Netflix's Stranger Things Officially Returns In 1 Week Right At The Perfect Time
By Published Apr 16, 2026, 2:00 PM EDT Felipe Rangel is a Movie and TV Journalist ScreenRant. He has been writing about movies and TV since 2026. Felipe joined ScreenRant in 2026, working across different teams, covering everything from breaking news to features to reviews and more.
Felipe is a writer who is an avid film and TV fan, with superhero movies and series being his biggest passion. He graduated from college in 2019, having studied Journalism. Before college, he spent a month studying at the Oxford English Centre. His superhero knowledge expands to the comics, with his undergraduate thesis being "Politics Reflected In American Comics." follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap
is coming back with a new release in just one week, and the timing for the franchise's return to Netflix could not be better for one reason. Stranger Things is the , with five excellent seasons that explored different tones while bringing exciting fantasy elements to an intricate sci-fi story with impeccable world-building.
After a successful run, the came to an end with its finale episode, which was essentially a movie, on December 31, 2026. In that final entry, a lot happened. Millie Bobby Brown's Eleven seemingly died, only for Finn Wolfhard's Mike to come up with a possible explanation for how she might have survived. The truth is, nobody knows what really happened.
That open-ended storyline resulted in a divisive response to the finale. Still, interest is still high in the Stranger Things universe. While the main show might have ended, Netflix understands the potential the franchise still holds and is working on multiple spinoffs to explore other sides of the franchise. One of them was even teased in through a mysterious rock.
However, the first Stranger Things spinoff is the animated , which will be released on Netflix next week, on Thursday, April 23. The show takes place between seasons 2 and 3 of Stranger Things, with the original series' fan-favorite characters returning, though with new actors. Netflix's new Stranger Things release could not have come at a better time.
April Has Been A Great Month For Sci-Fi Movies & Shows
[SITEURL] | UD Upside Down Files Personality Quiz ScreenRant/ TV/ Stranger Things/ Personality Quiz Hawkins, Indiana · 1986 Which Stranger Things Character Are You? “Friends don’t lie.” 🧠 Eleven The Protector 📡 Mike The Leader 🤓 Dustin The Brain 🏂 Max The Fighter 🪧 Steve The Babysitter ENTER THE UPSIDE DOWN → 12345678 QUESTION 1 / 8LIFESTYLE 01 It’s Friday night in Hawkins. What are you doing? ASetting up a radio tower in my room to pick up distant signals BRunning a D&D campaign in my basement — it’s been planned for weeks CWatching TV alone, eating Eggos — quiet is good DDriving the kids somewhere and pretending I don’t care ESkating at the rink with my headphones on, blocking out the world ← BACKNEXT → 12345678 QUESTION 2 / 8INSTINCTS 02 The lights start flickering and something growls in the dark. What’s your first instinct? AStand my ground — I’ve faced worse than this BGrab a weapon and put myself between the danger and the kids CStay cool, assess the situation, figure out an escape route DStart theorizing what it could be while everyone else panics ERally the group — we’re stronger together, we need a plan NOW ← BACKNEXT → 12345678 QUESTION 3 / 8LOYALTY 03 Your best friend is missing and nobody believes you. What do you do? AComfort the group, keep morale up, and make sure nobody does anything stupid BGo looking alone — I don’t need anyone else to believe me CResearch everything — maps, records, science — find the pattern DChannel the anger into action — someone is going to answer for this EOrganize a search party, assign roles, lead from the front ← BACKNEXT → 12345678 QUESTION 4 / 8IDENTITY 04 How would people at Hawkins High describe you? AIntense and passionate — once I care about something, I go all in BThe funny one who’s smarter than people think CSurprisingly dependable — like, when did THAT happen? DQuiet, misunderstood — I don’t let many people in ETough as nails on the outside, but dealing with a lot underneath ← BACKNEXT → 12345678 QUESTION 5 / 8CONFLICT 05 Someone at school is being bullied right in front of you. What do you do? AGet in the bully’s face — I know what it’s like to feel powerless BStand up and say something, even if my voice shakes CStep in silently and stare them down — no words needed DBreak it up, tell the bully to grow up, and walk the kid to class EDefuse it with humor so nobody has to throw a punch ← BACKNEXT → 12345678 QUESTION 6 / 8TRUST 06 You discover something impossible — a secret that could change everything. Who do you tell? AEveryone. Immediately. This is too big to keep to myself! BNobody — I handle things on my own until I know who I can trust CMy inner circle only — the people who’ve proven themselves DWhoever needs to know to keep people safe — I’m practical about it EI’d keep it inside — I’m used to carrying things alone ← BACKNEXT → 12345678 QUESTION 7 / 8EMOTIONS 07 When things feel overwhelming and the world seems dark, how do you cope? ATake care of other people — helping them helps me forget my own stuff BShut down, go quiet — retreat into myself until I’m ready CMusic. Loud music. It’s the only