Stranger Things has become one of the most successful television series to be released in the past ten years, and has made its way to the center of pop culture. The Duffer Brothers are the masterminds behind this story and are responsible for producing, writing, and directing episodes of the Netflix original series. Ever since its initial release in 2016, Stranger Things has been an immediate success, and six years later, the hype still hasn’t died down. On May 27, 2022, Stranger Things 4: Volume 1 was released and is arguably the show’s best season yet. The horror, suspense, and heartbreaking moments were more intense than ever, leaving audiences desperate to see what will happen in volume 2, which, per Collider, will be released on July 1, 2022.
A tribute to 80s horror movies, Stranger Things revolves around a group of teens from a small town called Hawkins, where strange and unexplainable supernatural things take place. Eleven and her friends Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, and Max take on these demonic forces in an attempt to save their loved ones and their town. In addition to this core group, there are many other people in Hawkins who have caught on to how different this town really is, from Eleven’s guardian Hopper, played by David Harbour, to Will’s mother Joyce, played by Winona Ryder. Here are the ten best characters in Stranger Things, ranked.
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10 Nancy Wheeler
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Nancy Wheeler, played by Natalia Dyer, is Mike’s smart, responsible, and determined older sister. Throughout the show, we see Nancy search endlessly for answers and fight against terrifying forces when it comes to protecting the people she loves. This fearful determination is what makes fans love her so much. In the first season, Nancy is head over heels for Steve Harrington, her quick-witted and charming boyfriend, but the relationship doesn’t last very long, and she quickly moves on to Will Byers’ older brother Jonathan. Fans are still holding out hope for Nancy and Steve to get back together, and hopefully, we can see them start something back up again in Season 4 Volume 2.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
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9 Lucas Sinclair
Lucas is a beloved original character on the show and has gone through a major transformation throughout the course of Stranger Things. At the beginning of the show, Lucas is a quiet dorky kid, who just enjoys riding bikes and hanging out with his three friends Mike, Dustin, and Will. As the show progresses, so does he: not only does Lucas come out of his shell, but he also becomes “popular” in high school. While his allegiance will always be with his friends, he’s not afraid to take on a new role as a member of the basketball team and gain a little more independence.
8 Will Byers
Will Byers, portrayed by fan-favorite actor Noah Schnapp, is arguably one of the most important characters in Stranger Things despite the fact that he didn’t receive much screen time until the second season. Right at the beginning of the series, we see Will and his friends hanging out together, playing the game Dungeons and Dragons. After the game is over and everyone goes home, Will is overcome by a supernatural creature and trapped in The Upside-Down. The remainder of the show’s first season follows his friends and family trying to find out what happened and get him back. This storyline set up the entire plot of the show and revolved mainly around Will.
7 Dustin Henderson
Audiences all over the world love Dustin Henderson, not only because of what a funny and committed character he is, but also because of how lovable the actor who plays him is. Gaten Matarazzo is a “Broadway Baby” and has been acting pretty much his entire life, although his portrayal of Dustin is by far his most recognizable role to date. In addition to his time in Stranger Things, he has performed in Les Misérables and, per The Hollywood Reporter, will be returning to the Broadway stage soon to star in the incredibly successful musical Dear Evan Hansen.
6 Joyce Byers
Deep down, Joyce Byers is the heart and soul of Stranger Things. The incredible Winona Ryder gives one of her best performances as the distressed and determined mother to Jonathan and Will, who will do anything for her family. She is stronger than she seems and a force to be reckoned with, and has gone to extreme lengths to protect her kids, their friends, and her community. Fans love Joyce and Jim Hopper together and their relationship has become a key element in the show’s plot. In Season 4 Volume 1, Joyce spends almost the entire season trying to get to Russia and rescue Hopper.
5 Steve Harrington
Steve Harrington is the ex-boyfriend of Nancy Wheeler, a good friend to Dustin Henderson, and easily one of the funniest characters in the show. While he’s very popular, according to Hawkins High School, he still has no problem teaming up with the misfits — and audiences love him for that. In Season 3, Steve was seen working at Scoops Ahoy! Ice cream parlor at the Starcourt Mall, where he met his good friend Robin Buckley, and the parlor became the location for some of Steve’s most hilarious and memorable scenes.
4 Mike Wheeler
Finn Wolfhard plays the one and only Mike Wheeler, who is the leader of his friend group and one of the central characters in the show. No matter what evil force is threatening Hawkins, Mike leads his friends in the fight to protect their town and loved ones. He grows a close relationship with Eleven, and over the course of the show, the two end up starting a romantic relationship. The show wouldn’t be possible without him, and Finn Wolfhard does such a great job at playing the teen. Mike is easily one of the most beloved characters in Stranger Things.
3 Max Mayfield
Although she isn’t an original member of the cast, Sadie Sink’s portrayal of Max Mayfield has won fans over in every way. She is a loner when first introduced in Season 2, but quickly forms a close bond with Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Will, and especially Lucas, who she ends up dating. Max’s past is troubled and in Season 4 Volume 1, we see how the death of her brother Billy is still haunting her. Since her first episode, Max has always been an important character in the show, but she really shined in this past season, starring in arguably the show’s greatest scene at the end of Season 4, Episode 4 titled “Dear Billy”.
2 Eleven
When Stranger Things was first released, Millie Bobby Brown shocked the world and was launched into stardom overnight due to her unbelievable portrayal of Eleven. The character has become a part of pop culture, and she is one of the most recognizable aspects of the series. The character is gifted with supernatural abilities after being raised in Hawkins National Laboratory and has more power than anyone could imagine. Eleven escapes from the lab and has to adapt to the real world while still fighting Demogorgons and The Upside-Down. Brown is a powerhouse of an actress, and there is no one else we could imagine playing Eleven besides her. Fans are eager to see what will happen to her next after the dramatic and surprising ending to Season 4 Volume 1.
1 Jim Hopper
Coming in at number one on the list is the incredible Jim Hopper, played by David Harbour. He is the chief of police in Hawkins and, more importantly, an amazing father figure and guardian to Eleven. He loves her like his own and makes sure she has a safe and normal life, considering her circumstances. Hopper is dealing with many of his own issues throughout the show, the most prevalent being the death of his daughter and the depression and guilt he is facing because of it. Just like Eleven needed him, Hopper needed her, and, together, the two try to build each other up while also protecting one another and all of Hawkins.
