Since it first landed on Netflix six years ago, Stranger Things took the world by storm when it premiered on Netflix. The Duffer Brothers brought the town of Hawkins and its residents to live in the hit sci-fi drama and have since created some iconic characters whose stories have been incredibly well written.
One of the most significant elements of this series is its exploration of unique and captivating experiences—stranger things and characters. While many have become fan favorites early on, others have gone through impressive character arcs, meaning they are now the most beloved.
Updated May 31, 2022, by Shawn S. Lealos: Stranger Things returned in 2022 for its fourth season. While it was split into two parts, the first part offered a host of new characters joining the beloved heroes and villains that fans have come to love over the first three seasons. While that wasn’t expected, some new characters outperformed many originals in different ways. From a Russian helping Hopper to new warriors helping the kids fight the menace of the Upside Down, the show is ramping up the cast as the end of the entire series is coming with season five, and the war against demons will need an army more extensive than the now-grown children of the first season. Here is the list of the Top 20 stranger things characters of all seasons.
- 20. Vecna/001/Henry:
- 19. Bob Newby:
- 18. Dr. Brenner (Papa):
- 17. Billy Hargrove:
- 16. Jonathan Byers:
- 15. Argyle:
- 14. Mike Wheeler:
- 13. Murray Bauman:
- 12. Nancy Wheeler:
- 11. Erica Sinclair:
- 10. Robin Buckley:
- 9. Eddie Munson:
- 8. Lucas Sinclair:
- 7. Max Mayfield:
- 6. Dustin Henderson:
- 5. Will Byers:
- 4. Joyce Byers:
- 3. Jim Hopper:
- 2. Steve Harrington:
- 1. Eleven:
20. Vecna/001/Henry:
- Actor: Jamie Campbell Bower
We are not going to tell much about it to avoid spoilers. Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) is the true villain of Stranger Things, behind the Upside Down World and all the paranormal events that have haunted Hawkins since the first season. He is the original child who started Brenner’s research in the labs and unleashed Eleven’s true powers that tore apart reality. In the fourth season, he is the main antagonist, dedicated to killing different people around the town. He is most famous for being the stranger things character of all season.
19. Bob Newby:
- Died: Season 2
- Actor: Sean Astin
One season and one supporting role: That was enough for Joyce’s boyfriend of a time, Bob, to win the hearts of fans. The guy embodies kindness in the purest form of him. Always well-intentioned and willing to help his neighbor, he is unfortunately very naive, and his utterly avoidable death is miserable. However, we salute his ability to approach Will and gain his trust.
Bob became such a likable stranger thing character. Because he was played by the beloved Sean Astin (The Goonies, Lord of the Rings), he also helped that Bob Newby was a great stranger things character.
18. Dr. Brenner (Papa):
- Died: Season 4
- Actor: Matthew Modine
Besides Vecna, Dr. Brenner is the most detestable character in “Stranger Things.” Until season four, the best human villain was Dr. Brenner. He was responsible for some horrible things involving Eleven and her friends.
Irrelevant for most of the series and crucial at the start of its outcome. Martin Brenner (Matthew Modine) is in charge of the Hawkins laboratory, which heads the investigations of the children with powers. Kidnaps Eleven to take her underground along with the rest of the numbers. His obsession with the Upside Down World leads him to border on psychopathy and the craziest manipulation. Stranger Things character is essential to understanding the lore of his universe.
17. Billy Hargrove:
- Died: Season 3
- Actor: Dacre Montgomery
Billy Hargrove is an interesting character of stranger things. How do we feel about him? Since first introduced in Season 2, he has grown into a cocky teenager who only cares about himself. Treating his sister Max like trash for almost the entirety of the show didn’t sit well with many fans. But did the season 3 finale change those feelings he may have had?
It was evident in season 2 that Billy was being abused by his father. So maybe that’s where all his anger and frustration came from. So After being taken over by the Mind Flayer in season 3, it was clear it wouldn’t end well for Billy. The heartwarming scene at the Starcourt Mall between Eleven and Billy struck fans. Just when you think you hate a character, it changes. Long live Billy Hargrove.
