- Netflix has quietly released a new “VHS Special Edition” of the first season of the highly acclaimed series Stranger Things, giving it a vintage video store vibe with visual distortions reminiscent of VHS tapes.
- The original release date of the first season of Stranger Things on July 15, 2016, marked an important moment in Netflix history, and the show has since become one of the most popular and critically acclaimed series on the platform.
- Despite only the first season being adapted into the new format, the success of the “VHS Special Edition” of Stranger Things may lead to further adaptations of the series if enough viewers engage with this nostalgic twist on the beloved show.
Netflix has released a new version of one of its most popular series of all time, which has frequently been ranked as one of the greatest TV shows ever made. Learn what is special about the new version of Stranger Things that just became available to stream
Netflix Has Just Quietly Released New ‘VHS Special Edition’ of ‘Stranger Things’
Even though nobody knew it at the time, July 15, 2016, turned out to be an important date in the history of Netflix. That was when the first season of Stranger Things premiered. On the 10th anniversary of that landmark release, July 15, 2026, Netflix surprised fans by releasing an unannounced new version of the show
As a What’s on Netflix article notes, Netflix has just released the “VHS Special Edition” of Stranger Things that the company describes this way: “Rewind and relive the first season with a video store vibe that’s glitchy, grainy and gloriously vintage — just like you’d have rented it in 1983.” As that hints, the new version is edited to look like it has the kind of visual distortions that VHS tapes caused. It is a perfect twist on the series that takes place in a time when VHS was the height of home media technology.
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Unfortunately, only the first season of Stranger Things was adapted into the new format. Hopefully, enough people will watch all eight episodes of the series’ first season to convince Netflix to give the rest of the series the same treatment
‘Stranger Things’ Is One of the Most Acclaimed Netflix Shows Ever
From the moment that the first season of Stranger Things was released, it has had a massive pop culture impact. The show has been so successful that Netflix currently lists two of its seasons in the streaming giant’s top five most popular shows of all time
On top of being embraced by fans, the show has also been a hit with critics, which is why it currently holds a 90% Rotten Tomatoes score. Empire Magazine also ranked Stranger Things at No. 47 on its list of the “Best TV Shows of All Time,” and Time Out named it as one of the “best Netflix original series to binge.”
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This story was originally published byMen’s Journalon Jul 15, 2026, where it first appeared in theNewssection. Add Men’s Journal as aPreferred
