"Something is happening": Duffer Brothers reveal the exact moment that made them realize 'Stranger Things' was going to be a success

When Netflix's viral Stranger Things premiered in 2016, few involved expected it to become a global phenomenon. According to creators Matt and Ross Duffer, even Netflix approached the show cautiously, unsure whether the small-town sci-fi drama would resonate with a broader audience beyond its niche.

Nearly a decade later, as the series heads toward its final episodes, the brothers are reflecting on when that uncertainty finally gave way to confidence. During a recent appearance on the Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, they recalled how the show’s rise wasn’t instant, but built slowly through word of mouth and unexpected signs of fandom.

It wasn’t ratings data or internal metrics that convinced them they had a hit, but a surprising piece of pop culture encountered far from home. Looking back, the brothers say that moment made it unmistakably clear that Stranger Things had broken through.

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More about what the Duffer Brothers said about Stranger Things

The Duffer Brothers shared the story during an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, in a clip posted to X (formerly Twitter) on December 18, 2025. Speaking with Fallon, they explained that expectations for Stranger Things Season 1 were modest across the board.

“No one thought season one was gonna be a hit,” one of the brothers said, adding that neither Netflix nor the creators themselves anticipated its eventual reach.

After the show debuted, they noticed early growth through gradual word of mouth rather than immediate buzz. That changed when they traveled abroad. “I remember there was this giant mural of Barb in Australia,” the Duffer Brothers recalled, referring to the fan-favorite character whose death became a cultural talking point during the first season of Stranger Things.

Shannon Purser, who portrayed "Barb," attends Netflix's "Stranger Things" Season 5 World Premiere at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres on November 06, 2025, in Hollywood, California. (Image via Getty)

Seeing a large-scale tribute to a secondary character on the other side of the world was the turning point. They then explained that the mural made them realize viewers were not only watching, but deeply engaging with the show.

The brothers also cited being parodied on Saturday Night Live as another signal that Stranger Things had crossed into mainstream consciousness, saying,

"Once you’re getting made fun of on SNL, it’s like, okay, this is a real thing"

Together, those moments confirmed that the series had become part of global pop culture.

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The Duffer Brothers appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon as Netflix prepares to release the final chapter of the series. According to the update on Netflix Tudum on December 15, 2025, Volume 2 of Season 5 will premiere on Christmas Day, delivering three episodes that continue the battle against Vecna, who is played by Jamie Campbell Bowerand the Upside Down.

The final episode, titled “The Rightside Up,” is scheduled to debut on New Year’s Eve. The Duffer Brothers have stated that the ending was always intended to bring the story full circle, returning the focus to Will Byers, played by Noah Schnapp, the character whose disappearance launched the series.

Ross Duffer told Tudum that Will’s connection to the Upside Down will be central to the conclusion, describing the season as a confrontation with Vecna. Deadline reported on December 15, 2025, that filming wrapped in late 2024, with the creators promising a definitive resolution to the show’s mythology.

Edited by Devangee