(Credit: Netflix)

Alright, movie marathoners, it’s officially the time to grab your popcorn and position yourself on your favourite couch spot, because the Duffer Brothers have handed us the ultimate pre–Stranger Things 5 watchlist.

You know how Matt and Ross Duffer are absolute nerds for all things ‘80s, from the music to the fashion to the wild. And don’t forget the unhinged horror flicks that used to air way past your bedtime? Yeah, that’s where Hawkins was born.

And now, as we head into the final season, the Duffers have dropped a list of four 80s classics that shaped how season five looks, feels, and terrifies us. You have got monsters in the dark, kids on bikes, haunted suburbs, and one or two questionable haircuts. Each film tells you something about what’s coming, and not directly (because of course they’re secretive), but in the way you connect the dots.

So, while we all count down the days till Hawkins flips upside down one last time, here is your nostalgic crash course through the movies that built its world. Four 80s gems. All iconic. All very Stranger Things.

Four classic ’80s films to watch before ‘Stranger Things 5’

Poltergeist (Tobe Hooper, 1982)

Before Stranger Things made the Upside Down a household nightmare, Poltergeist did it first and way louder. The Duffers have admitted that Spielberg’s ghostly suburban horror is their “emotional blueprint” for how ordinary families meet extraordinary terror. You can practically see it in Poltergeist’s TVs, the little girl drawn to something she shouldn’t be, and the pastel wallpaper hiding something dark behind it.

But what they really took from Poltergeist was so much more than horror. The Freeling family fights to bring their daughter back from a world that shouldn’t exist, just like Joyce Byers and the Hawkins gang keep doing for Will. The Duffers say that balance with the warmth and humour while the terror coexists is what they’ve always chased. And if season five is indeed the final ride through Hawkins, Poltergeist is the perfect film to remind you what this show was always about.

A Nightmare on Elm Street (Wes Craven, 1984)

Vecna’s nightmares didn’t come out of nowhere… they were born straight from A Nightmare on Elm Street. The Duffers have openly said Freddy Krueger’s dream-haunting horror heavily shaped Vecna’s design and even the way he preys on guilt and trauma. They loved how Elm Street turned everyday life into a death trap. So much so that you can’t even sleep without fear of dying.

Season four literally paid homage to this movie by casting Robert Englund (Freddy himself) as Victor Creel. And in season five, that psychological horror, where the real monster lives inside your head, is apparently dialled up even more. Basically, if you want to prepare for what Vecna’s cooking next, start with Freddy’s glove.

Back to the Future (Robert Zemeckis, 1985)

If you have ever wondered why the Upside Down feels frozen in time, Back to the Future might be the answer to your question. The Duffers have always been obsessed with the idea of getting stuck in a moment. And in case you might have forgotten, in season three, the kids were literally watching the same film in the cinema inside the mall, and that shows the love the Duffers have for this movie.

And sure, there is no DeLorean flying through Indiana skies, but when Steve speeds through that flickering barrier in the trailer, it feels like Marty McFly would totally approve. The film’s whole idea of wanting to fix what once went wrong runs through every corner of Stranger Things. It is not just a time-travel movie; it is the feeling of wishing you could go back, and that, the Duffers know, is pure Hawkins heartbreak.

The Lost Boys (Joel Schumacher, 1987)

To wrap things up, we have got The Lost Boys. In case you didn’t know, this is the movie that gave Hawkins its cool factor. The Duffers call it one of their biggest stylistic influences for how it made horror feel fun. You have got stylish vampires with rock music, and it’s the perfect mix of fear and attitude. That edgy, rebellious teen vibe runs through Stranger Things every season, especially when it comes to characters like Steve, Eddie, and Max.

The Duffers have even hinted that the tone of season five leans a little more into The Lost Boys territory, which is comparatively darker but still driven by friendship and loyalty. So when the finale arrives, don’t be surprised if it feels like the best 80s mixtape ever made.