5 Classic Junk Foods in ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 — And Where to Get Them
What To Know
- Stranger Things Season 5 continues its signature 1980s nostalgia by prominently featuring era-specific junk foods.
- These snacks are woven into the storyline as both authentic period details and character-defining moments.
- The inclusion of these nostalgic treats has inspired limited-edition product releases and collaborations.
One of the appeals of Netflix’s Stranger Things is the way the sci-fi horror series taps into 1980s nostalgia, using the decade’s movies, music, fashion, and cultural anxieties as both style and storytelling engine. The show pays homage to classics like E.T., The Goonies, Poltergeist, and A Nightmare on Elm Street, blending coming-of-age adventure with supernatural horror. But its references go beyond pop culture, weaving products and everyday details of the era into its storytelling.
Given that the narrative centers on children and adolescents, junk food naturally becomes a prominent element within the Stranger Things universe. The series incorporates snacks, soft drinks, and fast-food staples of the 1980s as both period-accurate details and character-defining moments.
Now in its final season, here are a few key junk-food standouts from Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 1 that help anchor the story in its 1980s setting.
Netflix
Peanut Butter Boppers
In the scene in which Steve (Joe Keery) attempts to ram his car into the Upside Down, he makes an questionable analogy comparing his car and the chances of its survival to the crunchy shell of a Peanut Butter Bopper. It made little sense at the time, but it did get the nostalgia juices flowing for the Nature Valley Fudge Chip Peanut Butter Boppers, which have been unavailable since 1989.
Also a favorite to Grandpa (Barnard Hughes) in The Lost Boys, these beloved barely-nutritious goodies are making a comeback, as they are available for a limited time at sreppob.com where they can nab this nostalgic treat.
Netflix
Coca-Cola Classic
After the disastrous rollout of New Coke on April 23, 1985, the Coca-Cola Company found itself in urgent need of damage control. Longtime fans were outraged that the reformulated beverage tasted suspiciously like Pepsi, and the backlash was immediate and intense. Just days later, executives reversed course and reinstated the original formula. Rebranded as Coca-Cola Classic, it returned to shelves on July 11, 1985, restoring the familiar taste and soothing public outrage. The comeback proved so successful that sales of Coca-Cola Classic quickly surpassed pre–New Coke figures, transforming one of the most infamous marketing blunders in history into an unexpected triumph. Get it here.
Netflix
Glass bottle Gatorade
When Murray (Brett Gelman) sneaks contraband over to the kids in Hawkins, one of his goodies is lemon-lime Gatorade in a glass bottle. Steve can be seen chugging the thirst quencher back almost immediately, which Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) has one on hand while training.
Gatorade glass bottles are making a major comeback as a limited-edition, nostalgic item through their Stranger Things collaboration, offering collectible retro bottles with classic flavors like lemon-lime. According to the official site, “This limited-edition drop features a retro T-shirt, collectible glass bottle, and co-branded sideline towel that embody the determination and grit it takes to save Hawkins, and win the game.”
Netflix
Hostess Twinkies snack pack
In order for Robin (Maya Hawke) to get by the night nurse to see her “grandmother,” she bribes her with a pack of Hostess Twinkies. In 1987, they were bigger, fresher, and surprisingly fluffier than their modern counterpart. Featuring Twinkie the Kid, Twinkies were a staple of any kids’ lunch back in the ’80s, packed with love by parents while they smoked Pall Malls.
Honestly, we would have let Rockin’ Robin through as well if offered the golden treats. Get them here.
Netflix
Doritos Nacho Cheese tortilla chips
Delightful Derek Turnboware (Jake Connelly) is seen plowing through a bag of Doritos while hanging on the couch in Episode 4. The bag features the classic logo of a stylized font with a vibrant color scheme of red and yellow-orange. In 1987, the logo would have had a triangle over the “i,” HOWEVER, since Hawkins was cut off from the rest of the world, the chips he had were probably stockpiled, so it makes sense that he might be chowing down on a bag of Doritos from 1985-86, which explains why it sports an older logo. Get the special Stranger Things combo of pizza and cool ranch here.
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