Show Notes
When it was released in the summer of 2016, not only did Stranger Things become a pop culture phenomenon, but it was also a true love letter to the 1980s. Today, we look back at the creation, success, and impact of an era-defining show that introduced 1980s culture to a whole new generation. In this episode, we'll look at: The struggles the Duffer brothers went through to get the show made The specific premise they used that combined two 1980s icons The real-life CIA experiments that led to the creation of Eleven The 1980s movies that influenced the show How Stranger Things became one of the crown jewels for Netflix How Stranger Things may have led to a resurgence of 1980s-based movies and TV shows The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s
More from Everything 80s
The 1980s in Britain were one of the most turbulent but creative decades any country has produced. It started with a new Prime Minister and ended with a cultural revolution. In this episode, we look at how Margaret Thatcher's economic revolution shaped the nation, and how an underground music scene soon dominated North America -- which included a brand-new music video channel. Between Duran Duran, Culture Club, Wham, Flock of Seagulls, and the Human League, the look and sound of music were about to change more than ever before. But there was so much more; a superstar Royal was making headlines around the world, British movies and actors were having a major impact on Hollywood, and some beloved 1980s North American TV shows would not have happened if it wasn't for the Brits... Bonus 1980s content: patreon.com/80s
They were two legendary toy car companies that were a part of growing up for millions of kids. But behind the scenes, it was a cutthroat battle for our brand allegiance. Matchbox and Hot Wheels had been fighting it out since the late 1960s, and even though both brands went through tumultuous times in the 70s and into the 80s, the toys stayed strong and even grew in popularity. The die-cast toy car industry of the 1980s was so big that several other companies entered the picture. From Sears to generic knock-offs, everyone wanted a piece of the action. Including one company that decided they were going to make things much smaller... The Everything 80s Movie Review Podcast: Patreon.com/80s
Unsolved Mysteries was one of the scariest TV shows in the 80s, especially if you were a younger viewer... But it was also one of the most-watched shows of the decade. Its roots go back to the early 80s, and the show went through several iterations and hosts, including Perry Mason himself. But eventually came the host with one of the most distinctive voices in television history: Robert Stack. You'll hear why its intense theme music was deliberately created to scare you, how viewers became part of the story, and how it helped launch the true crime boom from America's Most Wanted to today's podcasts. And despite debuting nearly 40 years ago, Unsolved Mysteries is still with us to this day... Support the show and get bonus 1980s content: Patreon.com/80s
It felt like a true golden age. An era that gave us multiple sports dynasties and individual athletes that seemed larger than life. The 1980s weren't just a historic era for the Big Four North American sports, but it led to some generational rivalries. Rivalries that included a changing of the guard in the NHL and NFL, and an on-court rivalry between the bad boys of the NBA and the future of the league. In the 1980s, we also saw two women battle it out for tennis supremacy, one of the greatest boxing matches of all time, and an original 6 battle from the 1940s, still going on in the 80s. And then, there was what may be the true defining rivalry of the 1980s: Magic Johnson and Larry Bird, and a decade-long battle between the Lakers and the Celtics. Get early and ad-free access to new episodes: Patreon.com/80s
It's been called the "Spotify of the 80s," and if you grew up back then, you know The Columbia House Record and Tape Club was not only your access to a vast world of music, but it also seemed too good to be true... Twelve albums for a penny? Who could resist? It turns out, not a lot, but little did we know that by sending that penny in, we were committing to a years-long fulfillment obligation. Today we look back on the seven-decade history of Columbia House, a program that started as a simple record club in the 1950s, but grew into a massive powerhouse in the 1980s. Columbia House was a huge part of growing up in the 80s, and, amazingly, still existed right up to the time of this recording in 2026... Get early, ad-free access to new episodes: Patreon.com/80s