(Credit: Netflix)

When Stranger Things first came on Netflix, nobody expected it to become a global phenomenon that people would go wild over. Back then, it wasn’t even hyped like that. All you had was just a bunch of kids and a creepy monster in a nostalgic setting, and then overnight, it was everywhere.

Suddenly, you couldn’t go a day without hearing the synth theme or someone arguing about which kid was the best. And in the middle of it all was Finn Wolfhard, who somehow looked like he’d been pulled straight out of an 80s photo album.

He was barely a teenager when it all started (like his fellow actors), which makes the whole thing even more ridiculous. One day, he’s sending in tapes for a random Netflix show, and the next, he’s the face of a global hit. And instead of sticking to one lane like most young actors, he started trying everything.

If you are not aware of Wolfhard’s game, let us tell you all the genres he’s tried his hand at: horror, drama, animation, and music. The guy just kept moving. One minute, he is fighting Pennywise in IT, the next, he is in a Guillermo del Toro project or performing with his band. It’s like he doesn’t even know how to sit still, which, honestly, might be the best thing about him.

You’d expect someone with his filmography to have a taste for weird, supernatural stuff, but no, his favourite movies are completely different. He did this interview on Letterboxd, where he listed his four all-time favourites, and they’re nothing like what you’d imagine.

The first one he mentioned was Boogie Nights. And if you’ve seen it, that choice makes perfect sense. It’s Paul Thomas Anderson at his loudest, full of strange characters, bad decisions, and this restless energy that never really dies down. Finn said it’s a movie he’ll never get sick of, and yeah, that tracks.

Then there’s School of Rock, which honestly might be the most Finn Wolfhard pick ever. He said it was a big one for him as a kid, and you can tell. That movie basically invented the idea of believing in yourself through loud music, and he has been living that vibe ever since. You can draw a straight line from Jack Black teaching kids to jam to Finn leading a band after shooting a horror series.

His third pick, Observe and Report, is a wild one. Seth Rogen plays a mall cop who is way too intense for his own good, and the whole movie just spirals. It’s weird, uncomfortable, and kind of dark, which is probably why he loves it. He called it underrated, which feels like something he’d say about himself if he weren’t so chill.

And finally, The Social Network. The quietest pick of the bunch, but also the most revealing. He didn’t explain much as to why he likes it, but you don’t really need him to, because who doesn’t? You can tell he respects the idea that something brilliant and messy can exist at the same time.

All four picks together make him sound less like a horror kid and more like someone who just loves watching people be complicated. He likes stories that have rhythm and that feel alive, and maybe that’s what makes him interesting. He has been part of a pop-culture machine since he was a kid, but his taste still feels raw.