Netflix Debuts First Look at ‘Stranger Things’ Cartoon

Although Stranger Things is scheduled to conclude with its fifth season, expected in late 2025, it’s unlikely to truly end. As long as Netflix profits from the show, it will likely continue in some form.

As the original Stranger Things series nears its end, Netflix has announced a new animated spin-off called Stranger Things: Tales From ’85. This show will take place between seasons two and three of the original series, filling in some of the gaps and showing what happened during that time.

While you’ll still recognize the characters from the original show, they’ll be voiced by a new cast of young actors. The new cast includes Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max, Luca Diaz as Mike, Elisha “EJ” Williams as Lucas, Braxton Quinney as Dustin, Ben Plessala as Will, and Brett Gipson as Hopper.

Watch the first look at the show below:

As a huge fan of Stranger Things, I was so excited to hear about Tales From ’85! Apparently, the Duffer Brothers came up with the idea while they were just tossing around other possibilities within the Stranger Things world. Ross Duffer mentioned it was actually one of the first things they thought of when they started considering what else they could do with the story.

Here is the series’ official synopsis:

Okay, so ‘Stranger Things: Tales From ’85’ throws us right back into the chilly world of Hawkins – it’s winter 1985, and things are, predictably, not peaceful. As a viewer, I found myself immediately immersed as our favorite characters face off against some seriously creepy new monsters and try to figure out what’s causing all the paranormal chaos. This animated series feels like a proper expansion of the universe, and it really delivers on the suspense and mystery we’ve come to expect.

Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 will debut on Netflix in 2026.

12 Great Netflix Movies You Never Watched

The Meyerowitz Stories (New and Selected) (2017)

It’s surprising that Ben Stiller and Adam Sandler didn’t work together for twenty years! Their last film before Noah Baumbach’s The Meyerowitz Stories was Happy Gilmore. They have fantastic chemistry in this new movie, making you wish they’d collaborated more often. The Meyerowitz Stories was definitely worth the wait, as the two convincingly play half-brothers struggling with their complicated relationship with their artist father, Harold (Dustin Hoffman). (Stiller and Sandler recently appeared together again in the Netflix film Happy Gilmore 2.)

The Other Side of the Wind (2018)

Netflix’s dominance in filmmaking is complete—they’re even releasing films credited to directors who are no longer alive. It’s striking to see the words “Netflix presents… An Orson Welles Picture” appear on screen, especially considering Welles passed away in 1985.

This film is constructed from around 100 hours of footage Welles shot throughout the 1970s, along with his notes and a rough cut he created. A team of producers and editors have worked to complete the film, aiming to realize Welles’ original vision. The finished product feels very much like his other work—visually similar to his documentary F For Fake and thematically echoing Citizen Kane, though it’s less polished and sometimes more playful than his most famous films.

Private Life (2018)

I don’t know anything about the filmmaker Tamara Jenkins’ personal life, but I understand the struggles with infertility – my wife and I went through it ourselves. That’s why this film feels so real; it must be inspired by someone’s actual experiences. The movie follows a couple, brilliantly played by Kathryn Hahn and Paul Giamatti, as they desperately try to have a baby. It’s a problem many couples face today, as they build their careers and start families later in life, but it’s rarely shown on screen with such raw honesty. Jenkins has taken these intensely private and painful moments and turned them into something truly beautiful.

Triple Frontier (2019)

If this movie had come out decades ago, it would have been a low-budget action film playing alongside another movie in theaters. Today, it’s one of the many films that appeared on Netflix in 2019 and was quickly forgotten. However, Triple Frontier is worth seeking out. While the posters suggest a typical war movie, it’s more like a classic film noir, The Treasure of Sierra Madre, exploring how greed can destroy a group of former soldiers who team up to rob a drug dealer. Their meticulous plans fall apart due to a series of small problems – even something as simple as the weight of the stolen money making their escape difficult. Ben Affleck seems to understand the damaging effects of greed, and that understanding shines through in his performance, making it one of his best in recent years.

Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story by Martin Scorsese (2019)

Martin Scorsese directed Rolling Thunder Revue, a film about Bob Dylan’s 1970s tour, but he wasn’t actually there during the tour itself. He created the film by combining concert footage with clips from a rarely seen fictional movie Dylan made at the same time, Renaldo and Clara. The film also includes new interviews with people involved, including Dylan, who reportedly hadn’t discussed the tour on camera for ten years. In a humorous opening, Dylan jokes that he has no memory of the Rolling Thunder Revue, claiming it happened so long ago he wasn’t even born! Rolling Thunder Revue playfully blends fact and fiction, feeling less like a traditional documentary and more like a mockumentary in the style of This Is Spinal Tap – though, unlike that film, Dylan and his band were very real. It’s a quirky film that might be easily overlooked on Netflix.

Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (2020)

Don’t be put off by the long title or the fact that this movie is based on a singing competition most Americans weren’t familiar with. It’s easily Will Ferrell’s funniest film in a decade! He has great chemistry with Rachel McAdams, who is just as hilariously silly as he is. They play two platonic friends from Iceland who unexpectedly get the chance to compete in the Eurovision Song Contest. The contest itself is a lot of fun, the songs are surprisingly good and funny, and Ferrell and McAdams are fantastic together. If you don’t enjoy it, well, that’s just silly!

High Flying Bird (2020)

We love seeing clever characters in movies. When characters are genuinely smart, it keeps us guessing and makes the film more engaging. Usually, you only find well-developed, intelligent characters in truly compelling movies, because it takes a skilled filmmaker to write them effectively. Steven Soderbergh’s High Flying Bird, co-written with Tarell Alvin McCraney, is one of those films, filled with bright characters. André Holland, known for Moonlight, plays Ray Burke, a basketball agent scrambling to save his star player’s career during an NBA lockout. The movie feels like a sports-world version of the Ocean’s films – and it’s brilliantly clever.

Descendant (2022)

Margaret Brown’s documentary filmmaking skillfully combines careful observation with insightful questioning. In Descendant, she asks thoughtful questions of people in an Alabama community as they come to terms with the discovery of remnants from the Clotilda, the last ship that brought enslaved Africans to the U.S. She also understands the power of simply letting events unfold naturally before the camera. Unlike many Netflix documentaries that quickly cover current events, Descendant is a more deliberate and carefully crafted film.

Apollo 10 1/2: A Space Age Childhood (2022)

Richard Linklater’s animated film, Apollo 10 1/2, explores the blurry line between dreams and memories, and how dreams can sometimes feel incredibly vivid. The movie is a nostalgic look back at Linklater’s childhood in 1960s Houston, near NASA, and playfully imagines him being chosen as the first boy in space due to a technical issue with an Apollo capsule. Through its visuals and sound, Apollo 10 1/2 offers a charming and personal journey into the mind and early life of a talented filmmaker.

Leo (2023)

Adam Sandler was an early adopter of Netflix, and he’s been behind many of their popular movies and shows, including Murder Mystery and Happy Gilmore 2. He’s also supported acclaimed films like The Meyerowitz Stories and voiced the lead role in Leo, a surprisingly charming and funny animated musical about a lizard who decides to escape his life as a classroom pet. Leo avoids being overly sentimental or silly, and it’s notable for its remarkably realistic portrayal of kindergarteners – chaotic, energetic, and utterly adorable.

Rebel Ridge (2024)

Aaron Pierre gave a truly impressive performance as an upright Marine caught in a web of corruption with rogue police officers in Rebel Ridge. Despite being one of many new releases on Netflix in September 2024, his work didn’t get the attention it deserved. However, Pierre was fantastic, and director Jeremy Saulnier—known for films like Blue Ruin and Green Room—delivered another excellent action thriller, reminiscent of First Blood but with a contemporary, gritty edge.

The Greatest Night in Pop (2024)

Growing up, I was obsessed with the making of the song “We Are the World” and watched the documentary about it constantly. This new film blends recent interviews with Lionel Richie and other artists involved with incredible footage from the original documentary. Now that I recognize everyone, watching the recording process feels like stepping back into the 80s – the music, the fashion… it’s all there! (Lindsey Buckingham’s hair is a sight to behold!) It’s also fascinating to see how all these famous musicians interacted with so little supervision. You start to wonder who took the lead, who felt the pressure, who might have had a little too much to drink, or who got upset about singing in a different language. Even if you don’t love the song itself, you’ll probably enjoy this film if you’re interested in the dynamics between these stars.

2025-11-06 19:58