Stranger Things has taken the world by storm, capturing the imagination of sci-fi fans all over the globe. Its nostalgic take on the monster horror genre was so popular, it’s been confirmed that a second series will be released.
To celebrate the confirmation of the second series, we’ve joined Stranger Things in paying homage to some of our favourite cult classics from the 70s and 80s. They’re all available on Blu-ray and they were all seemingly referenced fondly in the first season of Stranger Things.
E.T.
Steven Spielberg’s timeless classic is still as well-loved today as it was when it was first released in 1982.
Starring Henry Thomas, Peter Coyote and a very young Drew Barrymore, the film follows the events of ten-year-old Elliot, who discovers an alien in his back garden. The two instantly connect, and the emotional bond between the two of them quickly deepens. Meanwhile, a government task force begins to hunt the alien, believing it to be a threat to humanity. Elliot, his family and friends do all they can to protect the harmless alien, leading them to a game of cat and mouse with a powerful military task force.
The film is available as a special 30th Anniversary Blu-ray edition, and comes with a number of special features, including interviews with Spielberg, deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes footage.
Alien
Arguably the original space horror, Ridley Scott’s Alien terrified audiences 
around the world in 1979, and still has people hiding behind the sofa today!
Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, Veronica Cartwright and John Hurt star as the crew of the Nostromo, a deep space towing vessel which intercepts an SOS warning signal from a distant moon. After investigating the distress beacon, the team realise that they may have picked up a stowaway in the form of a terrifying, bloodthirsty alien, which stalks the crew.
Alien prompted the release of three sequels, all of which are available as part of a Blu-ray anthology. You get each film in HD, with a number of special features, including deleted scenes, trailers, audio commentary, behind-the-scenes documentaries and much more.
Stand by Me 
The 1986 classic Stand by Me was clearly a big inspiration for Stranger Things.
Starring Will Wheaton, River Phoenix, Jerry O’Connell and Corey Feldman, Stand by Me tells the story of four Oregon boys who set out to find the body of a missing teenager. Wanting to be seen as heroes, the group set out on a two-day trek that turns into a journey of self-discovery. When the boys run into the town’s knife-wielding bullies, who are also in search of the body, they soon learn that they have a strength that none of them knew about.
The Blu-ray comes with a number of special features, including a 25-years-on retrospective look back at the film, audio commentary, music videos and a making-of documentary.
