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Season 1 – Stranger Things: Tales From '85

Play trailer 2:31 Poster for Season 1 – Stranger Things: Tales From '85 Apr 2026 Sci-Fi Horror Mystery & Thriller Drama Animation Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
63% Tomatometer 35 Reviews 53% Popcornmeter 250+ Ratings
Welcome back to Hawkins in the winter of 1985, where the original characters face new monsters and a paranormal mystery.
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Stranger Things: Tales From '85 — Season 1

Stranger Things: Tales From '85 — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

A nostalgic return to the world of Stranger Things paired with a fun animation style means Tales from '85 can steadily continue the story for a new set of younger viewers, while still appealing to the core fanbase.

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Critics Reviews

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Zaki Hasan San Francisco Chronicle May 22
While the scares are softer and the humor broader, the emotional through line remains intact. This is still a story about kids trying to make sense of things far bigger than themselves. Go to Full Review Peter Travers The Travers Take Apr 25
1.5/4
Who’s the audience for this infantile, animated take on an indelible series? Only diehards and dimwits need apply. Go to Full Review Chase Hutchinson Seattle Times Apr 24
An animated spinoff that takes place between seasons 2 and 3 of the original series, it’s an experience that, even with some playfulness, is so narratively boxed in and stuck looking back that it proves to be a largely dull drag. Go to Full Review Callie Hanna FandomWire May 12
9/10
It's visually spectacular, there's a genuine sense of mystery reminiscent of the early seasons, it's surprisingly funny when it needs to be... Go to Full Review Alex Maidy JoBlo's Movie Network May 7
7/10
Fun but ultimately not required viewing, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is well animated and solidly made, making for an entertaining return to the beloved franchise. Go to Full Review Archi Sengupta LeisureByte.com May 7
2.5/5
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 brings back the beloved gang in an animated midquel that balances nostalgia, mystery, and a softer tone—though it doesn’t quite match the emotional highs of the original. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Sabrina F @Thorne628 Jun 16 I feel bad that I wanted to hate this show so much. I know this show is a beaten dead horse and a cashgrab, so I feel pretty skeevy for loving it as much as I did. The characters and setting feel like they should. The animation style grew on me. It is visually striking. The pace was perfect at 10 30-minute episodes, and there is action in each episode. The soundtrack was great. The music is a little more punk-heavy because of the new character, Nikki. Initially I did not get onboard with Nikki because she is not canon, but she grew on me quickly, and she adds something to the party. I found her lovable and relatable. This story takes place between Seasons 2 and 3, and the writers do a good job of making this midquel mostly fit in with the overall series. This show employees new voice actors for all of the Stranger Things characters. It took a while for these voices to grow on me, but most of the voices worked for me after a couple of episodes. Only Hopper's feels really off. See more Emerson H. @movielover9 Jun 12 Dear Duffer Brothers, thank you so much for more Stranger things content, but next time, PLEASE put more effort into it, would’ve been lower but episode 10 was really good, 5/10 See more Horror fan 4 @Horrorfan4life Jun 8 Love the return of these iconic characters. Knowing there not voiced by the original actors makes no difference to me. We still get the sci-fi horror in this animated show as we did in the live action show. The best thing about season one is we are introduced to a new character and I'm all in for that. Looking forward to season two. Tim Treakle See more Bobby S @BobTheMovieNerd Jun 8 Didn't even finish this season and couldn't get hyped after the first episode See more @RT46372785 Jun 2 stranger things fail needs to be studied See more Denali A. @Sabuu May 26 i mean, there are cringe moments in the show, but i LOVED it🥹 the language and humor is WAYY more toned down, thats probably the main reason why people don’t like it, but yeah, i was puzzled at the end See more Read all reviews
Stranger Things: Tales From '85 — Season 1

My Rating

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Cast & Crew

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Brooklyn Davey Norstedt

Eleven

Luca Diaz

Mike Wheeler

Braxton Quinney

Dustin

Jolie Hoang-Rappaport

Max Mayfield

Elisha Williams

Lucas Sinclair

Benjamin Plessala

Will

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Apr 23, 2026 Chapter One: Welcome to Hawkins, New Kid A surprising new threat alters the gang's plans to shovel snow for extra cash, bringing them face to face with danger and closer to a cool new student. Details Episode 2 Aired Apr 23, 2026 Chapter Two: Bad Harvest Nikki joins the party and the newly formed Hawkins Investigators Club; strange things take root at a nearby farm and shake up the Winter Festival. Details Episode 3 Aired Apr 23, 2026 Chapter Three: Evolution The kids look for answers about the mutant creatures plaguing their town and get a helpful lesson from Mrs. Baxter, their substitute science teacher. Details Episode 4 Aired Apr 23, 2026 Chapter Four: The Confession A worried Mike decides to come clean to Hopper and Dustin drags Steve into the H.I.C.; Nikki welcomes Will to the mosh pit; Lucas and Max hit the arcade. Details Episode 5 Aired Apr 23, 2026 Chapter Five: The Weekly Watcher When a photo that could put El in danger gets sold to a popular tabloid, the kids pull Nancy into a heist to get it back; if they can't then it's game over. Details Episode 6 Aired Apr 23, 2026 Chapter Six: A Storm Is Coming As a blizzard bears down on Hawkins, Dustin goes on a side quest and Max and Lucas hear a cry for help; a bold move lands some of the gang in detention. Details Episode 7 Aired Apr 23, 2026 Chapter Seven: Enter the Storm Lucas and Max seek higher ground to call in a Code Red; across town, Will, Mike and Nikki are snowed in at school and El can see they're not alone. Details Episode 8 Aired Apr 23, 2026 Chapter Eight: The Party Dustin finds danger at the Food Mart when two terrifying creatures break in; the gang gears up to go underground just in time for Nikki's birthday. Details Episode 9 Aired Apr 23, 2026 Chapter Nine: The Suspect In the wake of a shocking revelation, the H.I.C. digs in to investigate, splitting up into teams to search for more clues and uncover the truth. Details Episode 10 Aired Apr 23, 2026 Chapter Ten: Countdown With time running out, the party pulls together for a brave battle to stay alive; friends have to help friends because Hawkins' future depends on it. Details
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Stranger Things: Tales From '85 — Season 1

Stranger Things: Tales From '85: Season 1 Trailer Stranger Things: Tales From '85: Season 1 Trailer 2:31 Stranger Things: Tales From '85: Season 1 Teaser Stranger Things: Tales From '85: Season 1 Teaser 1:49 Stranger Things: Tales From '85: Season 1 Teaser - Announcement Stranger Things: Tales From '85: Season 1 Teaser - Announcement 1:01 View more videos
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Stranger Things: Tales From '85 — Season 1

Stranger Things: Tales From '85 View more photos

Season Info

Director
J.J. Conway, Phil Allora, Ben Choi, Sarah Partington, Ashe Jacobson, Eric Robles
Executive Producer
Dan Cohen, Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Shawn Levy
Screenwriter
Ray Utarnachitt, Alexis Quasarano, Joshua Pruett, Jen Bardekoff, Jennifer Muro, Dan Milano, Chad Quandt, Eric Robles, Kevin Burke, Chris Wyatt
Network
Netflix
Rating
TV-14
Genre
Sci-Fi, Horror, Mystery & Thriller, Drama, Animation
Original Language
English
Release Date
Apr 23, 2026