thing that drowns it out DWrite it down, talk it out — I need to process with people I trust EThrow myself into a project or problem — keep my brain busy ← BACKNEXT → QUESTION 8 / 8VALUES 08 When the Upside Down is finally closed and Hawkins is safe, what matters most to you? ABelonging — finally having a place and people to call home BFreedom — being able to just be a normal kid for once CKnowing I kept everyone safe — even when I doubted myself DThe adventure — I mean, it was terrifying, but also kind of awesome? EThe bonds we made — nothing brings people together like fighting monsters REVEAL MY CHARACTER → Hawkins Lab Report Complete Your Stranger Things Alter Ego 🧠 Eleven “I can save them. I’m the only one who can.” You’re quiet but powerful — and people underestimate you at their own risk. You didn’t have the easiest start in life, but that’s made you fiercely protective of the people you love. You don’t always have the words, but your actions speak volumes. When everyone else is running away from danger, you’re walking straight toward it. You carry more than anyone should, and you rarely ask for help — but you’re learning that vulnerability isn’t weakness. Powerful Protective Resilient Empathetic 📡 Mike Wheeler “We never would have upset you if we knew you had superpowers.” You’re the natural leader of your group — not because you’re the loudest or the strongest, but because you genuinely care. You’re passionate, sometimes to a fault, and when you believe in something (or someone), you go all in. You hold your friends to high standards because you hold yourself to the same. People might see you as intense, but that intensity is born from love. You’d go to the Upside Down and back for the people in your life. Passionate Loyal Determined Emotional 🤓 Dustin Henderson “I am on a curiosity voyage, and I need my paddles to travel.” You’re the glue that holds everything together, even if nobody realizes it. Your brain never stops working — you see connections other people miss, and you’re not afraid to geek out about it. Sure, people might laugh at your enthusiasm, but you don’t care because you know who you are. You bring heart and humor to every situation, and when things get dark, you’re the one who reminds everyone that there’s still something worth fighting for. Brilliant Optimistic Authentic Heart 🏂 Max Mayfield “I’m not afraid of you.” You’re tough — not because you want to be, but because life made you that way. You’ve built walls higher than Castle Byers, and you don’t let just anyone past them. But beneath that armor is someone who feels everything deeply and fights harder than anyone for the people she loves. You cope through independence and sometimes push people away when you need them most. But when you finally let someone in? That bond is unbreakable. Fierce Independent Brave Complex 🪧 Steve Harrington “How many times do I have to save you people?” You’re the unlikely hero — the person nobody expected to step up, least of all yourself. You started out focused on your hair and your reputation, but when it mattered, you discovered something more important: protecting the people who need you. You’re brave, selfless, and way more capable than you give yourself credit for. You might downplay your role with a joke, but everyone knows: when the Demogorgon shows up, you’re the one grabbing the nail bat. Selfless Brave Loyal Underestimated ↻ PLAY AGAIN
2026 as a whole has proven itself a solid year for sci-fi movies and TV shows, but when it comes to April specifically, that becomes even better. Right now, several genre releases are dominating streaming. Currently trending in streaming services' top tens are The Creator on HBO Max, Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice and Star Wars: Maul - Shadow Lord on Disney+, Mercy and Fallout on Prime Video, and many more.
The Sci-Fi genre is not only proving dominant on the small screen, but also in theaters. Ryan Gosling's Project Hail Mary is the movie to thank for that, currently at $515.8 million worldwide against a $200 million budget. It is performing so well that Gosling announced at 2026's CinemaCon that Project Hail Mary's theatrical run is being extended, which is the perfect move.
Netflix's New Stranger Things Series Can Make The Most Of The Sci-Fi Hype
By releasing Stranger Things: Tales from '85 in April, Netflix is making the most of the boost in interest that sci-fi projects have received as of late. The animated show is releasing during the perfect storm to draw interest from non-Stranger Things fans, and despite the popularity of the original series, Tales from '85 could face a complicated path.
While this is a new Stranger Things show, it goes from live-action to animation, which usually means the loss of a portion of the fan base, and will feature beloved characters like Eleven, Steve, and more, but with new actors taking over the roles. Stranger Things: Tales from '85 will have to win over both franchise and non-franchise fans, so Netflix releasing the show during a sci-fi boom helps it immensely.
Cast
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Brooklyn Davey Norstedt Eleven -
Odessa A'zion Nikki Baxter
Franchise(s) Stranger Things Creator(s) Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Eric Robles Expand Collapse
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