16. Jonathan Byers:
- Actor: Charlie Heaton
Jonathan Byers is a fantastic stranger thing character. But why has he always been an outcast, especially in season one? Jonathan has no friends besides his brother Will and his girlfriend, Nancy Wheeler. However, since Season 1, Jonathan has always kicked butt and stepped up when needed. He and Nancy did it together. Johnathan will always be a fan favorite because of his big heart and love for his family.
Will’s older brother is not the most charismatic character on the show. Perpetually doubting himself, he struggles to demonstrate also He is a photographer and likes rock music, but other than that, his affection for his brother and his love for Nancy. If that’s part of the character’s charm, we’re willing to bet his bromance with Argyle in Season 4 of Stranger Things didn’t help him win back fans’ hearts.
15. Argyle:
- Actor: Eduardo Franco
Argyle is an exciting addition to the season four Stranger Things character, as he’s a fun-loving smoker who delivers pizza and becomes Jonathan’s new best friend. He might also be the best new character introduced to the show this season. He’s one of the newcomers to Season 4 of Stranger Things, but unlike Eddie Munson (see below), Argyle failed to convince many people. And for a good reason, the young man is permanently drugged and therefore seems to completely lose the stakes in the events that are taking place. If this contributes to his quirky side of him and makes him the perfect “comic highlight” of the season, the character quickly becomes too (too) heavy.
14. Mike Wheeler:
- Actor: Finn Wolfhard
The main character, alongside Eleven and the rest of the gang since the first episode of the first season, Mike, doesn’t exude an incredible amount of sympathy. On the contrary, he often comes across as unfriendly, especially towards his childhood friend Will. The last season was also very late, which did not work in his favor.
Mike is the natural leader in the tight-knit group of Stranger Things Guys characters. He has a sympathetic and compassionate nature, especially towards Eleven. While the rest of the group members think she’s weird because of her abilities, Mike is the only one who sees past this and makes her feel normal.
13. Murray Bauman:
- Actor: Brett Gelman
When a Stranger Things character needs help, Murray is the one to turn to. Murray Bowman appeared in season 2, but due to his eccentric personality, he used to be a reporter with a complicated relationship. A recurring character until Season 3 (in which he can be partly blamed for Alexei’s death due to his lack of vigilance), Murray became the main character in Season 4, during which he traveled alongside Joyce to help him free Hopper from the clutches of the Soviets. Funny, sometimes witty, and very good at hand-to-hand combat, “The Bald Raptor” is popular with fans.
Murray was born able to read others carefully, and his brutal honesty meant he never held back. Though ostensibly tragic and cynical, his undeniable wit often keeps audiences in endless laughs.
12. Nancy Wheeler:
- Actress: Natalia Dyer
Here’s a character that has evolved a lot since season 1! At first, a model and innocent girl, Nancy will gradually reveal another part of herself. Determined, willing to get her hands dirty, and very good with weapons, she is ultimately one of the most badass characters in all of stranger things characters.
During the first season, Nancy fell in love with her witty and charming boyfriend, Steve Harrington, but the relationship didn’t last long. She quickly turned to Will Byers’ older brother Jonathan. Fans are still hoping for Nancy and Steve to reunite, and hopefully, we’ll see them start again in Season 4, volume 2.
11. Erica Sinclair:
- Actress: Priah Ferguson
Lucas’s “plague,” his little sister understands, is a knowledgeable young woman with a scathing retort. With a holy character manifested by sharp verbal swords towards anyone who dares oppose her (Eddie notably paid the price when he wanted to join the Hellfire club), she even has the nerve to outrank her older brother.
She’s an uncompromising fangirl who loves “My Little Pony” and doesn’t care if anyone laughs at her for it, showing audiences that one should be proud of what they adore. Suppose anything is clear after the season 3 finale episode of Clash of the Stars. In that case, Erica will likely have a more prominent role in the following panels, especially since Will’s Dungeons & Dragons game is in her hands.
