Though their subject matter is quite different, Andy Muschietti’s IT movies and the Duffer Brothers’ hit sci-fi series Stranger Things definitely have a lot in common. Not only does both Stranger Things and IT feature teen-actor Finn Wolfhard in a starring role, but both the Netflix series and the films rely heavily on several of the same themes.

Both IT and Stranger Things are primarily set in the ’80s and are absolutely riddled with nostalgic pop culture references from that decade. Due to this and the fact that both the films and series came out around the same time, many fans view both through a similar lens.

It and Stranger Things are both iconic works of pop culture that feature relatable, unforgettable characters, horrifying monsters, and good-ole nostalgic fun, so it’s only natural to compare the two. Let’s take a look at 5 of aspects of the IT movies that are better than Stranger Things and vice versa.

STRANGER THINGS - POP CULTURE REFERENCES

Basically the crux of Stranger Things is its nostalgia factor that is established by the fact that there is at least one major ’80s pop culture reference in each episode. Not only that, but Stranger Things was pitched to Netflix as being a “love letter to ’80s films,” so without these well-placed and clever references that are included throughout the show, Stranger Things would probably not have been nearly as successful.

As for IT, there are a few references to popular films and music from the decade scattered throughout the two movies, but since the focus was put primarily on Pennywise’s reign of terror, the pop culture nostalgia did not have nearly the presence it did in Stranger Things.

IT - COMING TOGETHER TO BEAT A COMMON ENEMY

Both the IT films and Stranger Things heavily feature the “coming together to beat a common enemy” trope. For Stranger Things, this is basically the plot every season, and it’s the main reason that most of the iconic bonds have been formed. There would be no Joyce and Hopper, Jonathan and Nancy, or Steve and Robin without the attack of the Mind Flayer.

However, IT focuses primarily on only one group of main characters, which makes for a tighter-knit cast and provides more focus on the most important bonds and dynamics. The Losers’ Club was formed solely because of Pennywise’s attack, and it gives the audience more of a feeling that these characters really had to come together to defeat the monster.

STRANGER THINGS - SOUNDTRACK

Not only does Stranger Things pride itself on its pop culture references, but it also values its funky, retro soundtrack just as much. Songs from the ’80s are carefully selected to fit the mood of the specific episode. The soundtrack for this show is critical for setting the tone, whether it’s a dark fight with a Demogorgon, a heartbreaking death, or the main kids just having some fun at the mall.

Both of the IT films had decent soundtracks ⁠— particularly the first film, which featured ’80s songs the most ⁠— but the songs kind of took a back seat to everything else going on, and there wasn’t nearly as much detail or thought put into the choices.

IT - PROTAGONISTS

Although Bill is technically the protagonist of Stephen King’s novel and therefore both of Andy Muschietti’s film adaptations, the screen time is split almost equal between every member of the Losers’ Club. The impression that Bill’s story is the main one isn’t as strong as the impression that every character is vital to the story and this is all of their journeys.

In Stranger Things’ case, Mike is considered to be the protagonist ⁠— or at least, the main teen protagonist. The problem with this is that Mike is such a stereotypical teen character, who is so riddled with frustrating cliches that it feels odd for a show as progressive as Stranger Things to use him as their protagonist.

STRANGER THINGS - FRIENDSHIPS

Obviously, Stranger Things had a lot more time to develop its characters and their now-beloved dynamics with each other. But the runtimes for both of the IT films were quite long, so realistically they had a decent amount of time to put a focus on the Losers’ Club friendships. However, since so much screen time was dedicated to Pennywise and the horror aspect in general, the focus on the friendships felt lacking at times.

Stranger Things revolves around the friendships between its characters. Each season introduces new bonds and romances that never fail to feel natural and sincere. The character development and relationships in this show are completely impeccable.

IT - SMALL EASTER EGGS AND DETAILS

The IT movies are undeniably mixed bags. Both have long runtimes which allow them to put more than just Pennywise and the horror aspects into the limelight. Watching the IT films, it’s obvious how much went into telling this story; not even simply in terms of post-production special effects, but even the production designs are riddled with tiny, brilliant Easter eggs and details.

Stranger Things has a knack for placing Easter eggs as well. This was most prevalent in Season 1 and 2, but as so much energy was clearly put into Season 3 being “bigger and better,” that the small details took a back seat.

STRANGER THINGS - ADVENTURES

Stranger Things is more of an adventure show than it is a horror show, so while the Losers’ Club had some memorable adventures in both movies, Stranger Things knocks this one out of the park, as all the characters get to have awesome, thrilling, often hilarious adventures in every episode. Whether it’s a scramble to find Dart or spying on some shady characters at the mall, we are here for it.

IT - HORROR

Obviously, both of the IT films were pure horror in genre, so that was their strongest and most prevalent element. While Stranger Things is categorized as a horror/sci-fi show, the sci-fi elements are always stronger than the horror, as are the themes that pay homage to classic, generation-defining ’80s films. At the end of the day, IT is way more likely to make you spill your popcorn.

STRANGER THINGS - CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT

Stranger Things has had three seasons to develop its characters, so rightfully that should have been done well, but in this show’s case, it was done exceptionally. Characters never stay in one place too long; they are children for the most part, so they are always growing and evolving. Stranger Things portrays this in a way that feels totally genuine.

It’s not that the IT films didn’t present some impressive development and growth for their characters, because they did this better than most movie franchises do. However, we only get a sneak peek into two phases of the Losers’ Club’s lives ⁠— a glimpse at their childhood and of their adulthood.

IT - THE MONSTER

In the first and arguably the strongest season of Stranger Things, the Upside Down and the monsters that dwelled within were presented to the audience as an elusive mystery. The other dimension and its contents were relatively unknown and artfully kept ambiguous, which made the circumstances all the more terrifying. With Season 2 and 3, the focus on the Demogorgon and the Mind Flayer got stronger, and naturally, the mystery faded. Stranger Things made its monsters bigger and louder, but in doing so, they made them less scary and intriguing.

The IT franchise concluded with its second and final film, but there is still a lot we don’t know about Pennywise. He is an entity from another dimension and has several different faces. He is powerful beyond human belief and holds many secrets, and that’s what makes him so terrifying.