Netflix’s beloved sci-fi show, Stranger Things, has spent the past 6 years and 4 seasons establishing itself as one of the most successful television series of all time. Rooted in its 80s atmosphere and sprinkled with a touch of horror, Stranger Things returned to screens in summer 2022 and immediately reignited audiences' love for the series, following its brief hiatus as a result of the pandemic.
Stranger Things, for those who aren’t familiar, follows a young girl named Eleven, who is capable of a number of supernatural abilities after she was the subject of a secret government experiment. At the core of Stranger Things is a place called the Upside Down, an alternate reality that mirrors Eleven’s home of Hawkins, Indiana. As Eleven and her friends endeavor to bravely protect their hometown from the horrors that have escaped from the Upside Down, all kinds of chaos ensues - making Stranger Things the perfect IP to translate into a theme park attraction. So, here are 4 ways this popular property could do just that.
1. The Upside Down would make the perfect themed land
The Upside Down is a haunted, twisted copy of our world, therefore, a themed land in which the buildings have been overtaken by vines and particles loom in the air would be an instantly recognizable way to bring Stranger Things to a theme park.
Audiences could step from the normal world into this eerie other reality just like the characters within the show. This could, naturally, get very spooky and verge on a daytime Halloween Horror Nights-type experience depending on how far you wanted to take it, but just the atmosphere alone of The Upside Down would be a creepily perfect addition to a theme park that could certainly be toned down to accommodate guests of all ages.
2. Eleven’s story could be told through a Cosmic Rewind-esque coaster
While Eleven and her friends’ story could easily be told through a slow moving dark ride, an indoor coaster - akin to the likes of Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind - could help capture the same energy as the heart-pounding sequences that feature within the show. Season 4’s big bad, Vecna, could feature as the ride’s big antagonist and the attraction could focus on helping Eleven defeat her enemy, complete with the same horror-inspired visuals as season 4’s grand finale.
3. Guests could come face-to-face with Vecna and the Demogorgons
This one might be a little on the ambitious side but the chance to meet-and-greet with the more visually impressive characters within Stranger Things would be an incredibly memorable experience. Given the hard work that has gone into bringing these characters to life on screen, it could potentially be incredibly difficult to translate that to a real-life experience, however, we can certainly dream!
Guests could come face-to-face with a Demogorgon or swap evil plans with Vecna, plus with the door then open to meet and greets, maybe Eleven and her gang could meet with guests also!
4. A show packed with special effects could recreate Stranger Things’ biggest moments
Known for some major iconic moments, such as season 4’s “Running Up That Hill” scene, Stranger Things could easily translate over into some form of live show. Whether it were to take inspiration from Universal Orlando’s Bourne Stuntacular and use a mix of screens and practical effects, or whether it were to become a more broader concept nighttime show that utilizes fireworks (in which case the season 3 finale’s Battle of Starcourt mall would be perfect for this,) there are plenty of huge Stranger Things moments that could be brought to life through a show.
Do you think Stranger Things could work within a theme park setting? How would you most like to see Stranger Things incorporated within a theme park? Let us know your thoughts by voting in our poll or by leaving us a comment below or on our Facebook page.
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