5 1980s Movies to Watch Before the Duffer Bros’ New Sci-Fi Series on Netflix

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If you enjoyed shows like Stranger Things and Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, you’ll likely be hooked by Netflix’s new series, The Boroughs. Created by the team behind Stranger Things, this sci-fi horror story centers on a group of seniors in a New Mexico retirement community who band together to fight an alien threat – one that’s stealing their time. The trailer gives you a good sense of the show’s feel, which clearly draws inspiration from classic 1980s movies.

It’s important to remember that The Boroughs isn’t entirely original – it’s clearly inspired by classic films. If you’re excited about the show and want to fully appreciate it, here are some great ’80s movies to watch beforehand to get a feel for its influences.

5) E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

You might wonder why we’re suggesting E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial before you watch The Boroughs, since it’s not a comedic mystery or a thriller about suburban anxieties. While it’s a fun movie with some sweet and funny scenes, it’s a different experience altogether. However, it’s worth seeing because the creators of The Boroughs, the Duffer Brothers, were heavily influenced by Steven Spielberg. E.T. perfectly shows how 1980s filmmakers could take a premise like an alien landing on Earth and make it feel incredibly believable.

This film centers on a boy who discovers a stranded alien and secretly shelters him, attempting to help him return home while evading government detection. E.T. is a fantastic starting point for the series, not because of its overall mood, but because of how it tells its story. It establishes a familiar science fiction pattern: incredible events don’t happen in research facilities or distant galaxies, but in everyday places like someone’s backyard. Considering the series explores the concept of the unbelievable appearing in unexpected locations, this movie serves as a perfect introduction to that core idea.

4) Cocoon

The show’s creators have directly mentioned Cocoon as a major inspiration, making it a key film to watch before diving into The Boroughs. It’s not hard to understand why. Cocoon is a rare science fiction movie that focuses on older characters without needing a younger character to drive the story. It fully embraces the idea that older people can still be energetic, passionate, curious, and even spontaneous – and that’s exactly the kind of approach The Boroughs seems to be taking.

This movie centers around a group of retirees who stumble upon a swimming pool with incredible, almost magical, anti-aging properties. What follows is a delightfully funny mix of science fiction and relatable human problems. It’s easy to see why this film serves as a great introduction to The Boroughs – they share a similar atmosphere: a seemingly quiet community, characters who believe they’ve experienced everything life has to offer, and then a completely unexpected event throws everything into chaos.

3) Poltergeist

If The Boroughs aims to incorporate horror elements – even the kind that appeals to a wider audience – Poltergeist is an essential watch. It’s not necessarily the most frightening film out there, though certain scenes are still genuinely unsettling. What makes it so important is that it’s the perfect example of how to create horror in a suburban setting. It starts with a completely ordinary family in a typical neighborhood and transforms it into a terrifying experience. And it does so without getting bogged down in complex explanations or complicated storylines, simply increasing the sense of unease until it’s too late.

The story of Poltergeist begins with a typical haunted house scenario: strange things start happening, and then the family’s youngest child vanishes, revealing a much larger, terrifying problem. This is where the connection to The Boroughs becomes clear. Both stories explore the frightening idea that evil doesn’t hide in distant, isolated places like spooky forests or abandoned buildings – it’s right where you live, in your home or neighborhood. This creates a sense of unease and paranoia, which the Duffer Brothers excel at building, though they often add humor and a sense of adventure to the mix.

2) Ghostbusters

The movie Ghostbusters created a unique formula: taking the supernatural and portraying it as a normal, everyday job. That’s a big reason why it’s still so enjoyable. It doesn’t present ghosts as mysterious or spiritual, but rather as a problem that needs solving—almost like a service you’d pay for. This approach is similar to what you’ll find in the new Netflix series, The Boroughs. It focuses on regular people grappling with something completely beyond their understanding, doesn’t it?

Everyone loves the classic movie Ghostbusters, which tells the story of three scientists down on their luck who start a business catching ghosts. They quickly find themselves dealing with a much bigger, more dangerous paranormal problem than they bargained for. What makes Ghostbusters so great isn’t just that it’s funny, but how it perfectly balances humor with genuinely scary moments, making the supernatural feel exciting but never safe. If the new show The Boroughs can achieve that same mix, it’s sure to be a show you won’t be able to stop watching.

1) The ‘Burbs

It’s surprising how few people discuss the movie The ‘Burbs, but it really feels like a precursor to The Boroughs. Essentially, it’s a comedy about what happens when bored neighbors start investigating each other, turning minor oddities into major suspicions. It’s funny because it’s relatable – we all know a neighborhood where rumors quickly spiral out of control. The film cleverly shows that mysteries aren’t always about the supernatural; often, they’re fueled by people who simply have too much time on their hands.

The movie centers on a man who becomes convinced his new neighbors are dangerous – either murderers or involved in strange rituals. This kicks off a chain of events filled with constant suspicion, home invasions, and his increasingly frantic attempts to investigate, which ultimately make things worse. The ‘Burbs perfectly captures that unsettling feeling when you sense something is off, but can’t convince anyone else. The humor is also spot-on for what the Duffer Brothers appear to be aiming for in their work: it’s not silly or slapstick, but comes from watching people become increasingly stressed and overanalyze everything.

The Boroughs hits Netflix on May 21.

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2026-04-25 01:13