Is Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ Scary?

Technically, Netflix considers this series horror, but some fans would argue with that label. In fact, some say it’s even appropriate for younger children, as it tells the story of nerdy kids with a love for each other. 

Is Netflix’s Stranger Things scary? Here’s what we know about the award-winning Netflix original series.

Several seasons of ‘Stranger Things’ are available on Netflix

This series takes place during the 1980s, but their adventure takes characters like Mike and Eleven to an unknown world. Since its release, Stranger Things and its cast won several awards, including the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. 

It’s been renewed for a fourth season and although season 4 has not premiered on Netflix, there are already talks of a fifth season. This show follows a group of friends, Milk, Dustin, and Lucas, who are willing to do anything to find their missing friend, Will. 

During their adventure, they meet Eleven, or “El” for short, who has supernatural powers that come in handy when they discover the “Upside Down” and face the challenges that come with school.

Is ‘Stranger Things’ scary?

Some Netflix subscribers are concerned about starting this series. When it comes to fans on Reddit, on a scale of 1 to 10, most rated this original series somewhere in the middle or toward the “less scary” side of the scale. 

“Maybe like 5? I really, truly hate horror, but that’s not really what Stranger Things is,” one Reddit user wrote. “it focuses on scary or creepy stuff sometimes, but the main point/goal of the show isn’t just to scare you.”

“It had a creepy atmosphere, but nothing really stood out as horrifying/terrifying,” another Reddit user said. “Honestly, I thought the last scene of the season was the scariest moment for me. It was the kind of horror that lingers in your mind.”

Is ‘Stranger Things’ appropriate for children?

Yes, there are some scary moments with the Demogorgon and later with the Mind Flayer. Any moment with Will and his mother is heartbreaking and terrifying at the same time. However, it’s not as scary as a movie branded as horror. 

At its core, this series is about a group of friends and the town where they grew up. Although there are some creepy elements, the general consensus is that Stranger Things isn’t branded as scary for adults. When it comes to children, however, it might be a different story.

When cast members answered whether they believe Stranger Things is appropriate for a 12-year-old during an interview with Wired, Gaten Matarazzo’s final answer was, “it depends on the kid.”

Seasons 1-3 of Stranger Things are available on Netflix. More information about the show’s fourth season will, presumably, be announced in the coming weeks.