Netflix Just Released Stranger Things Season 1 the Way It Would Have Looked on a Family Video Shelf in 1983

Ten years after the first episode quietly appeared on Netflix, the streaming service has given Season 1 a complete visual and audio overhaul that turns every frame into something that feels pulled from a dusty rental case. Search for “Stranger Things VHS” or head to the dedicated title page and you will find all eight episodes of the first season presented as if someone in Hawkins had checked it out from Family Video in 1983 and played it until the tape started to wear.

The image is compressed into a 4:3 frame, which results in thick black bars on both sides on a modern TV, similar to all those old movies that were cropped and panned to fit onto older screens. The image is softened by grain, which makes everything appear fuzzy. Colors spill into one another slightly. Tracking lines actually wander over the screen, and the contrast takes care of itself. Even the classic Netflix logo animation has aged, no longer looking as bright and sharp as it did a decade ago.

The Duffers, Matt and Ross, made it abundantly clear why they did it that way. They suggested that if the show was lying on a shelf at Family Video in Hawkins, like an old VHS tape, it would look just like this, structured to compensate for the lack of a widescreen picture. They also hinted that if enough people watched this version, they would return and do the same for future seasons.


This alternate version is easily accessible because it is currently available on Netflix as a separate title, just as a special edition. Every episode of Season 1 is present, complete with all effects, from beginning to conclusion, with no alterations to the story, performers, or original sound design. The main difference is that digital filters add a layer of noise to the visuals and audio, making them sound like they were recorded on outdated tapes and CRT televisions.

Stranger Things was released on July 15, 2016, thus the timing is quite deliberate. This VHS edition was released as part of a larger tenth-anniversary celebration that included fancy box sets, new merchandise, and other fun experiences, but this one requires no effort from the viewer, no extra gear, no extra cash, just grabbing it and sitting down with a version of the show that deliberately trades in all that sharpness for a bit of old-school charm.