Saagar Kote
Created by Matt and Ross Duffer, Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ is a horror drama series set in Hawkins, Indiana, during the 1980s. The seemingly quiet town hides a mysterious threat that emerges when young Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) suddenly disappears. He vanishes without a trace after spending the evening playing the board game Dungeons & Dragons with his friends and fellow pre-teenagers Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo), and Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin). Determined to find him, the boys begin searching for answers and encounter Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), a mysterious girl with a connection to the secretive Hawkins National Laboratory.
Their investigation soon leads them toward the Upside Down, a dark parallel version of their town that appears to be connected to Will’s disappearance and the strange events surrounding Hawkins. As the mystery deepens, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Eleven must uncover what happened to Will while confronting forces that threaten their town and everyone they care about. These shows on Netflix, similar to ‘Stranger Things,’ explore mind-bending mysteries, supernatural occurrences, friendships, unusual worlds, and more.
15. The Umbrella Academy (2019-2024)
Loosely based on Gerard Way’s eponymous comic book series, ‘The Umbrella Academy’ follows a dysfunctional group of adopted siblings who were raised by billionaire Sir Reginald Hargreeves (Colm Feore) after being born under mysterious circumstances in 1989. Trained as a superhero-like team during childhood, Luther (Tom Hopper), Diego (David Castañeda), Allison (Emmy Raver-Lampman), Klaus (Robert Sheehan), Five (Aidan Gallagher), and Vanya (Elliot Page) eventually drift apart. Years later, their father’s death brings the estranged siblings back together, only for them to uncover a mystery surrounding his life and a catastrophic threat facing the world.
Their unusual abilities could be the key to stopping it, but unresolved family tensions make it difficult to work together. ‘The Umbrella Academy’ is linked to ‘Stranger Things’ through its characters confronting extraordinary forces and threats that go far beyond normal life. Both shows combine supernatural mysteries with characters trying to understand and survive forces they barely comprehend. Jeremy Slater and Steve Blackman are the creative team behind the superhero comedy drama series, which is available here.
14. Dead Boy Detectives (2024)
‘Dead Boy Detectives’ revolves around Charles Rowland (Jayden Revri) and Edwin Payne (George Rexstrew), two teenage ghosts who turn their backs on the afterlife to remain in the human world and solve supernatural cases. Their decision leads them into mysteries involving forces far beyond their understanding, but they gain an unexpected advantage when they join forces with a girl who can communicate with the supernatural through her psychic abilities. As the trio investigates the strange occurrences around them, their work draws the attention of a dangerous witch intent on eliminating the ghostly detectives.
What begins as a choice to keep solving mysteries instead of moving on becomes a fight for survival against powerful forces. Developed by Steve Yockey, the horror comedy drama series is based on the eponymous DC Comics characters by Neil Gaiman and Matt Wagner. Akin to ‘Stranger Things,’ the show reveals strange forces operating alongside the normal world, placing strong friendships at the center of supernatural conflicts and unexpected chaos. Enjoy it on Netflix.
13. The Innocents (2018)
‘The Innocents’ centers on Harry (Percelle Ascott) and June (Sorcha Groundsell), two teenagers who believe escaping their families will finally allow them to build a life together. Instead, their new beginning exposes a secret that June can shapeshift. Unsure of what is happening to her, June becomes the focus of a mysterious professor, who introduces the couple to others like her and offers to help her control her ability. His promises also reopen the possibility of finding June’s mother, who abandoned her years earlier. As Harry and June dig into the truth surrounding June’s powers and their families, their romantic escape turns increasingly dangerous. With outside forces threatening to tear them apart, the couple must decide how far they are willing to go to stay together.
‘The Innocents’ strongly connects with ‘Stranger Things’ through its young characters suddenly discovering that the world contains abilities and forces beyond their understanding. June’s shapeshifting ability changes her life, while Eleven’s mysterious powers become central to the mystery surrounding Hawkins. With Hania Elkington and Simon Duric lending their creative inputs, the British supernatural series is accessible here.
