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How to Stream All the Movies and Shows Referenced in Stranger Things 3

There were a lot of classic cinema references to be seen on-screen

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Amanda Bell

The pop culture pastiche game was as strong as ever in Stranger Things 3, and chances are, you may be left curious about some or all of the films and TV series that were referenced throughout the new '80s-tastic series installment.

In addition to the list of vintage movies the Duffer Brothers previously revealed to be inspirations for Stranger Things 3, there were also some unexpected homages to be found throughout those eight new episodes. So, if you've finished streaming the latest season and have an itch to revisit some of those classic titles that made it into the show's latest outing, here's a handy where-to guide for how to stream the screen pieces behind Stranger Things 3.

Quiz: What Would Your Fate Be in Stranger Things?

Back to the Future (1985)
Doc and Marty McFly's time-traveling adventures were featured a few times throughout Stranger Things 3, most prominently when Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Erica (Priah Ferguson) had to hide the drugged-up Steve (Joe Keery) and Robin (Maya Hawke) in a movie theater.
Stream it: on Cinemax or Amazon Prime Video (for rental)

Cheers (1982-93)
The classic comedy series was apparently what Joyce (Winona Ryder) and the late, great Bob (Sean Astin) used to spend their downtime watching, because when she revisited an old episode over her microwaved dinner in Season 3, it seemed to make her feel like nobody knew her name in that moment.
Stream it: on Netflix, Hulu, CBS All Access, and Amazon Prime

Day of the Dead(1985)
The third installment to George A. Romero's "Living Dead" series was both directly and indirectly referenced in Stranger Things 3. It was the film that Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Max (Sadie Sink), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), and Will (Noah Schnapp) snuck into, and it seemed to inspire some shots of the Mind-Flayed minions congregating in the Flesh Monster's lair.
Stream it: on Amazon Prime Video (for rental)

All of the Food Featured in Stranger Things

Fast Times at Ridgemont High(1982)
As the action in Stranger Things 3 moved to the Starcourt Mall, this slacker comedy inspired Steve Hair-ington's (Joe Keery) new sailor suit at the food court, and its aesthetic was channeled for those bright pool scenes. The film also got a direct reference in the finale, when Steve checked out the Phoebe Cates stand-up at the video store.
Stream it: on Amazon Prime Video (for rental)

The Fly (1986)
While the Duffers didn't specifically name the David Cronenberg title(s) they took notes from in the new season, The Fly, which centered on a man's outward and inward transformation into a beast, seemed to have a major impact on Billy's (Dacre Montgomery) storyline in the new season.
Stream it: on Amazon Prime Video (for rental)

Jurassic Park (1993)
This is a rare instance of the show drawing from titles that came along after the show's time period, but between those cryo-tubes and the way the kids had to hide behind counters as the Flesh Monster wriggled around to find them, there were a lot of scenes that reminded us of this jurassic classic.
Stream it: on Amazon Prime Video (for rental)

The Karate Kid (1984)
Ralph Macchio was all the rage when this coming-of-age karate drama came out, so it wasn't too surprising to see Eleven and Max fawn over his teen magazine spread in Stranger Things 3.
Stream it: on Amazon Prime Video (for rental)

The NeverEnding Story(1984)
This fantasy-adventure epic got the strangest shout-out of all, when Dusty-Bun and Suzie-Poo staged a radio duet of the theme song at the tail end of the show.
Stream it: on Amazon Prime Video (free with IMDbTV membership)

Magnum, P.I.(1980-88)
Jim Hopper (David Harbour) was trying to distract himself from all the teen smooching underway in the next room by watching the pilot of this crime procedural, but as gripping as the title sleuth's (Tom Selleck) earliest adventures were, Hopper still had to ditch his recliner to interrupt the slobberfest.
Stream it: on CBS All Access

Midnight Run(1988)
The subplot of Hopper and Joyce taking the Russian hostage was clearly inspired by this crime dramedy about a bounty hunter trying to bring a mob boss' accountant back to Los Angeles.
Stream it: on Tubi or Amazon Prime Video (for rental)

Raiders of the Lost Ark(1981)
Indiana Jones' adventures came into play in a roundabout way, as our heroes tried to prevent the power of the Upside Down from falling into the wrong hands.
Stream it: on Netflix or Amazon Prime Video (for rental)
Romancing the Stone (1984)
This romantic adventure film seemed to chart its way into the Stranger Things 3 storyline by way of Joyce and Hopper's romp through the woods -- it wasn't exactly a jungle, but between the romantic tension and the scenery, we can see where the Duffers might've taken notes from this pic.
Stream it: on Starz or Amazon Prime Video (for rental)

The Terminator(1984)
The seemingly unkillable nature of our gun-toting Russian baddie sure reminded some fans of the dogged pursuit of The Terminator's eponymous future robot in this classic action movie.
Stream it: Amazon Prime Video (for rental)

The Thing (1982)
John Carpenter's monster masterpiece is tinged with themes of isolation and distrust, and after all of those hints that Billy would have his mind flayed, it wasn't too surprising to we have to imagine all that body-snatching business will have had some serious impact on the series. Plus, the Flesh Monster seemed plucked straight from the screen of certain scenes in The Thing.
Stream it: on Amazon Prime Video (for rental)

Stranger Things Seasons 1-3 are now streaming on Netflix.

PHOTOS: All of Stranger Things 3's Pop Culture References

Stranger Things 3

Stranger Things 3

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