Stranger Things was first released on Netflix in 2016.
The show's first season premiered worldwide on July 15, 2016, with all eight episodes released at once. That simultaneous release helped establish the series as a binge-watching phenomenon and allowed viewers to discover its mystery-driven story at their own pace.
Created by Matt and Ross Duffer, the series blends science fiction, horror, mystery, and coming-of-age drama. Its story follows children in Hawkins, Indiana, after the disappearance of Will Byers exposes a secret laboratory, a parallel dimension called the Upside Down, and a girl with extraordinary powers.
The year is sometimes confused with 2017 because the second season arrived on October 27, 2017. Other major release dates include the third season in 2019 and the fourth season in 2022. The original 2016 launch, however, refers specifically to season one and the beginning of the Netflix series.