12. Archive 81 (2022)
‘Archive 81’ is a Rebecca Sonnenshine creation that delves into the experiences of archivist Dan Turner (Mamoudou Athie), who accepts an unusual assignment to restore damaged videotapes documenting a 1994 documentary project. The recordings belong to Melody Pendras (Dina Shihabi), a graduate student who was investigating the residents of an apartment building before it was destroyed by fire. While Dan works through the footage, Melody’s investigation begins to consume him, particularly when he uncovers signs of a mysterious disappearance and a secretive cult.
The deeper he goes, the more convinced Dan becomes that the tapes contain clues to Melody’s fate and that he may somehow be able to change what happened to her more than two decades earlier. ‘Archive 81’ and ‘Stranger Things’ feature characters uncovering a mystery that gradually reveals a much darker and inexplicable reality. Melody’s investigation leads toward a mysterious cult, while Mike and his friends uncover the supernatural forces surrounding Hawkins. Based on the podcast of the same name, the supernatural horror series can be streamed on Netflix.
11. Lockwood & Co. (2023)
Based on Jonathan Stroud’s book series of the same title, ‘Lockwood & Co.’ is the tale of Lucy Carlyle (Ruby Stokes), a gifted teenage ghost hunter who heads to London after struggling to find a place within the established agencies. She ends up joining the independent Lockwood & Co., run by Anthony Lockwood (Cameron Chapman) and George Karim (Ali Hadji-Heshmati). In a Britain overwhelmed by dangerous ghosts, young people are the only ones capable of detecting them, leaving teenagers to face these threats with little adult help. As Lucy settles into the unusual agency, the trio takes on increasingly dangerous supernatural cases.
Their investigation could reveal secrets capable of changing their world, forcing the young hunters to confront dangers far greater than the spirits they were trained to fight. ‘Lockwood & Co.’ and ‘Stranger Things’ focus on recognizable worlds disrupted by hidden forces. London adapts to the presence of ghosts, while Hawkins appears ordinary until its connection to the supernatural is exposed. Joe Cornish is the creator of the British supernatural detective thriller series, which can be enjoyed here.
10. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina (2018-2020)
‘Chilling Adventures of Sabrina’ chronicles the trials and tribulations of Sabrina Spellman (Kiernan Shipka), a teenager approaching her 16th birthday who finds herself caught between two worlds. Half witch and half mortal, Sabrina must figure out where she belongs while dealing with the expectations that come with her supernatural heritage. Her ordinary teenage life in Greendale increasingly collides with the darker forces surrounding her family and the occult world. When sinister threats emerge, she refuses to simply accept the path laid out for her and takes it upon herself to protect the people she loves.
The supernatural horror series is based on the Archie comic book series of the same name by the show’s creator, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, who co-wrote the books with Robert Hack. Along the lines of ‘Stranger Things,’ the narrative combines supernatural threats with strong bonds between young characters and their families. Greendale appears to be a normal town until Sabrina’s connection to witchcraft exposes its darker side, much like Hawkins conceals an extraordinary supernatural world beneath its surface. You can watch it on Netflix.
9. The Midnight Club (2022)
‘The Midnight Club’ follows Ilonka (Iman Benson), Kevin (Igby Rigney), and other teenagers living at a hospice while dealing with terminal illnesses. Their nightly routine takes an unusual turn when they begin secretly gathering at midnight to share scary stories and discuss what might exist beyond death. The group eventually makes a pact that the first person to die will attempt to contact the others from the other side. Their fascination with the supernatural grows more serious when they start noticing unsettling signs around the hospice, making them question whether something is already lurking within the building. As the teenagers investigate the strange occurrences together, their search for answers brings them closer to a mystery involving death, violence, and a potentially sinister presence.
Mike Flanagan and Leah Fong serve as the creators of the horror drama series, which is based on Christopher Pike’s eponymous novel. While ‘The Midnight Club’ explores fear, mortality, and friendship among terminally ill teenagers, ‘Stranger Things’ places its young characters’ experiences against increasingly frightening threats. Essentially, both shows combine supernatural horror with stories about young people navigating major emotional challenges. Access it here.
