10 Best Movies/TV Shows to Watch If You Already Miss Stranger Things

After five seasons and almost a decade, Stranger Things has concluded. The show became Netflix’s most popular series ever and a major part of modern television culture. But even though the story is over, fans can still continue to enjoy everything related to Stranger Things.

The actors in Stranger Things include both well-established veterans and exciting new talents. Now that the show is ending, the best way to continue enjoying these performers is to watch their other work. These films and TV shows showcase the best of what the Stranger Things cast has to offer.

Finn Wolfhard Embarks on a Similar Adventure in It: Chapter One

It: Chapter One is based on the first section of Stephen King’s famous horror novel. The 2017 movie takes place in the 1980s and follows a group of kids, called the Losers Club, as they try to figure out what happened to seven-year-old Georgie Denbrough after he disappears. Their search leads them to Pennywise the Clown, an ancient demon who preys on people’s fears.

Okay, so after becoming a household name as Mike in Stranger Things, Finn Wolfhard jumped right into another creepy mystery with It: Chapter One. He’s playing Ritchie Tozier, and honestly, it feels a little familiar – another close-knit group of friends trying to figure out what happened to a kid who vanishes under strange circumstances. He actually revisits the role in It: Chapter Two, but this time Bill Hader steps in to play the adult version of Ritchie. That second chapter came out in 2025, and it really brought the whole story full circle.

Noah Schnapp Voices Charlie Brown in The Peanuts Movie

In 2015, the beloved characters from Charles Schulz’s Peanuts comic strip returned in The Peanuts Movie. This was the first full-length film featuring the Peanuts gang in over three decades, and it tells the story of Charlie Brown experiencing his first crush when a new girl moves to the neighborhood. Even Snoopy gets a romantic interest, hoping to win over a local poodle.

The Peanuts Movie is a charming and enjoyable film for all ages. Interestingly, Noah Schnapp, who later became famous for his role as Will Byers in Stranger Things, provided the voice for Charlie Brown. He helped continue the legacy of this beloved and classic comic strip character. While another Peanuts movie is in the works, it’s currently unknown if Noah Schnapp will reprise his role as Charlie Brown.

David Harbour Is More Fun Than Ever in Thunderbolts*

The upcoming 2025 film unites a team of Marvel characters known for their complicated pasts – including reformed villains and former assassins like Yelena Belova, Bucky Barnes, and U.S. Agent. Calling themselves the Thunderbolts, they must stop Valentina Allegra de Fontaine from unleashing the dangerous power of the Sentry, a superhuman being she can’t control. With the Avengers gone after the events of Avengers: Endgame, the Thunderbolts aim to fill the void and become Earth’s new protectors.

David Harbour, known for his memorable performance as Jim Hopper in Stranger Things, brings a new character to the Marvel Cinematic Universe: Alexei Shostakov, also known as Red Guardian, in Thunderbolts. He’s reprising the role from Black Widow, and brings both humor and unexpected emotional depth to his scenes with Florence Pugh’s Yelena Belova. Fans who enjoyed his portrayal of Red Guardian will be pleased to hear he’s also set to appear in Avengers: Doomsday later this year.

Maya Hawke Embodies Anxiety in Inside Out 2

Following the huge popularity of the 2015 movie, Pixar released Inside Out 2 in 2024. The animated film brings back Joy, Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust – the emotions that live inside Riley Anderson’s mind. But as Riley starts middle school, new emotions like Anxiety, Ennui, Envy, and Embarrassment appear, disrupting her emotional stability and forcing Joy and the others to respond.

Maya Hawke, known for playing the anxious Robin Buckley on Stranger Things, now is Anxiety in Inside Out 2. As Riley’s dominant new emotion, Anxiety takes control of her mind, pushing Joy aside. Hawke delivers a complex and nuanced vocal performance in the highly praised film, and the eventual understanding between Anxiety and Joy is powerfully moving – it’s sure to make even the most reserved viewers cry.

Sadie Sink Gives a Powerful Performance in The Whale

Darren Aronofsky’s film, The Whale, features Brendan Fraser as Charlie, a reclusive and severely obese English teacher. The story centers on Charlie’s attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter, Ellie, after years of separation. The film received widespread critical acclaim, and Fraser won an Academy Award for his powerful performance.

