“Hollywood’s Best-Kept Secret: The 80s Script That Stranger Things Quietly Borrowed — Anthony Mackie Spilled the Truth!” Before the world knew the Upside Down, there was a story no one expected — a mysterious 1980s script, long forgotten, that eerily mirrors the plot of Stranger Things. Anthony Mackie hinted at it years ago, teasing a connection so precise it makes you wonder what’s homage, what’s coincidence, and what was quietly repurposed. The clues are scattered through the show’s twists, the friendships, and even its suspenseful beats, like breadcrumbs leading back to a secret original. Fans and insiders alike are now piecing together a hidden lineage of storytelling, questioning how much of the beloved Netflix hit was truly new. Mackie’s revelation is more than trivia — it’s a peek behind the curtain of Hollywood’s quiet reinventions, where the past often resurfaces in the most unexpected ways.

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Stranger Things Is a Copy of This 80s Classic and Anthony Mackie Exposed It Long Ago

Anthony Mackie sparks a throwback debate, claiming Stranger Things is basically the reincarnation of The Goonies and he just might be right.

anthony mackie stranger things

Anthony Mackie once pointed out the similarities between The Goonies and Stranger Things, and while his words may sound absurd at first, it looks like he is onto something.

Back in 2017 at the MCM London Comic-Con, Anthony Mackie opened up about the state of the film industry today and how superhero films have killed movie stars. He said, “The evolution of the superhero has meant the death of the movie star.“

Mackie then claimed that Hollywood has changed so drastically over time that the industry is now only focused on making movies for “16-year-olds and China,” adding that some of the older classics would never be made in today’s time.

He then counted the similarities between the Netflix show and the 1985 classic adventure comedy. In Mackie‘s words:

Think of some of your favorite movies growing up, those movies wouldn’t get made today. [‘Goonies’] wouldn’t get made today…’Stranger Things’ is ‘Goonies’… Three kids, go on a mission, find underground, there’s an alien, kill the alien. ‘Goonies’. Even when they found the little dark world where the alien was, they went down the slide…’Goonies’.

Do you think this connection is a bit of a stretch, or was Mackie onto something?

Did The Goonies Really Inspire Stranger Things?

Inspiration can come from anywhere, and as it turns out, Mackie wasn’t entirely wrong about Stranger Things sharing similarities with Goonies. As the show is set in the ’80s, the Duffer Brothers, Matt and Ross, paid tribute to some iconic projects from back then, including Richard Donner’s film.

Title The Goonies
Release Date June 7, 1985
Director Richard Donner
Rotten Tomatoes 77%
IMDb 7.7/10
Box Office $70,376,964

One such influence has been Steven Spielberg. Yes, Spielberg did not direct Goonies, but the film was based on a story by him.

The renowned filmmaker had nothing but praise for the show. He said, “It’s hard to come up with an original story. I think we’re all influenced by the stories that came before us…The worst films just refer to other movies. The best films connect you to something that you’ve actually experienced. ‘Stranger Things’ has done that very well.“

Keeping the creatures and the Upside Down aside, the series did draw inspiration from the ’80s classic, focusing on a group of kids. In both projects, we see a group of children come together and take it upon themselves to solve mysteries on their own. Yes, the stakes were higher in the Netflix show, but searching for One-Eyed Willy’s treasure was no joke either!

Characters Mikey, Chunk, Mouth, and Data share similarities with Stranger Things‘ Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Will. Not only do Sean Astin‘s Mikey and Finn Wolfhard‘s Mike share similar names, but both of them prove to be the leaders of their respective groups.

There are many references to Goonies in Netflix’s star performer, including the soundtrack. Feel free to drop more in the comments section below!

Millie Bobby Brown’s Look Was Inspired by The Goonies

Eleven and Jim Hopper in Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1
Eleven in Stranger Things Season 5 | Credits: Netflix

That’s right, Season 5 Eleven was inspired by Josh Brolin‘s look in Goonies, at least in terms of her costume. Costume designer Amy Parris opened up to The New York Post about Eleven’s look in the latest season, stating that it was…

…”a mix of Josh Brolin from ‘The Goonies’ and then Punky Brewster [Soleil Moon Frye], with her mish mash of cut up clothes that she just kind of grabbed as she went.“

Parris added that Millie Bobby Brown‘s look was created after she looked through yearbook photos of “actual people, not just Josh Brolin.” The costume designer knew Eleven’s look would get a reaction out of fans, which it absolutely did. Mission accomplished then.

Looks like Mackie really was onto something back then! Share your favorite Goonies reference in the comments section below!