When it premiered in 2016,Stranger Thingswas lauded for recapturing audiences’ nostalgia for Amblin’s coming-of-age sci-fi movies of the ‘80s, but J.J. Abrams’Super 8did just that five years earlier.Stranger Thingscombines the small-town thrills of Stephen King novels with the coming-of-age warmth ofStand by MeandThe Goonies. At 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 already did that half a decade earlier.
Although it was originally conceived as a limited series,Stranger Thingsproved to be so overwhelmingly popularthat 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. AfterStranger Thingsbecame one of the most successful TV shows of the 21st century,it seemed wild that no one in Hollywood thought to tap into Amblin nostalgia sooner – except someone did tap into that nostalgia a full five years sooner.
Before Star Trek, J.J. Abrams Should Revisit His Forgotten $260 Million Sci-Fi Hit
Director J.J. Abrams’ next project should not be another Star Trek movie or franchise, but instead, should be a sequel to his 2011 sci-fi hit.
Super 8 Has A Weirdly Similar Premise To Stranger Things
They’re both period pieces about small-town teens contending with the supernatural
The premise ofSuper 8is oddly similar to that ofStranger Things. LikeStranger Things, it’s a period piece, althoughSuper 8takes place in the late ‘70s whereStranger Thingstakes place in the ‘80s. And likeStranger Things, it revolves around a plucky group of kids who unwittingly contend with the supernatural in a small town. WhereasStranger Things’ town of Hawkins is threatened by monsters who come from a parallel dimensionto attack local kids,Super 8’s town of Lillian is threatened by a malevolent alien visitor.
BothSuper 8andStranger Thingsuse a science fiction story about monsters to dig into Cold War-era paranoia and conspiracy theories.Super 8was the first original movie that Abrams directed, and remains his only directorial feature that isn’t based on a popular I.P. But it’s so wonderful that it makes a case that Abrams should leaveStar Trek,Star Wars, andMission: Impossiblebehind and tell more original stories. There’s more idiosyncrasy and personality inSuper 8than in any of Abrams’ other movies, because it’s his story from beginning to end.
J.J. Abrams' Forgotten $260 Million Sci-Fi Movie Is The Blueprint For His Future After Star Wars & DC Disasters
J.J. Abrams’ plans for Star Wars and DC projects didn’t go as planned, but he should revisit a movie in his past for future success.
Super 8 & 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 along around the same time, there’s a clear winner:Top Gunis much better thanIron Eagle;The Truman Showis much better thanEDtv;Finding Nemois much better thanShark Tale. ButSuper 8andStranger Thingsare both great in their own ways. Unlike a feature film confined to two hours,Stranger Thingshad the time and freedom to explore a sprawling ensemble of characters, and the Duffer brothers created a bunch of rich, lovable, three-dimensional characters that audiences got emotionally invested in, from Eleven to Jim Hopper.
But whileSuper 8didn’t have eight hours to sink its teeth into its characters, it still has plenty going for it.Super 8has stunning visual effects, a great musical score by Michael Giacchino, and brilliant performances from the cast– particularly by Elle Fanning, Joel Courtney, and Kyle Chandler. The core narrative behind the alien invasion storyline is a group of kids trying to make their own zombie movie. This is where Abrams’ love of filmmaking shines through, makingSuper 8easily his most sincere and heartfelt movie.
J.J. Abrams hasn’t directed a movie since 2019’sStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Why Stranger Things Is So Much Bigger Than Super 8
Stranger Things can push the horror a lot further on television
AlthoughSuper 8was a box office success when it hit theaters in 2011, its popularity doesn’t compare toStranger Things. WhileStranger Thingsremains one of the most popular shows in the world almost a decade after it began, there aren’t many people whorememberSuper 8. This is becauseStranger Thingsutilized every advantage that television has over film: more time spent with the characters, more time to develop the mysteries and build the suspense, and less restraints on the horror and violence.
As a theatrically released movie going for a PG-13 rating,Super 8was forced to play it safe.Stranger Things, on the other hand, had no such constraints, because it was produced for a streaming service. Netflix allowed the Duffers to take the terror of their monster story much further than Paramount allowed Abrams with a big-budget movie they were hoping to turn into a summer blockbuster.Super 8was a fantastic movie, butStranger Thingshad fewer restrictions and more time to make an impression on audiences.
Super 8
Cast
Super 8 is a science fiction thriller directed by J.J. Abrams and produced by Steven Spielberg. Set in 1979 Ohio, the film follows a group of young friends making a zombie movie who witness a catastrophic train derailment, uncovering a series of mysterious events and disappearances in their small town.
