With Stranger Things concluded, you might want to check out these 7 comparable TV series.
After nearly a decade on Netflix, Stranger Things has concluded with its season 5 finale. The "Conformity Gate" conspiracy theory demonstrates that many fans are struggling to come to terms with the end of their beloved series. While there are upcoming spinoffs of Stranger Things to look forward to, fans don’t need to wait long to fill the gap it leaves.
Numerous other TV shows feature similar narratives and characters that are likely to captivate Stranger Things enthusiasts. Spanning the genres of sci-fi, horror, and mystery, here are the series you should consider watching now that Stranger Things has wrapped up.
It: Welcome to Derry (2025-present)
HBO / HBO
Stranger Things took considerable inspiration from Stephen King’s It, making it fitting that this prequel series bears a resemblance to it. Set in 1962, It: Welcome to Derry explores the lives of several residents in the town of Derry as they confront Pennywise the Dancing Clown (Bill Skarsgård), long before the Losers Club defeated him.
In addition to local children battling the malevolent clown, we see the U.S. military attempting to find and weaponize this fear-inducing entity, enlisting the help of psychic Dick Hallorann (Chris Chalk) in their efforts during the Cold War. Welcome to Derry delves much deeper into the origins of Pennywise and the dark history of Derry than the It films do. The series is also significantly scarier, showcasing Pennywise at his most devious while delivering a powerful commentary on the genuine evils that persist within small-town America.
Stream It: Welcome to Derry on HBO Max.
Dark (2017-2020)
Netflix / Netflix
This German sci-fi series premiered a little over a year after Stranger Things, and the parallels between the two are striking. While Stranger Things follows ordinary people as they explore a parallel dimension teeming with monsters, Dark depicts characters traveling to various moments in time via a wormhole created by a nearby power plant.
The story of Dark kicks off with the mysterious disappearance of a local child in the woods one night, triggering a quest similar to Will Byers' vanishing in Stranger Things. However, as Dark’s protagonists strive to rescue their loved ones, they unearth dark and shocking revelations about themselves during their historical adventures, illustrating how their connections span across time and space.
Stream Dark on Netflix.
Lost (2004-2010)
ABC / ABC
Years before Stranger Things took over streaming platforms, Lost was a pioneer in captivating audiences with blockbuster sci-fi tales on television. The premise of Lost diverges significantly, centering on a group of survivors from a plane crash on an island in the Pacific Ocean. As they attempt to return to civilization, they discover that the island harbors paranormal mysteries that kept viewers perplexed for years.
Similar to Stranger Things, the protagonists of Lost uncover traces of a secretive organization that conducted research on the island, linking to the cause of their crash. The show also escalated in scale, with characters repeatedly facing an evil, eldritch smoke monster akin to the Mind Flayer. Both Lost and Stranger Things compelled viewers to keep tuning in to unravel the many enigmas woven into their narratives, earning their places as cultural phenomena.
Stream Lost on Hulu.
The Last of Us (2023-present)
HBO / HBO
Adapted from the acclaimed PlayStation game series, The Last of Us chronicles the journey of hardened smuggler Joel (Pedro Pascal) and young Ellie (Bella Ramsey) as they traverse the United States long after a mutant fungus has turned much of humanity into killer zombies. The Duffer Brothers noted that their source material influenced the creation of Stranger Things, and the similarities between the two narratives are unmistakable.
From the plant-like monsters to the horror-laden adventures and Hopper and Eleven’s unexpected father-daughter relationship, it’s hard not to recognize elements of Stranger Things in this series. While The Last of Us is undoubtedly darker and less nostalgic, it provides ample terror and themes of found-family drama to appeal to fans of Netflix’s epic show.
Stream The Last of Us on HBO Max.
From (2022-present)
MGM+ / MGM+
Despite receiving consistent acclaim, this sci-fi horror series hasn’t achieved the same level of popularity as Stranger Things. From revolves around a mysterious U.S. town that inexplicably traps anyone who enters. As its residents establish their own community in this paranormal confinement, they band together to survive while being hunted nightly by grinning monsters reminiscent of those in Smile.
Like Stranger Things, this supernatural series investigates the terrifying secrets lurking in an ordinary-seeming town, featuring an intricate mythology and diverse characters. From will keep its viewers guessing and returning for more with its richly mysterious and suspenseful storyline.
Stream From on MGM+.
Alien: Earth (2025-present)
FX / FX
The iconic horror film Alien, another source of inspiration for Stranger Things,
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With Stranger Things concluded, you might want to check out these 7 comparable TV series.
While fans are eager for more Stranger Things, they might want to explore TV shows such as From, Lost, and The X-Files.