The Goonies was a major influence in the creation of Stranger Things, and that was made evident by the various Easter eggs and references in the Netflix series. Developed by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things debuted on the streaming giant in the summer of 2016. Initially flying under the radar, the sci-fi series transformed into a bonafide hit, and it continues to be a must-watch as it gears up for season 4. Since the series is set in the '80s, the Duffers made an effort to pay tribute to some of the most beloved titles of that era, including Richard Donner's 1985 comedy The Goonies.
The Duffer Brothers have been outspoken about the pop culture inspirations behind their first big solo TV project. While names like Stephen King, John Carpenter, and George A. Romero always come up in comparison to Stranger Things' horror elements, another notable influence was and continues to be Steven Spielberg. While aspects of Eleven's arrival in Hawkins has been connected to E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, the mysteriousness of the Demogorgon was inspired by Jaws.
Spielberg didn't direct The Goonies, but the comedy about a group of kids on the hunt for pirate treasure was based on a story he wrote. The Duffer Brothers made a handful of changes when developing Stranger Things, but they felt it was important to mirror the character dynamics seen in The Goonies. Not only was the time period linked, but the focus on a group of kids remained a key component. That said, here are all of the references to The Goonies presented in Stranger Things so far.
On the surface, Stranger Things shares much in common with The Goonies just by looking at the general plot. Before the series dove deep into the lore of the Upside Down and the creatures that reside within the dimension, it drew similarities to the '80s adventure for its focus on a group of kids. Like Donner's film, Stranger Things follows a close-knit gang of pre-teens who take it upon themselves to investigate a series of mysteries involving their town. While the kids of Hawkins encountered higher stakes, the young figures searching for One-Eyed Willy's treasure in Oregon faced their fair share of danger too.
The tone of The Goonies was a major influence on the Duffer Brothers when developing Stranger Things. Both groups showcased bravery for their young ages, and they had admirable qualities when it came to loyalty and friendship. The core group of Stranger Things continues to get older, but they haven't lost their investigative spirit. Not only do they continue to look out for one another, but they make an effort to protect their town. That same mentality was on display with the crew from The Goonies when they went on their special mission to save an area in their hometown from forclosure.
Diving even deeper, each set of characters from the two titles share distinct connections. The Duffers certainly modeled many of their characters to emulate the group from The Goonies. Mixed elements of Mikey, Chunk, Mouth, and Data can be seen through the characterizations of Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Will. Finn Wolfhard's character, Mike, in particular, was modeled after Mikey in The Goonies. Not only does he share a first name and initials, but he emerges as one of the leaders of the circle. Like Mikey, Mike serves as the glue that keeps the gang together even through the toughest challenges.
Stranger Things also took a page out of The Goonies' playbook by incorporating older teens into the fray since its debut season. Mikey forced his older brother, Brandon, to get involved in the treasure hunt. In turn, Andy and Stef joined the mission alongside the others. Though Mike from Stranger Things doesn't have an older brother, he does have Nancy, who became drawn into the drama through her sibling. Granted, Will's older brother Jonathan also willingly faces off with the threats from the Upside Down since the terrors within target Will. To round out the Stranger Things teenage trio in the same fashion as The Goonies, Steve Harrington became a vital ally despite his initial reluctance.
While it was made clear The Goonies was a major inspiration for Stranger Things during season 1, the second installment took that up a notch with a new cast member. Sean Astin, who played Mikey Walsh in The Goonies, was tapped to play Bob Newby in Stranger Things season 2. Interestingly enough, Astin first auditioned for the role of Murray Bauman, but he turned out to be a better fit to portray Joyces' kind-natured boyfriend. Sadly, Bob was killed off by the end of the season, but he got the opportunity for a heroic sacrifice before his demise. During his short stint, the Duffer Brothers made sure to give Astin a chance to honor his Goonies legacy.
In Stranger Things season 2, Will started to draw what looked to be a series of vines all over the Byers house. With the help of Bob, his drawings were revealed to be a map of tunnels underneath Hawkins. While examining the map, Mike told Bob the objective was to "find the X" in which Astin's character replied:
Yeah? What’s at the X? Pirate treasure?
The line, of course, was a direct reference to Astin's past as Mikey in The Goonies. His character was greatly responsible for finding One-Eyed Willy's treasure after traveling through the tunnels under the town. If it wasn't for Mikey's persistence and problem-solving skills, the group may have never found the loot. The same can be said for Bob's help in figuring out the tunnel system underneath Hawkins, which led to the rescue of Chief Jim Hopper.
Stranger Things has incorporated a handful of other references to The Goonies during the show's three-season run. Season 1 introduced a classmate of the kids named Troy who served as a stereotypical bully. On more than one occasion, Troy tried to physically harm Mike and his friends, forcing Eleven to use her powers to intervene. In The Goonies, Brand's bully was the spoiled son of the Astoria Country Club's owner, and his name was also Troy. Speaking of Brand, Josh Brolin's character was remembered for wearing a red bandana on this head for the duration of the movie. Lucas also had a history of wearing a wrapped bandana in Stranger Things to show he meant business.
Ahead of the release of Stranger Things season 2, Netflix revealed a series of promotional posters mirroring classics from the '70s and '80s. Among them was a poster that paid tribute to The Goonies. Rather than Mikey and his group standing in pirate treasure with Mama Fratelli lurking in the background, the Stranger Things crew was huddled in the Upside Down with the Demogorgon peeking from behind. Now that Stranger Things will follow events beyond the debut of The Goonies in 1985, it wouldn't be surprising if the series made direct references.
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