The Netflix original seriesStranger Thingsis without a doubt one of the platform’s biggest successes. Since the release of season one in 2016, it seems as thoughStranger Thingshas remained at the forefront of television and is continuing to be more prevalent than ever in pop culture and throughout all forms of media. In May 2022, the show’s season four volume one was released, and on June 11, 2025, the season’s second volume included two episodes running for about 90 and 150 minutes each. Season four brought the show to new heights and is widely considered the best season yet, with the most intense storylines, the best villains, thebest music moments, and the biggest plot twists yet.
The great success ofStranger Thingshas a lot to do with howincredible the cast isand how many fans love their characters. Millie Bobby Brown, David Harbour, Winona Ryder, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Gaten Matarazzo, Joe Keery, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, and Maya Hawke make up the show’s brilliant cast — and definitely can’t wait to see what’s in store for season five. Until then, here are the 10 most memorable and epic moments throughout seasons one to four ofStranger Things,ranked.
10Eleven and Hopper’s Fight — Season 2
In season two ofStranger Things,we see Hopper take in Eleven as his own and keep her hidden from the outside world in an attempt to keep her safe. Even though Jim only wants what’s best for her, Eleven reaches a breaking point and starts to crumble due to the pain she feels from missing and being isolated from her friends. It is a frustrating and upsetting scene for both parties, but in the end, some of the show’s most quoted and iconic lines came out of this extremely powerful fight. Eleven’s line “You are like Papa,” for example, is still seen all over TikTok and social media today, even five years after the season was released.
9"I Dump Your Ass" — Season 3
Mike Wheeler was without a doubt a fan favorite at the beginning ofStranger Things, but as time went on, audiences seemed toquestion his characterand his choices more and more. Young love is tricky, and Mike has a difficult time expressing his feelings to Eleven during season three, which results in the couple’s inevitable break-up. After some time spent with Max and a day full of shopping at Starcourt Mall, Eleven runs into Mike, discovering that he lied to her about not being able to hang out that day. Eleven is angry with Mike for lying since it’s very important to her that “friends don’t lie,” so she dumps his ass outside the mall before running to catch the bus home with Max.
8Eleven Kills the Demogorgon — Season 1
One of the most epic moments in season one ofStranger Thingsis when we see Eleven protect her friends and destroy the Demogorgon. It is one of the first times in the series where we get to seeEleven use her powersto their full extent. Her bravery and determination in this moment are what make the scene so powerful. We learn that Eleven will sacrifice anything for the people she cares about, no matter what the consequence may be. Mike’s face is heartbreaking throughout this entire scene as he must sit there and watch one of the most important people to him risk her life.
7Eleven Closes the Gate — Season 2
While season two may not be most people’s favorite season ofStranger Things, there were some epic scenes that continue to be impressive. One of these is at the very end of the season when Eleven harnesses all of her power to close the gate to The Upside Down, forcing The Mind Flayer to leave not only Will’s body but all of Hawkins. She once again puts her life in danger for the greater good of her town and her friends. At the end of this scene, there is a beautiful moment where Eleven falls in Hopper’s arms, and he tells her “You did good, kid. You did so good.”
Related:David Harbour Had Doubts About Stranger Things: ‘It Was Going To Be A Disaster’
6The Snowball — Season 2
Perhaps one of the most wholesome moments in all ofStranger Thingsis when Mike, Lucas, Dustin, Will, Max, and Eleven attend the Hawkins Middle School Snowball dance. They are awkward and nervous, but after all the supernatural adventures they had been on in seasons one and two, it is nice to just see them be normal kids and have coming-of-age experiences, like asking someone to dance with you and having your first kiss. This beautiful scene is completed with The Police’s iconic hit “Every Breath You Take” — one of thebest needle dropsof the show —playing in the background.
5Eddie Munson’s Death — Season 4
One of the greatest things that came out ofStranger Thingsseason four was the character Eddie Munson, portrayed by the very talented Joseph Quinn. Right from his first scene, Eddie became an instant fan favorite. The edgy and rebellious leader of the Hellfire Club won the hearts of audiences all over the world with his warm heart and genuine care for all the kids in the show. Sadly, Eddie’s story was cut short when he fearlessly sacrificed himself for the greater good, dying in Dustin’s arms in The Upside Down. His bravery and compassion are what people seem to love so much about Eddie Munson.
4Hopper’s “Death” — Season 3
David Harbour is an incredible actor, andStranger Thingsfans can all agree that Jim Hopper is one of the best characters in the entire show. He constantly does his best to protect his town and the people he loves despite the pain from his past that continues to consume him and makes it nearly impossible for him to get through the day. When Hopper is put in a situation at the end of season three, where he could either save himself or continue to fight the enemy and close the gate to The Upside Down, he risks his life without hesitation. During this scene, we are led to believe that Hopper was actually killed, but in reality, his character was made a prisoner by the Russians.
Related:Stranger Things: Best Characters in the Series, Ranked
3One vs Eleven — Season 4
One of the biggest plot twists throughout the entire series is learning that One is actually Vecna and getting a deeper look into how this villain came to be. This incredibly powerful and mind-bending scene in season four connects so many dots and ties the stories together perfectly. Eleven is tricked into helping One remove the chip Papa implanted to tame him and is given a choice to either join him in his destruction or to die. She finds every bit of strength inside of her to fight One and ends up opening a gate, sending him to The Upside Down and creating what we know as Vecna.
2Billy Sacrifices Himself — Season 3
Billy Hargrove, Max’s older step-brother, who we all know as being selfish, arrogant, rude, and violent, committed one of the most selfless acts inStranger Thingsduring the last episode of season three. Billy sacrifices himself to save Eleven after she shares a memory with him of his mother, reminding him of the sweet, happy, and hopeful person he once was. Billy is killed by The Mind Flayer, leaving Max with an incomprehensible amount of trauma and proving himself to be one of the best, most complex characters inStranger Things.
1Running up That Hill — Season 4
Coming in at number one on our list of the best scenes inStranger Thingsis Max’s epic encounter with Vecna and her infamous escape with the Kate Bush song “Running up That Hill” filling the scene. This scene was so impactful, it completely blew up the song, perBillboard, boosting it to the top of every chart and becoming a hit overnight (even though it was released in the 80s). “Running up That Hill” is trending on social media platforms everywhere, from TikTok to Instagram and even Twitter. It seems all anyone can talk about from season four ofStranger Thingsis how amazing this scene of Max Mayfield is.