8. Wednesday (2022-)
‘Wednesday’ navigates the journey of Wednesday Addams (Jenna Ortega) after she is sent to Nevermore Academy, a school for students with supernatural abilities. Rather than simply adjusting to her strange new surroundings, Wednesday becomes determined to investigate the secrets buried within the institution and the inexplicable events occurring around it. Her search draws her into encounters with monsters, werewolves, and other threats, while her psychic abilities give her an unusual advantage. At the same time, Wednesday has to confront a complicated relationship with her eccentric family members, who have their own gifts and curiosities about the macabre.
As the mysteries surrounding Nevermore deepen, her school life becomes increasingly dangerous. With Alfred Gough and Miles Millar providing the creative vision, the horror drama series is based on characters developed by Charles Addams. ‘Wednesday’ shares similarities with ‘Stranger Things’ through young characters who take the lead in uncovering mysteries and unexplained phenomena, while secrets lurk in the shadows. The show can be found on Netflix.
7. Ragnarok (2020-2023)
‘Ragnarok’ is the tale of Magne (David Stakston), a teenager who returns to the small Norwegian town of Edda and soon discovers that its environmental problems are tied to something far more extraordinary. After the mysterious death of his friend, Magne begins uncovering the truth about the powerful Jutul family, whose industrial activities have damaged the town. His investigation takes an unexpected turn when he learns that he is the reincarnation of Thor, giving him abilities that could allow him to challenge the supernatural beings hiding among the town’s residents.
As extreme weather and environmental destruction intensify, Magne is forced to understand his powers and confront the forces threatening Edda. From the creative minds of Adam Price and Emilie Lebech Kaae comes this Norwegian fantasy drama series, which reimagines Norse mythology in the modern world. A small town, secrets, powers beyond human comprehension, young characters, threats, and conflicts are common themes that both ‘Ragnarok’ and ‘Stranger Things’ explore in their own ways. You may stream it here.
6. All of Us Are Dead (2022-)
‘All of Us Are Dead’ traps Nam On-jo (Park Ji-hu), Lee Cheong-san (Yoon Chan-young), and their classmates inside Hyosan High School after a mysterious virus turns students into flesh-eating zombies. With the campus quickly becoming a death trap and no immediate way out, the teenagers must work together to stay alive while searching for an escape route. Their struggle becomes even more desperate as the infection spreads beyond the school and threatens the surrounding city, prompting authorities and the military to intervene. As the students are hunted through the corridors and classrooms, friendships and survival instincts are tested at every turn.
Chun Sung-il, Lee Jae-kyoo, and Kim Nam-su are the creative team behind this Korean horror series, which is based on Joo Dong-geun’s eponymous webtoon. ‘All of Us Are Dead’ and ‘Stranger Things’ delve into friendship and teamwork in different settings. The students at Hyosan High must stick together to survive the outbreak, while the kids from Hawkins repeatedly depend on one another when facing supernatural enemies. The story is available to watch on Netflix.
5. The Society (2019)
Created by Christopher Keyser, ‘The Society’ revolves around Allie Pressman (Kathryn Newton) and a group of teenagers who suddenly find themselves responsible for an entire town after returning from a school trip to discover that every adult in West Ham has disappeared. With the community mysteriously cut off from the outside world, the teenagers have to figure out how to feed themselves, maintain order, and decide who should be in charge. What initially resembles an unexpected opportunity for freedom quickly turns into a struggle for control as limited resources, conflicting ideas, and shifting alliances create tension within the group.
While Allie and the others attempt to build a functioning society, they also search for an explanation for their isolation and a way to return to their former lives. Both ‘The Society’ and ‘Stranger Things’ turn a seemingly ordinary community into the center of an unexplained phenomenon. West Ham becomes mysteriously isolated, while Hawkins conceals supernatural forces and secrets that gradually become impossible to ignore. In each case, the characters are forced to fight their own battles as the threats get increasingly dangerous. View the mystery drama series on Netflix.
