes his vision of a perfect society. Holly points out this book seems intended to reinforce the idea that Max is, in fact, imprisoned, suggesting no one would willingly choose to read it.

The song “Sh-Boom (Life Could Be a Dream)” by The Chords plays as Max starts her journey through 1959 Hawkins. This 1954 doo-wop hit is a typical way to quickly establish the 1950s setting. However, the lyrics about life being a dream feel particularly relevant considering what Max is going through right now.

Robin’s love for classic movies comes in handy when she helps devise a plan to rescue the children held captive in Hawkins. It turns out all her time working at the video store really paid off! The episode draws inspiration from the 1963 film The Great Escape, directed by John Sturges, which stars Steve McQueen, James Garner, Richard Attenborough, and others. The movie follows a group of World War II prisoners of war who meticulously plan a daring escape using a network of tunnels, just as Robin explains. A short clip of the film’s memorable theme song, composed by Elmer Bernstein, is also included in the episode.

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2025-11-27 22:59