Stranger Things: The Complete Scripts, Season 1

by The Duffer Brothers, Netflix

Go deeper into the groundbreaking Emmy-winning series with the complete, authorized scripts of Stranger Season One, including an exclusive introduction from the Duffer Brothers.

A high-pitched shrieking sound suddenly fills the shed. We don’t see what happens to Will; we just watch that naked dangling light bulb. It glows brighter and brighter and brighter, filling the shed with overwhelming white light. We think the glass of the bulb is going to shatter but then — The terrible shrieking sound abruptly stops.
The bulb dims. Returning to normal wattage.
We pull away from the light.
The shed is empty.
Will has vanished.

When young Will Byers disappears, the sleepy little town of Hawkins, Indiana, is awakened to a mystery involving secret experiments, terrifying supernatural forces, and a strange little girl with a tattoo of the number eleven on her arm . . . and the ability to move objects with her mind.

The Duffer Brothers’ critically acclaimed series, Stranger Things, took the world by storm with its 80s nostalgia, dimension-hopping secrets, and charming cast of characters. Season One introduced us to our favorite friend squad—Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Will—plus their new Eggo-loving friend, El, and to the terrifying “Upside Down,” an evil alternate dimension with a species of humanoid predators roaming the landscape.

Collected here for the first time, the complete scripts of Stranger Season One include the scenes, dialogue, and character directions for all eight episodes as well as an exclusive introduction from the creators and showrunners, Matt and Ross Duffer. Season One’s scripts reveal a unique insight into the foundational story that immediately captivated viewers and popular culture.

Genres: Science Fiction, Reference, Horror

Kindle Edition

First published September 2, 2025

Reviews

[ida ☾ (inactive) · Rating 5 out of 5]

this was so cool omg

[Daniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading the actual scripts that the cast and crew use is such a unique and fun experience... so many details that I missed watching the episodes (twice, so far! 😂). An absolute must-read for any Stranger Things fan. Five thumbs up!👍👍👍👍👍

[linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolute byler

[Rylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I saw that they were releasing the scripts as books I was so excited to buy them. I had the absolute most fun time with this and it really was so fun to see what was in the script that you don't see in the show. I have seen this season countless times in my life so it really was like I was watching the show. Since I know it so well I could see small details and lines that are different from the show and it was so cool to see that. I can't wait to read the rest of the scripts and see what other small details are hidden in them.

[Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fünf Sterne, die ich aus voller Überzeugung vergebe. Es gibt nicht viele Bücher, die man bedenkenlos neben Kings IT stellen kann, die Scripts zur ersten Season von STRANGER THINGS zählen dazu.
Nicht zählen lassen sich die popkulturellen Anspielungen auf die 80er Jahre, die die Duffer-Brüder in die Serie haben einfließen lassen und die den ungeheuren Charme von STRANGER THINGS ausmachen; allen voran der Loser Club, der auch hier im Zentrum der Handlung steht.
Und tatsächlich habe ich beim Lesen der Scripts einige Zusammenhänge entdeckt, die ich beim Anschauen der Serie nicht bemerkt (oder schon wieder vergessen?) habe.
Die Lektüre lohnt sich auch für diejenigen, die die TV Show schon einmal oder auch mehrfach angeschaut haben.

[Sophie · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing

[Ink Drinker · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good read if you liked the show and are interested in exploring different methods of storytelling

Scripts are a great way to understand the mechanisms of good storytelling. Every moment, every piece of dialogue, every scene description takes up precious seconds on screen - so you need to make it matter.

Stranger Things season 1 was a tight show, and you can see how much the tight writing of the script made that possible. I loved re-living the episodes with this book and recommend it to anyone missing the show.

[Danielle Pate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Turns out, binging the script is just as easy as binging the show.

[the tortured poets department · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is ingrained in my DNA at this point, I love it so much.

[Leonie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting to read if you´re a fan of the show. It´s cool to see how everything was planned out and what little details didn´t make it into the end cut

[Franny Freund · Rating 4 out of 5]

got me missing when the show was good

[Kimberley · Rating 5 out of 5]

absolutely immaculate writing

[Rachel C · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being a Stranger things fan of course I'm going to love this 😀

[Jorge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Steve Harrington’s redemption arc…..
The scripts are sooo well written.
Read in like 3 days and it was sm fun :D

[liv · Rating 4 out of 5]

it was so interesting to read the script of the first season of stranger things, to see what the characters were supposed to convey along with some of what they were thinking too shows alot more than what just watching the show does!

[David How · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable but full of grammatical errors

Good and enlightening. Yet, they may want to be a little more diligent when proofreading as the scripts had many grammatical errors.

[Kirsten Hamilton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely adored revisiting my favourite TV show and its best season through reading these scripts and watching the series at the same time. There were scenes that were cut, scenes that were placed elsewhere, amazing performances as the actors changed their dialogue into something special, something real. This was my seventh time watching this season, and I still cried, I still sat on the edge of my seat, my heart still thudded with adrenaline. I was utterly captivated.

In the introduction to this the Duffer Brothers say how this first season is “scrappy”, “less polished”, “more handmade”, and truly, that is what makes this the best season. It felt like someone’s passion project, like the thing a person was brought to this earth to make.

I wasn’t going to collect all of the scripts because they’re pricy, but I’ve enjoyed experiencing Stranger Things in a new way and I’m sure I’ll find myself purchasing the season two scripts soon.

[Sharon Leff · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s Been a Decade…

Honestly, reading the scripts from first season is best way to prepare for finale. Amazed how much occurred in Hawkins during the first season. So much, so fast, conflicts pulled, pushed, and tangled characters.

Duffer Brothers worked hard to earn the opportunity to launch this series which seems like a mash up of ET, Goonies, and X-Files. Well worth a read, a throwback flashback.

[Cally · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stranger Things has been my very fave tv show since I first discovered it in 2016, and so as soon as it was announced that script books would be released I knew I had to buy them and I’m so glad I did! It’s so interesting to see the slight changes in dialogue compared with the final version we see, and the action lines and scene descriptions were really immersive so it felt like I was watching the show! I can’t wait to read the other seasons script books next ✮⋆˙🧇🔦🚲📺

[Ashley Williams · Rating 5 out of 5]

These scripts have been so much fun to read. You really see through the stage direction all of the foreshadowing, even through the dialogue. There is even a moment at the end of season 1 while the boys are playing d&d where two important scenes in the series finale are foreshadowed. This is an easy 5 star. If there are any stranger things fans out there do yourself a favor and read these scripts, you won't regret it.

[Colleen Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

tbh, reading these while watching is SUPER fun but also, so crazy to see some scenes cut entirely, scenes moved around, omitted dialogue.

I wish more TV shows would do script book releases like this!

[xxclusive trin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely one of the best seasons. My favorite season is 4 but 1 is definitely second! It’s the foundation to a great series and I loved reading the actual scripts.

Besides the minor messed up printing in my copy and the errors in the grammar and etc… It was still amazing 5/5⭐️

[Grace · Rating 5 out of 5]

bro why did i cry

[Caden · Rating 5 out of 5]

just as amazing as the season :)

[Sarah Jamieson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic look at the scripts and seeing what made it in/what didn't/what was ad-libbed.

[Gabimaka · Rating 5 out of 5]

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[lyla zimmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

like yeah 🫩

[fabi pau · Rating 5 out of 5]

la mejor serie

[Reagan · Rating 4 out of 5]

The changes from script to show surprised me but it was fun to notice! Just fun to revisit the first season in a new way and loved seeing little descriptors I didn't expect!

[Niamh · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars! If you love the show you’ll love reading the scripts. It felt like I was part of the show