With the recent finale of Stranger Things season 4, many fans have been left wanting more sci-fi/horror action from their favorite team of nerds and monster slayers from Hawkins. Although they will definitely have to wait a long while before the grand finale in season 5, that doesn't mean they aren't without something to tide them over.
The new season took the influence from horror movies of the era, namely A Nightmare on Elm Street, making many die-hard fans wonder which films will be used as inspiration next. There's certainly a wealth in and out of the '80s to pick from, but only a certain few can thoroughly follow up the events that shook the little town after the climactic fight with Vecna.
The Lord Of The Rings (1978)
Although many fans of the fantasy genre will be quick to propose a viewing of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings, it would be more appropriate to watch the version that Mike, Will, Lucas, and Dustin would have watched. Ralph Bakshi's animated original was truly a fixture of '80s fantasy, and its influences over the live-action counterpart are also keenly felt.
There are several references to Tolkien's epic in the series, especially Mordor in season 4. The franchise has referenced several works of horror and science-fiction, so more fantasy flavors would be very much appreciated.
The Evil Dead (1981)
Now that the Upside Down has fully opened and exposed itself to Hawkins at the tail end of season 4, the town is essentially sitting on a hotbed of supernatural activity. This means that the forces of the Mind Flayer and other monsters from the other dimension can be lurking around every corner, much like the demonic Deadites in the original Evil Dead.
It's already been shown that beings from the other dimension can affect other people to a great extent, so possession isn't that far out of the ballpark. The negative energies of the Upside Down could very well turn many citizens of Hawkins into zombified minions.
Brightburn (2019)
One of the highlights of this season was watching Eleven go toe to toe with another one of her kind. Vecna/001 was truly a foe worthy of her skill, and watching her put him down with her psionic powers was unquestionably satisfying. If the Duffer brothers want to repeat their success, they might want to consider more supervillain themes.
Though it is not an 80s classic, Brightburn is a perfect example of what happens when a superhero turns evil. The film is essentially the origin story of Superman, but the alien child raised on a farm uses his powers for mass destruction instead of fighting for truth, justice, and the American way. A being like that could easily fit into the world of Stranger Things.
Coraline (2009)
Now that everyone's favorite gang of geeks has grown up since their first encounter with Eleven, it might be time to usher in some new blood for a final season of horror. Holly Wheeler has always seemed blissfully ignorant to the horror surrounding her town, but perhaps she could be bestowed with some better perception and turned into an unwitting ally in the fight against the Mind Flayer.
Easily one of the scariest kids' movies out there, the horror is rich and stylish as the blue-haired heroine explores a strange and unusual world that lies beneath her own home. Kids in scary situations are nothing new, but since portals to other worlds are opening up, the show might want to take notes from Coraline.
The Mist (2007)
Mob mentality can be a terrifyingly dangerous thing in scary movies, especially when a massive, unknown threat suddenly disrupts their lives and horror comes to town. Now that the Upside Down has leaked over into Hawkins, friends and neighbors might soon be turning on each other as monsters and minions of the Mind Flayer roam free.
Based on the short story by Stephen King, The Mist sees a gathering of small-town citizens fortifying themselves in a grocery store as alien monsters lay waste to the town outside. If the angry mob led by the basketball team in season 4 is any indication, this could very well happen now that the floodgates to the other dimension are open.
The Gate (1987)
Gates, portals, and tears in reality to other dimensions are all par for the course in Stranger Things, but now that the doors have been blown wide open, it's time to unleash a whole new wave of monsters on the trembling town of Hawkins. There are worse things than Demogorgons, after all.
A great source of inspiration could be The Gate, in which a group of kids has to battle with pint-sized demons to prevent a portal to Hell from opening in their backyard. Although they might not be as large or intimidating as Vecna, the slippery shapeshifters are good for more than a few scares throughout this underappreciated monster movie.
Predator (1987)
One thing that might have flown under the radar to some in the final two episodes is that the Demogorgon species is getting stronger. It might just be an ability to climb for now, but that doesn't mean the next wave of monsters in season 5 won't be even more dangerous. Imagine what they could do if they could camouflage themselves.
In the realms of science-fiction, there are perhaps few creatures more deadly than the Predator, and there's no denying that the Demogorgon could benefit from some of his attributes. True, the powers need to be more organic than tech-based, but if there can be sorcerers and such in the Upside Down, it's not much of a stretch.
Phantasm (1979)
Vecna is down, but that doesn't mean he's out. Given his ties with Eleven, the kids, and the town, he could very well come back with a vengeance, or a mental link to someone at the bare minimum. Since a mental connection has proven to be a devastating factor in the past, it could be the villain's ticket to getting out of the Upside Down.
A similar plot point can be observed in the original Phantasm, and there are certainly similarities between Vecna and the ominous Tall Man. Although he lacks the orb and hooded minions, the psychedelic visuals and nightmare sequences are very similar. The Duffer brothers can certainly take more than a few tips and tricks from this series.
The Shining (1980)
Stephen King has greatly influenced Stranger Things already, and it's a wonder that there isn't more material seen from The Shining, as several scenes and sequences take from Carrie, Firestarter, and Stand By Me. The series doesn't need a demonic hotel or anything, but journeys through the mind could certainly have a King/Kubrick flavor.
The series already has kids with psychic powers, a town with a deadly secret, and ties to an evil dimension, so ghosts and strange paranormal phenomena wouldn't be out of the question now that the Upside Down can fully sink its claws into Hawkins.
Aliens (1986)
The finale of season 4 came incredibly close to going all the way with its Aliens reference, but it only stopped at the use of a flamethrower. Now that the Demogorgon is a player back on the board, the filmmakers should have gone all the way and had the team in Russia exterminate them like Ripley in James Cameron's '80s action classic.
There's no way fans wouldn't want to see Hopper and Joyce rekindle their relationship after completely going gung-ho in setting a nest of monsters ablaze. It might be overkill to some, but it could be one of the most iconic sequences of season 5 if it were given the right direction. Although, a mech suit would be fun to see in the series as well.