This underrated sci-fi movie took the premise of Stranger Things 5 ​​years before Netflix

When it premiered in 2016, Stranger things has been praised for recapturing audiences’ nostalgia for Amblin’s coming-of-age sci-fi movies of the ’80s, but JJ Abrams’ Super 8 Did exactly that five years before. Stranger things Combines the small-town thrills of Stephen King novels with the coming-of-age warmth of Stand by me And The Gunnies. By the time the series debuted on Netflix, it felt like a breath of fresh air bringing back the familiar feel of a bygone era of science fiction and teen drama — but Abrams had already done it half a decade earlier.

Although it was originally conceived as a limited series, Stranger things It proved to be so overwhelmingly popular that Netflix wanted to keep it going. The show has been a consistent hit with viewers for three additional installments, with a fifth and final season on the way, expected to be released in 2025. Stranger things became one of the most successful television shows of the 21st century, It was crazy that no one in Hollywood thought to get into Amblin’s nostalgia sooner—except that someone used the nostalgia a whole five years earlier..

Super 8 has an eerily similar premise to Stranger Things

They are both period pieces about small-town teens contending with the supernatural

The premise of Super 8 is strangely similar to that of Stranger things. like Stranger thingsIt’s a period piece, though Super 8 Takes place in the late ’70s where Stranger things Takes place in the ’80s. And how Stranger thingsIt revolves around a plucky group of kids who unwittingly interact with the supernatural in a small town. Whereas Stranger things‘ City of Hawkins is threatened by monsters that come from a parallel dimension to attack local kids, Super 8Lillian’s town is threatened by a malicious alien visitor.

Both Super 8 And Stranger things Use a science fiction story about monsters to dig into the paranoia and conspiracy theories of the Cold War. Super 8 was the first original film directed by AbramsAnd remains his only directorial effort that isn’t based on a popular IP but is so wonderful that it makes a case for Abrams to leave. Star Trek, Star WarsAnd Mission: Impossible behind and tell more original stories. There is more idiosyncrasy and personality in it Super 8 As in one of Abrams’ other films, because it is his story from beginning to end.

Super 8 and Stranger Things are both great, despite being similar

Super 8 and Stranger Things take similar stories in very different directions

Usually, when two similar projects come together around the same time, there is a clear winner: Top Gun is much better than Iron Eagle; The Truman Show is much better than EDtv; Finding Nemo is much better than Shark part. But Super 8 And Stranger things Both are great in their own ways. Unlike a feature film confined to two hours, Stranger things Have the time and freedom to explore a sprawling ensemble of charactersAnd the Duffer brothers have created a bunch of rich, lovable, three-dimensional characters that audiences are emotionally invested in, from Eleven to Jim Hopper.

But while Super 8 Hasn’t had eight hours to sink his teeth into his letters, it still has a lot for him. Super 8 Features stunning visual effects, a great musical score by Michael Giacchino, and brilliant performances from the cast – Specially by Elle Fanning, Joel Courtney and Kyle Chandler. The core story behind the alien invasion storyline is a group of kids trying to make their own zombie movie. Abram’s love for filming shines through here Super 8 Easily his most sincere and heartfelt movie.

Why Stranger Things is so much bigger than Super 8

Stranger Things can push horror much further on television

Although Super 8 Was a box office success when it was in theaters in 2011, its popularity is not compared to Stranger things. While Stranger things remains one of the most popular shows in the world almost a decade after it beganThere are not many people who remember Super 8. This is because Stranger things Used every advantage that television has over film: more time spent with the characters, more time to develop the mysteries and build the tension, and less restrictions on the horror and violence.

As a theatrically released movie with a PG-13 rating, Super 8 is forced to play it safe. Stranger thingsOn the other hand, has no such constraints, because it was produced for a streaming service. Netflix allowed the duffers to take the terror out of their monster story much more than Paramount allowed Abrams with a big-budget movie they hoped to turn into a summer blockbuster. Super 8 Was a fantastic movie, though Stranger things Has fewer restrictions and more time to make an impression on audiences.