The fourth season of Stranger Things may have provided viewers with fantasy, sci-fi, and gore, but let's not forget the thing that fans love most about the show: the friendship between the gang. The series created one of the most iconic onscreen friendship groups to date when it first debuted in 2016, and fans have been invited to watch that group progress through the series.
Its focus on childhood bonds left many fans searching for that same wholesome vibe, but in movie format, these are a few fun flicks with a young friendship group like Stranger Things that will leave viewers reflecting on their own youth.
The Florida Project (2017)
The Florida Project is a somewhat unknown indie flick that melted viewers' hearts whilst also temporarily breaking them by creating a sweet friendship group amid adult chaos. The movie is highly representative of the modern day and stirred up many conversations about welfare and how this can affect children while showing how well children can adapt.
Following Moonee as she befriends two other children her own age, the movie allows viewers to explore the world with them, including the good, the bad, and the ugly. None of the children are that aware of the hardship they currently face, which is perhaps what makes the trio so compelling. They find beauty, hilarity, and entertainment in the little things, offering viewers a reminder of childhood innocence and the friendships that help them through.
Super 8 (2011)
The release of Super 8 saw fans search for more adventure movies that gave them that same nostalgia, with the movie's infectious 80s charm attracting both younger and older viewers. The movie honed in on things many viewers could relate to their childhood, with many scenes focusing on the kids riding their bikes through empty streets while also working on their homemade movies.
This freaky flick created a friendship group whose eyes for groundbreaking footage brought their imagination to life, leaving this close-knit bond of next-generation filmmakers to explore the strange goings-on. Super 8 was clever in replicating the adventures many viewers went on with their own friends and tuned into the way children think, resulting in an incredible sci-fi movie led by an endearing friendship group, similar to that of Stranger Things.
Me, Earl And The Dying Girl (2015)
Me, Earl, And The Dying Girl took a slightly different approach to represent youth and friendship. Whilst the movie has a tragic storyline and ending, it also provides viewers with the sweetest on-screen trio since Harry, Ron, and Hermione, by showcasing that even a short time together can have a huge impact on someone's life.
This heartwarming flick substitutes the typical romance structure by instead replacing it with a friendship built on living life to the max, embracing film, and creating art. Me, Earl And The Dying Girl is a conversationalist flick that focuses in on those all-important conversations, highlighting how childhood friendship groups can not only shape someone's life but also heal it and make someone a better person in the long run.
The Kings Of Summer (2013)
The Kings Of Summer is a somewhat underrated coming-of-age adventure drama that toys with teenage rebellion in its purest form. The movie follows a trio of teen boys who seek to live in the woods away from their families. It is full of hilarious moments, and it also explores how teens revert to their childhood imagination when faced with no technology.
The movie captures the importance of friendship as an outlet away from home and even looks into how it can provide a sanctuary when things get tough. The Kings Of Summer created a friendship based on a nostalgia many fans could relate to, whether that's role-playing as knights or exploring the woods and the things that live there, encouraging viewers to reflect on their own woodland adventures through this wholesome flick.
Angus, Thongs And Perfect Snogging (2008)
Whether it's Georgia's embarrassing moments or Rosie's unusual dating facts, Angus, Thongs And Perfect Snogging is one teen romance movie that is simply unforgettable. For many Brits, the movie does an incredible job of representing UK culture, but its approach to friendship is what hooked fans due to its ability to highlight both the ups and downs.
The movie navigates the awkwardness of transitioning between childhood and adolescence by creating a group of friends so comfortable with one another that they can share their deepest darkest secrets, including how Peter Dyer kisses. But, the movie strays from that ultra-sweet look at young friendships by highlighting the ugly parts of growing up too, and how they shape the future friendships both fans and characters, as seen in Stranger Things when Eleven and Mike part ways (though not for long)!
Now And Then (1995)
Now And Then plays on its title by opening with four grown women as they reflect on their youth and the life milestones they hit as a girl group. The movie's focus on friendship is seen through the strength of their bond as it follows them through adulthood and childhood, showcasing just how impactful their bonds had been to all of them.
Now And Then provides fans with a full circle plot that highlights the connections many fans also had with their childhood friends, the secrets they shared, and the experiences they went through together.
The Sandlot (1993)
The Sandlot is one of the best movies guaranteed to get anyone in the mood for summer whilst also offering viewers a good old bit of nostalgia. The movie tells a story of newfound friendships when Smalls moves to a new neighborhood, somewhat mirroring the introduction of Eleven in Stranger Things and the show's 80s vibe.
The Sandlot places importance on communication and trust, with the movie highlighting the fear that comes with starting something new, and that fear can turn into something great, encouraging fans to reminisce on that awkward conversation responsible for friendships they hold today.
Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets (2002)
The Harry Potter franchise is known for its wizarding fantasy world, but it is Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets that places importance on the trio's friendship.
The friendship between them symbolizes how friendship groups can often feel like family, with all three being highly supportive of one another even in the most mundane of tasks, which for Harry is particularly vital as the pair replace the family he once had. The movie is full of wholesome hugs, group takedowns, and a healthy friendship that fans can relate to as they see them grow together over the years, similar to Eleven and her gang.
The Goonies (1985)
The Goonies is one of the most rewatchable movies of the 80s and isn't too dissimilar to Stranger Things, especially with its iconic friendship group and their desire to track down the potential hidden treasure. The Goonies may sound terrifying, but they are in fact a group of friends that look past status, money, or even appearance and instead create a group where outcasts aren't only welcomed, but celebrated.
The gang constantly insults each other through clever comebacks that capture the harsh banter that usually goes hand in hand with friendship, but also showcases how empowering young friendship groups can feel when facing challenges as also seen in Stranger Things.
Stand By Me (1986)
Stand By Me continues to be a well-loved movie, with many fans even introducing their children to the four friends who seek to find the remains of Ray Brower. The movie captures the innocence of friendship without sugar-coating the bits fans know and love about childhood connections, whether it's teasing, play fighting, or just pushing each other's buttons.
This adventure flick gives viewers a start and end point, but the journey that proves to be the most interesting part, with the closeness of the four friends shining. Stand By Me encourages fans even now to reminisce about their own childhood friendships and the adventure they may have gone on themselves, making it a poignant watch that has a firm hold on viewers' hearts.