Sadie Sink, who we all know as Max from Stranger Things, really gets to show off her acting range in The Whale. She plays Ellie, the troubled teenage daughter of Brendan Fraser’s character, and honestly, it’s a phenomenal performance. This is easily the strongest film work we’ve seen from anyone associated with Stranger Things so far. With the series now wrapped, it’s exciting to think about Sink taking on more roles like this, and I’m eager to see what she does next.

Gaten Matarazzo Unleashes His Comedy Skills in Honor Society

Honor Society, a movie released on Paramount+ in 2022, follows Honor Rose, a determined high school student played by Angourie Rice (known from Spider-Man: Homecoming). Obsessed with getting into an Ivy League college, Honor will do almost anything – even go to great lengths to convince her grumpy guidance counselor, Mr. Calvin, to write her a strong letter of recommendation.

Gaten Matarazzo, known for his lovable role as Dustin Henderson in Stranger Things, brings that same appealing energy to his part in Honor Society. He plays Michael Dipnicky, a slightly clumsy classmate who’s also Honor’s biggest rival for a teacher’s recommendation. Matarazzo truly shines in the movie, even among a talented group of actors.

Caleb McLaughlin Voices a Sports Star in GOAT

GOAT is a new animated comedy scheduled for release on February 13th. The movie is set in a world populated by animals and follows a young goat named Will who dreams of becoming a star “roarball” player. He gets his big opportunity, but faces many challenges, including convincing his teammates to believe in him.

As a critic, I was pleasantly surprised by the voice cast of GOAT. Caleb McLaughlin, so fantastic as Lucas in Stranger Things, takes on the lead role of Will, and he’s surrounded by some seriously talented names – Nick Kroll, Gabrielle Union, Aaron Pierre, to name a few. What’s even cooler is seeing a Stranger Things reunion, with McLaughlin sharing the screen with David Harbour, who voices a rhino in this animated film! If you’re a fan of the Hawkins crew and want to hear more from these actors, GOAT is definitely a fun, family-friendly option.

Joe Keery Has Fun in a Video Game Universe in Free Guy

Released in 2021, Free Guy is a funny and action-packed movie set inside a video game world – it’s heavily inspired by Grand Theft Auto V. The story centers around Guy, an NPC (non-player character) played by Ryan Reynolds, who suddenly gains awareness. Once he realizes he’s living in a game, Guy decides to change his fate and even look for romance.

In addition to Ryan Reynolds, Free Guy features Joe Keery—known for his role as Steve Harrington—as Keys, a game developer who joins forces with Guy on his adventure. The movie allows Keery to showcase his comedic timing, honed from his work on Stranger Things, within the limitless world of the video game. Notably, Free Guy reunites Keery with director Shawn Levy, who also directed all five seasons of Stranger Things.

Millie Bobby Brown Is a Child Detective in Enola Holmes

The Netflix movie Enola Holmes is based on the mystery novels by Nancy Springer. It tells the story of Sherlock Holmes’s younger sister, Enola, as she searches for her missing mother. Her investigation takes her on a thrilling journey beyond London, where she encounters interesting people and uncovers a surprising and complex mystery.

Millie Bobby Brown, known for her breakout role as Eleven in Stranger Things, now headlines the Netflix film Enola Holmes. She delivers a standout performance as the young detective, truly carrying the movie and showcasing her talent. She confidently acts alongside established stars like Henry Cavill and Helena Bonham Carter. The film was popular enough to warrant a sequel.

Winona Ryder Has Her Own Supernatural Coming-of-Age Story in Beetlejuice

Tim Burton’s 1988 film, Beetlejuice, tells the story of the Maitland family, who continue to live in their house as ghosts after a fatal car crash. When the new owners, the Deetz family, move in, the Maitlands find them incredibly annoying and try everything to frighten them out. They decide to get help from a mischievous spirit named Beetlejuice, brilliantly played by Michael Keaton, but his assistance might cause more problems than it solves.

Before becoming known for her role as Joyce Byers on Stranger Things, Winona Ryder first gained recognition playing Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice. This part helped launch her career and led to other popular films like Edward Scissorhands and The Crucible. Recently, in 2024, Ryder returned to the role of Lydia Deetz in the sequel, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

2026-01-08 19:19