All the Pop Culture References in STRANGER THINGS 5, Volume 1

Stranger Things has been a melting pot of references from across pop culture storytelling ever since day one. And so far, season five is no different. Usually, series creators the Duffer Brothers tend to look at movies from the ’80s and ’90s for inspiration. But this year, they expanded their range big time. Here are all the pop culture references that we caught from Stranger Things 5‘s first episodes: “The Crawl,” “The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler,” “The Turnbow Trap,” and “The Sorcerer.”

All the Pop Culture References in Stranger Things 5, Volume 1

Red Dawn (1984)

In the 1984 cult classic, Red Dawn, a small American town is invaded by Soviet forces. To save the day, a band of high school kids fights back to save their home. This Red Dawn conceit is similar to the teens in Stranger Things 5. Only this time, the invading force in Hawkins is actually the American military, not the Russians.

Carrie (1976)

When Dustin goes to Eddie’s grave, there are words (written in snake blood) that read “Burn in Hell.” This was written by the Hawkins High bullies, who still think that Eddie was a murderer. This Stranger Things 5 moment feels like a pop culture reference to the end of Carrie, where Carrie White’s makeshift grave is vandalized. After her telekinetic massacre, it reads “Carrie White Burns in Hell.”

“Upside Down” by Diana Ross

“Rockin'” Robin plays Diana Ross’ 1980 disco hit “Upside Down” in her radio broadcast in episode one of Stranger Things 5. This serves as a coded message for her friends to begin making “the crawl” into the Upside Down. How Stranger Things managed to go five seasons without referencing this hit song from the annals of pop culture is astonishing. But it finally made it in just before the end.

The Shining (1980)

When Holly Wheeler starts talking to an imaginary friend that is clearly more than imaginary, the Duffer Brothers want us to think this is like Danny Torrance in The Shining. Only, instead of “Tony,” Holly speaks to a “Mr. Whatsit.” However, this is a misdirect, as Stranger Things 5‘s “Mr. Whatsit” is really anything but a helpful guide like Tony was on The Shining.

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle

Stranger Things 5′s “Mr. Whatsit” is a pop-culture reference to “Ms. Whatsit,” who is a benevolent character in the iconic 1962 YA sci-fi novel A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle. Like her older brother, who uses D&D terminology to contextualize the beings from the Upside Down, Holly uses her favorite book to do the same. She uses the book’s other dimension, Camazotz, as a name for the mind realm within the Upside Down that Vecna has taken her… A reality that he has shaped using her memories, along with memories of his own past.

Back to the Future (1985)

Back to the Future is a major pop-culture reference in Stranger Things 5, Volume 1. So much so, that we think it hints at the ending of Stranger Things as a series. Robin uses Doc Brown’s flux capacitors as a ruse to fool Joyce Beyers in episode two, as well as Doc’s signature “Great Scott” catchphrase. But also the 88dB in Steve’s van’s sensor is also a nod to the 88mph speed the DeLorean must reach to travel through time in Robert Zemeckis’ classic sci-fi comedy. As we said, we have a feeling the time-travel mechanics in Back to the Future will play a big part in how this series wraps up.

Spies Like Us (1985)

Murray uses the alias “Austin Milbarge,” which is the name of Dan Aykroyd’s character in one of his iconic ’80s comedy movies, Spies Like Us.

Aliens (1986)

The flesh wall inside the Upside Down looks very similar to the wall the Xenomorphs create to contain their victims, incubating their eggs there in the Alien franchise. In addition, the Demogorgons chasing the kids through the tunnels under Hawkins, and the multiple Demos attacking the military and making mincemeat of them in episode four, also recall the Xenos attacking the Colonial Marines in James Cameron’s Aliens. Also, when Karen Wheeler gets up in the face of a Demogorgon in Stranger Things 5, Volume 1, and says, “Get away from my daughter!” we can’t help but think of the famous moment in pop-culture where Ripley says, “Get away from her, you bitch!” to the Xenomorph Queen.

Game of Thrones (2011-2019)

Speaking of that giant wall within the Upside Down, it sure is similar to the Wall in Westeros in Game of Thrones. That gives us one of our most modern references in Stranger Things 5, Volume 1. In addition, when Vecna finally emerges again, he lifts his arms and raises his injured (dead?) Demogorgons, just like the Night King did with the White Walkers in Hardholme. It’s all very George R.R. Martin.

Poltergeist (1982)

In episode two of Stranger Things 5, the Demogorgons attack Holly Wheeler’s bedroom and open a fleshy portal to suck her in. It is a not-so-subtle pop-culture reference to the spirits pulling five-year-old Carol Anne into their dimension in Tobe Hooper’s classic 1982 haunted house film Poltergeist.

An American Tail (1986)

Holly has a poster for the Steven Spielberg-produced, Don Bluth-directed film about a cute immigrant mouse named Fievel. In the movie, Fievel gets separated from his family and must fight his way back home. This pop-culture reference foreshadows her storyline on Stranger Things 5.

The Goonies (1985)

Obviously, Stranger Things has a metric ton of pop-culture references to Richard Donner’s 1985 hit The Goonies since season one. But in season five, Eleven trains while wearing a replica of Josh Brolin’s “short shorts over sweats” ensemble from that film.