4. I Am Not Okay with This (2020)
‘I Am Not Okay with This’ narrates the story of Sydney Novak (Sophia Lillis), a 17-year-old trying to navigate school, family problems, and confusing feelings for her best friend, Dina (Sofia Bryant). Her life becomes even harder when she realizes she has developed telekinetic abilities that seem to surface whenever her emotions become overwhelming. Still dealing with the death of her father, tensions at home, and the uncertainties of growing up, Sydney has little idea how to control what is happening to her.
She eventually opens up to her eccentric neighbor Stanley Barber (Wyatt Oleff), who becomes an unexpected ally as they try to understand where her powers came from. From the creative team of Jonathan Entwistle and Christy Hall comes this fantasy comedy-drama series that, akin to ‘Stranger Things,’ blends teenage struggles, supernatural abilities, friendship, quirky characters, and dark humor. Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Charles Forsman, the show can be found here.
3. Locke & Key (2020-2022)
‘Locke & Key’ is a fantasy drama series that deals with Tyler (Connor Jessup), Kinsey (Emilia Jones), and Bode (Jackson Robert Scott). The three Locke siblings move with their mother, Nina (Darby Stanchfield), into the family’s mysterious ancestral home after their father is murdered. Keyhouse soon proves to be far more than an old family residence when the siblings discover magical keys hidden throughout its rooms, each capable of producing extraordinary effects. Their curiosity turns into a dangerous search for answers as they uncover connections between the keys and their father’s past. But the family is not alone in looking for them. A demonic entity also wants the keys and will stop at nothing to obtain them, drawing the Locke siblings into a supernatural battle that threatens their family.
Carlton Cuse, Meredith Averill, and Aron Eli Coleite lend their creative voice to the narrative, which is based on Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez’s comic book series of the same name. ‘Locke & Key’ closely resembles ‘Stranger Things’ through its young characters stumbling into a supernatural reality hidden within their ordinary lives. The siblings discover the magical secrets of Keyhouse, while the kids in Hawkins uncover the Upside Down and the forces connected to it. You may stream the show on Netflix.
2. The Boroughs (2026)
‘The Boroughs’ examines the life of Sam Cooper (Alfred Molina), a recently widowed retiree who settles into a quiet community in the New Mexico desert, expecting to spend his later years in peace. That plan quickly falls apart when a disturbing encounter convinces him that something is seriously wrong beneath the neighborhood’s peaceful appearance. When others dismiss his concerns, Sam turns to fellow residents Renee (Geena Davis), Judy Daniels (Alfre Woodard), and Jack Willard (Bill Pullman), who have their own reasons to question what is happening around them.
Together, the unlikely group begins investigating the community, uncovering secrets that transform their quiet retirement haven into the center of a much larger threat. The Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews creation is similar to ‘Stranger Things’ as it follows characters in friendly neighborhoods who refuse to ignore strange events and begin investigating them themselves. In both shows, an unsettling discovery gradually expands into something much bigger, risking the futures of the characters. Enjoy the sci-fi series here.
1. Dark (2017-2020)
‘Dark’ is narrated through the experiences of Jonas Kahnwald (Louis Hofmann), a troubled teenager whose life becomes entangled in the mystery surrounding a series of child disappearances in the mysterious German town of Winden. What initially looks like a straightforward search for missing children soon exposes disturbing connections between four families and secrets that have remained hidden for generations. As Jonas and others dig deeper, they discover that Winden is caught in a strange cycle where events from different periods of time are deeply connected. The investigation gradually becomes a struggle to understand how the past, present, and future influence one another, while strange forces tied to the town’s history threaten to reshape the lives of everyone involved.
Created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese, the German sci-fi thriller series is recognized for its visual, technical, and psychological elements. ‘Dark’ and ‘Stranger Things’ use the disappearance of children as the entry point to a much larger mystery that has the power to change everything. The two shows also transform quiet communities into the centers of bizarre supernatural events that defy conventional explanations. It is available to watch on Netflix.
Read More: Best Binge Worthy Shows on Netflix
You must be logged in to post a comment.