It's no secret that Stranger Things takes influence from the stories that came before. Elements of Spielberg and Stephen King dominated the first two seasons, while season three took heavy influence from the works of George A. Romero, John Carpenter, and Sam Raimi, to name just a few.
Rather than merely ripping off that which came before, Stranger Things has decided to honor its predecessors and influences with a myriad of references. Season 3 was chock full of fantastic movie references, some of which were rather obvious, some of which were more subtle.
"Gold Leader, Returning To Base."
Upon returning home from camp, Dustin calls his friends and uses the moniker "Gold Leader." Of course, this being Dustin, his moniker was lifted directly from Return of the Jedi, as Gold Leader is Lando Calrissian's call sign during the Battle of Endor. This isn't the first time that Dustin has referenced Lando, so we're starting to think that he's Dustin's favorite character or something! Return of the Jedi was likely still fresh in Dustin's mind, as the movie came out in the summer of 1983, just two years before the events of season three.
Facehugger
Throughout season three, the gloopy gore monster infects people by sticking some type of suction cup-like appendage to their faces. This is very similar to the manner in which the alien infects people (specifically Kane) in the original Alien. In that movie, Kane peers into an alien egg and is attacked by the famous Facehugger, an alien entity that attaches itself to his face. Both methods look and act very similar, and knowing the geniuses behind Stranger Things, it can't be mere coincidence!
Kaufman Shoes
One of the defining stores in the Starcourt Mall is Kaufman Shoes. The store is given specific attention, as it's a part of the Russian code that Robin cracks. And, as is often the case with fictional stores, this name is not just some random name made to sound professional. It is likely a reference to director Philip Kaufman, the director of the 1978 Invasion of the Body Snatchers. We might have chalked it up to coincidence if it wasn't for the fact that Invasion of the Body Snatchers served a major influence on the third season of the show.
The Die Hard Fight
In one of the most exciting scenes of the season, Hopper gets the drop on the Russian Terminator and aims a gun directly at the back of his head. This entire sequence is ripped straight from Die Hard.
The Russian tells Hopper that he won't shoot because there are rules for policemen, which is exactly what Tony says to John McClane. Hopper also hops (heh) on the Russian's back, causing them to bang into various walls and structures. This is exactly what happens in Die Hard when John jumps on Tony's back.
Xenomorph Blood
The Facehugger-like appendage isn't the only Alien reference found in season three. When the ice cream gang comes across the mysterious green liquid in the mall elevator, the capsule opens in the exact same manner that the Nostromo's power cells do in Alien. The green liquid is also extremely acidic and can be seen eating through multiple floors of the facility. This is a clear reference to the Xenomorph blood in Alien, which is also green and which is also so acidic that it eats away at the Nostromo's floors.
We'll Meet Again
At the end of episode four, the possessed Billy and Heather glance at their army of pod people while Vera Lynn's 'We'll Meet Again' plays in the background. This is likely a reference to Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove, in which the same song plays over the apocalyptic closing montage. In both instances, the song is used to depict a troubling situation. In the show, it's during the reveal that the townsfolk have become infected. In the movie, it's that the entire world is ending in a cacophony of nuclear explosions.
Cabin Attack
In the penultimate episode of the season, the gang is ambushed by the gigantic gore monster and are forced to take refuge in Hopper's cabin. This entire sequence is filled with hidden references to Evil Dead and Evil Dead II, horror movies that also takes place in a secluded cabin in the middle of the woods. For example, there's a deer head on one of the walls, Lucas uses an axe (a popular weapon of choice in the series), and a piece of the goop monster scuttles away after being severed, much like how Ash's hand crawls away from his body. An Evil Dead poster also features prominently in Jonathan's room. We wonder if he ever made the connection...
Griswold Family
In the season finale, Dustin once again utilizes call signs over the walkie. In this case, he uses the moniker "Griswold Family" for the gang at the mall. This is an in-universe reference to the fictional Griswold family of National Lampoon's Vacation.
Vacation had come out in July of 1983, so it's safe to say that Dustin is a fan. He likely gave the gang that specific moniker because Nancy drives a station wagon, the same car used by the Griswold family during their adventures in the movie. Dustin is quite the film connoisseur, isn't he!?
2. Shaun Of The Dead-Esque Broadcast
This one may be a bit of a stretch, but hear us out! Immediately following the deadly, destructive and fiery climax of Shaun of the Dead, the film cuts to a humorous news broadcast that wraps the story up and catches us up on the preceding events that we missed. At the end of Stranger Things, the show cuts from a deadly, destructive, and fiery climax to a somewhat-humorous news broadcast that wraps the story up and catches us up on the preceding events that we missed! Like we said, it may be mere coincidence, but the tone and style bare a striking resemblance to Shaun of the Dead.
The Alien Scream
OK, one more Alien reference! This time it's Alien 3. In the sixth episode, Nancy gets trapped in a hospital room with the goop monster, who proceeds to slowly crawl towards her and scream directly in her face. This is a terrifying image, and if you think that you've seen it before, you're right. It's a clear reference to Alien 3, when the alien slowly approaches Ripley and growls in her ear! It's the most iconic image from the otherwise disappointing movie, and it's become one of horror's most legendary and well-remembered shots. The Duffer Brothers, like everyone else, clearly love them some Alien!