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8 Movies You Need to Watch Before Binging Stranger Things 2

8 Movies You Need to Watch Before Binging Stranger Things 2

Series creators Ross and Matt Duffer are huge film buffs and pay homage to many classic movies in the second installment of their Netflix hit.

By Tim Stack

October 25, 2017 at 05:55 PM EDT

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Aliens (1986)

Credit: Everett Collection

James Cameron's space saga influenced the Duffer Brothers particuarly in their casting of star Paul Reiser as the enigmatic Dr. Owens. Is he like Aliens' Burke? Or is he just a nice dude?

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Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

Credit: Everett Collection

The Duffer Brothers are huuuuuge Spielberg fans so naturally this classic film comes into play, particularly in a specific shot of Will (Noah Schnapp) looking out his door at the beginning of the season.

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The Karate Kid (1984)

Credit: Everett Collection

Stranger Things 2 is set during Halloween in 1984... as is a portion of this iconic drama.

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Ghostbusters (1984)

Credit: Everett Collection

The core group of kids in Things dresses up like these ghoul hunters for Halloween. The Duffers had to get permission from Ivan Reitman and Dan Aykroyd to use these costumes.

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Gremlins (1984)

Credit: Everett Collection

Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) discovers a "pollywog" and takes it in as a pet. This is the Duffers' homage to the Joe Dante horror flick so you can assume this relationship may be a bit challenging.

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Jurassic Park (1993)

Credit: Everett Collection

Obviously, not an '80s movie but Park still worked its way into Things 2. "Why we’re saying Jurassic Park is like the scene in the kitchen with the raptors," explains Ross. "Our favorite stuff is where you’re just glimpsing a monster. If you can do it with a sound or a shadow, we always try and do it because we think it’s more effective."

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Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

Credit: Everett Collection

The second Indy film is a pivotal influence in the second installment of Things. Says Ross Duffer, "We’ve got a soft spot for Temple of Doom."

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Escape from New York (1981)

Credit: Everett Collection

The Duffer Brothers were inspired by both the look and the score of this John Carpenter cult classic.

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8 Movies You Need to Watch Before Binging Stranger Things 2

1 of 8

Aliens (1986)

1 of 8

2 of 8

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

2 of 8

3 of 8

The Karate Kid (1984)

3 of 8

4 of 8

Ghostbusters (1984)

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5 of 8

Gremlins (1984)

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6 of 8

Jurassic Park (1993)

6 of 8

7 of 8

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

7 of 8

8 of 8

Escape from New York (1981)

8 of 8

Up Next

Everything in This Slideshow

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8 Movies You Need to Watch Before Binging Stranger Things 2

1 of 8

Aliens (1986)

1 of 8

2 of 8

Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)

2 of 8

3 of 8

The Karate Kid (1984)

3 of 8

4 of 8

Ghostbusters (1984)

4 of 8

5 of 8

Gremlins (1984)

5 of 8

6 of 8

Jurassic Park (1993)

6 of 8

7 of 8

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

7 of 8

8 of 8

Escape from New York (1981)

8 of 8

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