Anthony Mackie’s Take: Stranger Things Mirrors The Goonies
Anthony Mackie once drew a bold comparison between Stranger Things and The Goonies. His comments, made at a London Comic-Con, sparked debate about the true inspirations behind the hit Netflix series.
Back in 2017, Anthony Mackie made waves at the MCM London Comic-Con when he drew a line between the cult classic The Goonies and Netflix’s Stranger Things. At first glance, his comments might’ve sounded a bit out there, but a closer look suggests he may have been onto something.
During a chat about the state of the film industry, Mackie didn’t hold back. He reckoned the rise of superhero flicks had put the traditional film star on the backburner. In his words,
The evolution of the superhero has meant the death of the movie star.
He went on to say that Hollywood’s focus had shifted, with studios now mainly targeting “16-year-olds and China.” According to Mackie, many old favourites wouldn’t even get a look-in these days.
Spotting the Parallels
Mackie then started drawing comparisons between Stranger Things and The Goonies, the 1985 adventure comedy. He said,
Think of some of your favourite films growing up, those films wouldn’t get made today. [‘Goonies’] wouldn’t get made today…‘Stranger Things’ is ‘Goonies’… Three kids, go on a mission, find underground, there’s an alien, kill the alien. ‘Goonies’. Even when they found the little dark world where the alien was, they went down the slide…‘Goonies’.
Whether you reckon this is a stretch or not, it’s hard to ignore the similarities once they’re pointed out.
80s Nostalgia and Creative Influences
It’s no secret that Stranger Things is steeped in 80s nostalgia. The Duffer Brothers, Matt and Ross, have openly paid homage to iconic works from that era, including Richard Donner’s The Goonies. While Steven Spielberg didn’t direct The Goonies, the story was his brainchild, and his influence is all over it. Spielberg himself has praised Stranger Things, saying,
It’s hard to come up with an original story. I think we’re all influenced by the stories that came before us…The worst films just refer to other movies. The best films connect you to something that you’ve actually experienced. ‘Stranger Things’ has done that very well.
Both stories centre on a group of kids who take matters into their own hands, solving mysteries and facing dangers most adults wouldn’t dare. Sure, the stakes are different—one’s about supernatural threats, the other about hidden treasure—but the spirit of adventure and camaraderie is much the same. Even the main characters line up: Mikey, Chunk, Mouth, and Data from The Goonies have clear counterparts in Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Will from Stranger Things. There are even nods in the soundtrack and other subtle references sprinkled throughout the series.
Costume Choices and Character Inspiration
Season 5 of Stranger Things took the homage a step further. Eleven’s look, in particular, was inspired by Josh Brolin’s character in The Goonies. Costume designer Amy Parris revealed that Eleven’s outfit was,
a mix of Josh Brolin from ‘The Goonies’ and then Punky Brewster [Soleil Moon Frye], with her mish mash of cut up clothes that she just kind of grabbed as she went.
Parris also mentioned that she drew inspiration from real yearbook photos, not just Brolin’s character, to create a look that would get fans talking—and it certainly did.
It seems Mackie’s observation wasn’t just a throwaway line. The connections between the two works run deeper than many punters might’ve realised. Whether you’re a diehard fan or just a casual viewer, it’s hard not to spot the echoes of The Goonies in the much-loved Netflix series.
Stranger Things is streaming on Netflix, while The Goonies is available on Max via Prime Video.