Trump’s first term is just months away, Taylor Swift made her comeback in 2017, and the infamous Game of Thrones finale aired in 2019 — all big moments since the premiere of Stranger Things.
Recap for ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5
Check out ‘Stranger Things’ ahead of Season 5 with details on key plot developments and epic showdowns
On November 26th, we will embark on our final journey to the Upside Down.
After more than three years between seasons, “Stranger Things” returns with its fifth and final batch of episodes. They will be released at staggered times between now and New Year’s Eve.
How long it will take to make season 5 of the TV show has become something of a joke on social media. The first season premiered on July 15, 2016. For context, Leonardo DiCaprio had just won his coveted first Oscar for “The Revenant,” Beyoncé had dropped “Lemonade” less than three months earlier, and Drake’s “One Dance” was on track to be crowned song of the summer.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump was still months away from being elected for his first term, and people were losing solidarity with the all-female movie “Ghostbusters,” which was released in theaters on the same day. Music icons David Bowie, Prince and Glenn Frey all passed away earlier that year, while TikTok sensation Christian “The Rizzler” Joseph was just 12 weeks old at the time.
Here are more of the biggest pop culture moments that have happened since Stranger Things began.
If you need a refresher on seasons 1-4, USA TODAY entertainment reporter Brendan Morrow has a complete synopsis here..
“La La Land” mistakenly wins Best Picture over “Moonlight” (February 26, 2017)
An unfortunate envelope mix-up led La La Land’s producers to mistakenly believe that the musical had won the Best Picture Oscar, only to receive a rude wake-up speech during the award show that lovable underdog Moonlight had actually won.
Taylor Swift bounces back after controversy with ‘Reputation’ (November 10, 2017)
Swift has become more widely known than ever since 2020’s acclaimed Folklore, but back in 2017, the pop star returned to the spotlight with her divisive sixth album, inspired in part by public backlash and feuds with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian.
“Game of Thrones” airs controversial series finale (May 19, 2019)
Landmark TV shows “The Handmaid’s Tale,” “Barry,” “Atlanta,” “Ozark,” and “Succession” have all come and gone in the years since “Stranger Things” premiered. Meanwhile, HBO’s fantasy tentpole ended with a finale episode that is still fiercely hated by most fans to this day.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan step down from royal duties (January 8, 2020)
Although the reluctant royals announced they were officially stepping away from the British royal family, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan continued to make headlines thanks to their disturbing 2021 sit-down with Oprah Winfrey and a series of questionable ventures with Netflix.
Gal Gadot, Kristen Wiig and Pedro Pascal release shocking “Imagine” video (March 18, 2020)
Due to the coronavirus lockdown, many popular TV shows such as “The Queen’s Gambit” and “Tiger King” were aired. Still, nothing has been more addictive than this super-awkward video of celebrities singing John Lennon in earnest to boost morale during the pandemic.
Chadwick Boseman passes away at age 43 (August 28, 2020)
In the nearly 10 years since Stranger Things premiered, a number of megawatt celebrities have passed away, including Aretha Franklin (2016), Carrie Fisher (2016), Anthony Bourdain (2018), Kobe Bryant (2020), and Black Panther star Boseman, whose shocking death after a private battle with cancer shocked Hollywood.
Britney Spears released from conservatorship (November 12, 2021)
Fueled in part by the #FreeBritney movement on social media, a judge ruled to end Spears’ 13-year conservatorship. During this period, the pop princess’s family controlled her career and finances.
Will Smith slaps Chris Rock at Oscar ceremony (March 27, 2022)
Chris Rock won’t accuse Will Smith of slapping him at Oscars ceremony
Troy Kottle and Ariana DeBose won historic Oscars, but the 94th Academy Awards may be remembered for Will Smith slapping Chris Rock.
“Let’s enjoy this!”, USA TODAY
A crude joke about Jada Pinkett Smith’s bald head prompted her husband to walk up and punch Locke just minutes before he won Best Actor for King Richard. This shocking moment had a negative impact on Smith’s long career.
‘Don’t Worry Darling’ Press Tour Drama Under the Microscope (September 22, 2022)
If you thought the press tour for “Wicked” was crazy, you’ve clearly forgotten about Olivia Wilde’s much-maligned romantic drama “Don’t Worry Darling.” The bizarre sci-fi flick sparked an online uproar over Wilde’s relationship with actor Harry Styles (who was on an extensive tour at the time) and alleged tensions with Florence Pugh on set.
“Babenheimer” fever causes summer box office phenomenon (July 21, 2023)
Think back to happier, simpler times on social media, when the shared release dates of “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” organically launched one of the most wholesome (and hugely successful) double features of all time.
Kendrick Lamar takes aim at Drake with “Not Like Us” (May 4, 2024)
Charli XCX, Sabrina Carpenter, and Chapel Lawn were some of the music industry’s biggest breakthroughs of 2024, and Lamar and Drake exploded on the charts with a nasty weeks-long feud.
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Found Guilty in Federal Sex Crimes Trial (October 3, 2025)
The disgraced hip-hop mogul was found guilty of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution and sentenced to 50 months in prison after a months-long trial and a summer of voracious media attention for repeated disturbing allegations and testimony.
