Stranger Things debuted ten years ago today. When it did no one could have predicted that a love letter to the ’80s would turn into a modern day smash. But while the hit horror series might have said goodbye to audiences last year, Netflix is giving fans a new way to watch. The streamer has come up with a fitting tribute to a show that was itself a tribute to pop culture. You can now experience season one of the Duffer Brothers’ series the way you would have if it came out in the very decade it’s set, with a special Stranger Things VHS edition.
Nerdist Take: The Stranger Things VHS Re-Release Is a Gimmick But Actually Pretty Cool
Netflix subscribers can now rewatch Stranger Things’ first season in a different format. The new VHS Special Edition Stranger Things is designed to look and sound exactly as it would have if the show had been released on that old home format. Gone is the high-definition wide screen of the actual series. Instead, there’s all of the grain and gruff that those of us who grew up watching movies on local TV remember. This VHS version even includes pan-and-scan for a truly authentic experience.
Gimmick? Yes, of course. But it’s actually pretty great. This Stranger Things VHS edition is the ultimate embrace of the show’s ’80s ethos. It might not be the last, either. Netflix says, “If enough of you nerds watch it, maybe we’ll do the rest of the seasons…”
Don’t threaten us with a good time, Netflix.
More Stranger Things 10th Anniversary Celebrations
This season one Stranger Things VHS rerelease is just part of the streamer’s 10th anniversary celebration. There have already been new merch releases. Today, Netflix also debuted a new retrospective video called “Stranger Memories.” It features the cast sharing some of their favorite moments from the making of the show while looking through old Polaroids.
That’s also a fitting tribute to the show. For those of you who don’t remember, Polaroid photos are as ’80s coded as VHS tapes.