Netflix revealed the incredible success of «Stranger Things». The series influences all spheres of life
As the final episode of the cult series «Stranger Things» is released, Netflix has summed up the nine-year journey of its biggest hit. The series not only influences modern culture and the lives of the younger generation but also serves as a powerful economic engine for entire states.
Exclusive statistics were published by Variety.
The numbers are impressive: the total number of series views over all time exceeded 1.2 billion. This figure places «Stranger Things» above any other project in Netflix's history. Although individual seasons of «Wednesday» and «Squid Game» have more views than the fourth season of «Stranger Things», no other series can boast such overall popularity.
The fifth season has already broken Netflix's record for first-week views for an English-language series, and in just 25 days, its first volume garnered 102.6 million views.
The phenomenon is that new episodes compel viewers to return to previous ones: for the first time in streaming history, all five seasons of a single show simultaneously appeared in the top 10 most popular projects of the week.
The series' influence has extended far beyond screens, even changing music charts and consumer habits. Thanks to the fourth season, Kate Bush's song «Running Up That Hill» entered the top 10 US charts for the first time, 38 years after its release.
A similar fate befell Metallica's «Master of Puppets». The fifth season continued this tradition: according to Spotify data, listens of Diana Ross's «Upside Down» among youth increased by 1250%.
Even Eggo frozen waffles, Eleven's favorite food, experienced a real renaissance: after the second season's release, their sales jumped by 14%. A similar boom occurred with the board game Dungeons & Dragons, whose constant references increased interest in it by 673%.
The series has also become a powerful economic engine. Since 2016, the project has created over 8,000 jobs in the USA and contributed 1.4 billion dollars to the country's GDP. The state of Georgia, where most of the filming took place, benefited the most.
Furthermore, an entire universe has been created around «Stranger Things»: over 3.1 million books and comics have been sold, and the live event «Stranger Things: The Experience» was visited by 850,000 people in Los Angeles, London, Paris, and other cities. The prequel play «Stranger Things: The First Shadow», which debuted in London, received four Tony Awards and two Olivier Awards.
But the main legacy of the series is an entire generation of young actors it has turned into global stars. Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven) became one of Netflix's main figures, while Sadie Sink (Max), Joseph Quinn (Eddie), and Maya Hawke (Robin) secured roles in major Hollywood projects, including the Marvel cinematic universe. Their popularity is also evident on social media: Millie Bobby Brown's Instagram followers grew from 2.1 million to 68 million.
As Variety wrote back in 2023, «Stranger Things» more than any other series, demonstrated Netflix's formidable power, reaching an ever-growing global audience with each season. The series finale, which aired on New Year's, was shown in US and Canadian cinemas for the first time in streaming history, marking a fitting end to an entire era.
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