The Matrix (1999)

Holly Wheeler gets attached to a biological wall (possibly serving as a human battery), one controlled by a malevolent force. But in her mind, she’s living inside an idyllic world meant to placate her and prevent her from knowing the truth, much like the humans inside the Matrix. Also, Will fulfilling his full potential at the end of episode four recalls how Neo unleashed his dormant powers at the end of The Matrix.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)

Our protagonists making plans in the radio station on how to stop the Vecna is a fun pop-culture reference to how Buffy Summers and her friends, along with her adult mentors Giles and Wesley Wyndham Price, used the Sunnydale High School library as a war room to deal with their own “Big Bad” villain of the season. Their secret HQ in town was hidden in plain sight on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, just as in Stranger Things.

Another Buffy reference is to the show’s underappreciated fourth season. In that season, a United States Military operation called the Initiative sets up shop in Sunnydale’s Hellmouth, trying to study its power from within. The leader of this operation is no-nonsense Professor Maggie Walsh. In Stranger Things 5, Linda Hamilton’s Dr. Kay bears many similarities to Dr. Walsh, and the base inside the Upside Down is similar to the Initiative. Both the Initiative and Kay’s operation have a big secret they are keeping inside their vaults.

“I Think We’re Alone Now” by Tiffany

Vecna tries to gain Holly’s trust by giving her a cassette of her favorite pop star, ‘80s “Mall Princess” Tiffany. The teenage singer’s hit song “I Think We’re Alone Now” went to #1 in 1987, the year this season takes place.

The Lost Boys (1987)

Peanut Butter Boppers are shown as a favorite snack of Steve Harrington’s. They started appearing in grocery stores in 1985, but were discontinued in 1989. However, this is more than just a pop-culture reference to a fun snack in Stranger Things 5, Peanut Butter Boppers were featured prominently in Grandpa’s fridge in The Lost Boys. That movie that came out in 1987, just like this season of the series. Lost Boys is another story about teenagers who are the only people in their small town who are seemingly aware of all the otherworldly stuff going on.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986)

The song “Oh Yeah” by Yello is synonymous with the iconic John Hughes film starring Matthew Broderick, used both in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and in Stranger Things to highlight a moment fetishizing a car.

Pretty in Pink (1986)

Another Robin needle drop is the Psychedelic Furs song Pretty in Pink. This is, of course, the title track from another John Hughes-produced ’80s classic, Pretty in Pink.

Pee-wee’s Big Adventure (1985)

Spoiled brat Derek Turnbow has a poster for Tim Burton’s first film starring the late Pee-wee Herman, and this is fitting since he so resembles that film’s antagonist, the equally spoiled brat Francis Buxton. We love this pop culture reference in Stranger Things 5.

’80s Toys Galore

Derek’s Turnbow’s bedroom in episode four of Stranger Things 5 is overflowing with pop culture references to ‘80s toys. There are G.I. Joe posters, a Masters of the Universe blanket, and several Garbage Pail Kids cards on the wall. There’s also a Transformers pillow case, and Derek is playing the 1985 Nintendo video game, Ghosts n’ Goblins.

Home Alone (1990)

The sequence where our heroes booby trap the entirety of the Turnbow house to deal with the invading Demogorgons is a more terrifying version of Kevin McCallister’s antics in Home Alone. However, it also refers to another (much scarier) film, which brings us to our next entry:

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

The gang boobytrapping the home of the Turnbow family to ambush an otherworldly entity is also very reminiscent of Nancy Thompson rigging her home with traps to stop Freddy Krueger once he emerges from the dream realm in Wes Craven’s original A Nightmare on Elm Street. The teens joining forces as a unit to fight the monster on its turf is also a lot like the third Elm Street film, Dream Warriors.

Evil Dead 2 (1987)

One last horror movie referenced in the Turnbow house attack scene is Sam Raimi’s Evil Dead 2. While the kids are looking for weapons, Steve Harrington looks intently at a chainsaw on a wall. It feels like the moment in Evil Dead 2 when Ash (Bruce Campbell) fetishizes his “groovy” new chainsaw weapon, which he attaches to his arm. Evil Dead 2 also came out in the year Stranger Things 5 takes place, 1987.

The Great Escape (1963)

When formulating the plan to help the kidnapped kids escape military custody, Robin references the 1963 Steve McQueen World War II film The Great Escape. This was a huge hit, a fictionalized version of a true story about Allied POWs escaping from a Nazi prisoner of war camp. You can even hear the film’s score as Robin talks about the film, another fun pop-culture nod in Stranger Things 5.

Star Trek (1966-1969)

In episode four, after a pensive pause when confronted with a problem, Dustin says, “Fascinating.” This is no doubt a reference to Mr. Spock’s catchphrase in the original Star Trek, often spoken aloud by Leonard Nimoy.

The Sword in the Stone (1963)

The beginning of episode four, “The Sorcerer,” shows the Disney animated classic The Sword in the Stone playing on TV. We see the wizard Merlin casting spells. This foreshadows how Will is about to become a wizard himself when he powers up in the episode’s climax.

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016)

Most of the movies referenced in Stranger Things tend to be of the 20th-century variety. However, Vecna emerging from the Upside Down onto the base and casually tossing around soldiers? This is very reminiscent of Darth Vader’s deadly hallway scene in Rogue One. The Duffer Brothers recently acknowledged this was a direct homage to the iconic Sith Lord. Hey, we like a modern pop-culture reference as much as the next person, and we don’t mind seeing them on Stranger Things 5.

The Full List of Stranger Things 5, Volume 1 References

We expect a many more references in the last four episodes of Stranger Things when they drop on Netflix on December 25 and December 31.