17 Shows Like ‘Stranger Things’ That Are Just As Binge-Worthy
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Stranger Things 4 (volume 1) is now streaming on Netflix. And since fans must wait until July 1 for the second half to drop, we thought we’d keep ourselves occupied by watching similar shows that are just as compelling. From The Society to Black Mirror, keep reading for 17 shows like Stranger Things .
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1. 'The OA'
Who’s in it? Brit Marling, Emory Cohen, Scott Wilson, Phyllis Smith
What’s it about? Brit Marling’s family is thrilled when she returns home after a seven year disappearance, though no one can explain how she’s no longer blind. A young girl with a mysterious backstory? Eleven…is that you?
2. 'Riverdale'
Who’s in it? KJ Apa, Lili Reinhart, Camila Mendes, Cole Sprouse, Madelaine Petsch
What’s it about? Set in the fictional town of Riverdale, the show follows a group of teenagers, who can’t seem to escape a series of supernatural monsters—like the Gargoyle King, who is basically a comic book version of a Demogorgon.
3. 'Severance'
Who’s in it? Adam Scott, Patricia Arquette, Tramell Tillman
What’s it about? OK, this show doesn’t have an alternate universe like the Upside Down. But it does explore the idea of separating one’s career and personal life in a terrifying—yet eye-opening—way.
4. 'The Order'
Who’s in it? Jake Manley, Sarah Grey, Louriza Tronco
What’s it about? Introducing the Hermetic Order of the Blue Rose, a famous secret society. When Jack Morton becomes a member, it’s clear he has no idea what he’s in for. It’s a little less sci-fi than Stranger Things (more dark magic and werewolves, TBH), but it’s every bit as compelling.
5. 'The Society'
Who’s in it? Kathryn Newton, Gideon Adlon, Sean Berdy, Natasha Liu Bordizzo
What’s it about? What would happen if all the adults were to suddenly disappear? Well, the kids in this Connecticut town experience just that in this modern-day version of Lord of the Flies. The plot makes the drama at Starcourt Mall seem like a walk in the park.
6. 'Slasher'
Who’s in it? Katie McGrath, Brandon Jay McLaren, Steve Byers, Dean McDermott
What’s it about? Sarah Bennett returns to her hometown of Waterbury almost 30 years after her parents were murdered by a serial killer. She soon learns that nothing has changed when she finds herself in the middle of a series of killings that are inspired by the seven deadly sins. Oh, and the main character could practically double as Joyce Byers.
7. 'The Leftovers'
Who’s in it? Justin Theroux, Amy Brenneman, Christopher Eccleston, Liv Tyler
What’s it about? After 140 million people disappear without a trace, the residents of Mapleton, New York, try to regain a new sense of “normal.” With just as many twists as in Stranger Things and an all-star cast to boot, this one is definitely worth bingeing.
8. 'American Horror Story: 1984'
Who’s in it? Emma Roberts, Billie Lourd, Leslie Grossman, Cody Fern, John Carroll Lynch
What’s it about? The anthology series recently debuted its latest installment, which tells the story of a group of teens, who are enlisted as counselors at the newly reopened Camp Redwood. The catch? Not only is the camp known for an infamous massacre, but it also has a decades-old curse that makes it impossible for visitors to die…or leave. The multi-dimensional plot will give you major Upside Down vibes.
9. 'Sense8'
Who’s in it? Aml Ameen, Doona Bae, Jamie Clayton, Tina Desai
What’s it about? This must-watch show follows a group of people from all over the world who discover they’re somehow connected. Things take a dangerous turn when a mysterious organization tries to track them down, forcing the strangers to join forces in an attempt to protect themselves. You know, kind of like the Stranger Things crew versus the Hawkins Laboratory.
10. 'Westworld'
Who’s in it? Evan Rachel Wood, Thandiwe Newton, Jeffrey Wright, James Marsden
What’s it about? Introducing a Wild West theme park where the main attraction is humanoid robots, dubbed “Hosts.” While visitors are drawn to the lack of rules, no one could predict what happens next. The mystery will leave you as confused as Barb’s parents.
11. ‘Dark’
Who’s in it? Louis Hofmann, Oliver Masucci, Julika Jenkins, Andreas Pietschmann
What’s it about? Think of this one as the darker, more mature sibling of Stranger Things. While both shows start off with a similar premise—a child that mysteriously vanishes in a small town—Dark takes a completely different route, incorporating time travel and exploring the most complex themes, from free will to the concept of having a soul mate.
12. ‘I Am Not Okay With This’
Who’s in it? Sophia Lillis, Wyatt Oleff, Sofia Bryant, Maya Spreckman
What’s it about? Seeing Sydney Novak (Lillis) learn to master her telekinetic powers will give you major Eleven vibes. The coming-of-age comedy follows Sydney as she tries to deal with these newfound abilities, while also navigating high school and her feelings for her best friend.
13. ‘Twin Peaks’
Who’s in it? Kyle MacLachlan, Michael Ontkean, Mädchen Amick, Dana Ashbrook
What’s it about? There would be no Stranger Things without the Twin Peaks, especially given the clear parallels between both shows. It takes place in a seemingly innocent small town that’s rocked by a devastating incident—one that turns out to be connected to something much bigger. And as an added bonus, it’s wonderfully quirky and imaginative
14. ‘Maniac’
Who’s in it? Emma Stone, Jonah Hill, Justin Theroux, Sonoya Mizuno
What’s it about? Stone and Hill star as two strangers who cross paths while participating in a mysterious pharmaceutical trial. This spooky series will take you straight back to the government's secret experiments at the Hawkins National Lab.
15. 'Black Mirror'
Who’s in it? Jon Hamm, Lenora Crichlow, Rory Kinnear, Miley Cyrus
What’s it about? While each episode tells an entirely different story, the series is designed to provide an eye-opening look at technology’s impact on society. Incorporating as many sci-fi elements as Stranger Things, the mind-bending twists will have you thinking, “WTF.”
16. 'Roswell, New Mexico'
Who’s in it? Jeanine Mason, Nathan Dean Parsons, Michael Vlamis, Lily Cowles
What’s it about? Liz returns to Roswell to care for her sick father, but it doesn’t take long for her to reconnect with her high school fling, Max. Things appear to be going well—that is, until Max reveals that he and his family are aliens. Think Stranger Things…with an E.T. twist.
17. ‘Marvel’s Runaways’
Who’s in it? Rhenzy Feliz, Lyrica Okano, Virginia Gardner, Ariela Barer, Gregg Sulkin
What’s it about? After discovering that they’ve all been living a lie, a diverse group of teenagers team up to take down an evil organization that’s run by their own parents. (Sounds like something Eleven would totally relate to.)
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