What font inspired the Stranger Things title sequence?

The Stranger Things title sequence was inspired by the typeface ITC Benguiat.

ITC Benguiat is a decorative serif typeface designed by Ed Benguiat and released by the International Typeface Corporation in 1977. Its tall, elegant letters, pronounced serifs, and slightly theatrical appearance give it a strong connection to the visual language of late-20th-century book covers and film titles.

The show’s designers drew heavily on 1980s title-sequence traditions, including work associated with designer Richard Greenberg on films such as Altered States and The Dead Zone. The producers ultimately chose ITC Benguiat after the title studio had tested several typefaces. The final sequence animates the letters sliding into place, creating the slow, ominous reveal that became part of the show’s identity.

The font choice also echoes the series’ literary influences. ITC Benguiat appeared on original 1980s editions of Stephen King novels, and those covers helped inspire the Stranger Things logo. It is therefore more accurate to say that the title sequence uses and was inspired by ITC Benguiat, not Trajan, Futura, or Helvetica. The font is also sometimes confused with its related sans-serif variant, ITC Benguiat Gothic.