10. Robin Buckley:
- Actress: Maya Hawke
If he deserves first place because of his magnificent name, Robin must settle for the podium foot. Appearing in season 3, she stands out with an atypical personality, sometimes infuriating (cf. Nancy), but above all, particularly endearing. She is very close to Steve Harrington. However, she is on the side of the weaker, and she seems to have found love. Always stressed and overly talkative, she showed her composure numerous times, to the point of going to the Upside Down to attack Vecna.
Robin and Steve’s friendship stood out as one of the best aspects of season 3, and she was a vital asset for the group when the Russian code was successfully translated. Unlike others, Robin is not afraid to tell her how she is and is undoubtedly one of the best. Strange things introduced characters after season 1.
9. Eddie Munson:
- Died: Season 4
- Actor: Joseph Quinn
He is undoubtedly the excellent fan favorite in season 4 of Stranger Things: Eddie Munson is a drug dealer, of course, but above all, an eccentric and crazy young man, leader of the legendary Hellfire club who is not a Satanist. He was also one of the new key strange characters because the city believed that he had killed Chrissy Cunningham, and the gang had to demonstrate his innocence. As a metal fan, we must admit that Eddie does nothing to help his case. the fantastic scene where he takes over. Metallica’s Puppeteer in the Upside Down is probably still one of the season’s best scenes, if not the series.
Although he died too early, Eddie proved to be a brave hero and a loving friend. He’s hilarious, unapologetically unpopular, and a fitting gang member. The new stars of this season will live on in our hearts forever.
8. Lucas Sinclair:
- Actor: Caleb McLaughlin
If not the most esteemed teenager in the gang, Lucas is one of those characters present since the first episode of season 1 of Stranger Things. As one of the original members of the group, Lucas is the one who keeps the boys on land. He considered his friends in the best possible way and showed several times that he was fiercely loyal. He values his friends so much that he even fights with Mike by Eleven because he feels like losing his friend.
When he discovered that Eleven and Max were spying on him and Mike, he quickly forgave both, and their relationship with Max allowed him to mature. Although he can be stubborn, he is fearless, as evidenced by his confrontation with a demagogic using a sling.
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7. Max Mayfield:
- Actress: Sadie Sink
She is the main character of Stranger Things. She was a loner and the newbie in town when season 2 was started. Max did not have an easy childhood or adolescence. Contrary to what he imagined, he did not improve with the death of her half-brother, a source of guilt for her. Guilt will also be exploited by Vecna, who messed up the young woman at the end of season 4. She will come back more or less healthy,
Max has been a big part of the show since the first episode, but last season, she starred in arguably the most significant scene on the show at the end of season 4, episode 4, titled “Dear Billy,” where she shines.
6. Dustin Henderson:
- Actor: Gaten Matarazzo
Viewers worldwide love Dustin Henderson because of how hilarious he is. Suppose there’s one “young man” from the soundtrack that fans love. In that case, it’s Dustin who never had a chance to fall in love until he met computer genius Suzie. He also forged an unbreakable friendship with Steve and Eddie while staying close to Will, Mike, Lucas, Eleven, and even Max. We repeat ourselves, but he is once again a character full of courage and an excellent friend.
There is no doubt that Dustin is one of the funniest stranger thing characters. He often acts as a peacemaker within the group, and his constant curiosity allows him to save his friends on many occasions. As his story in Season 3 shows, Dustin is just as good, if not better, when he’s involved in a different group dynamic.
5. Will Byers:
- Actor: Noah Schnapp
Will Byers is an essential Stranger Things character, despite not receiving much screen time until the second season. In Season 1, we see Will and his group of Dungeons and Dragons buddies interacting with each other and having fun, but little do they know that monsters are living in their town. The show’s creators told us that his character is a compassionate boy with many layers. When we discover he’s gay and secretly in love with Mike, he remains loyal to Eleven and encourages the couple to work on their relationship. We better understand his awkwardness and hope he finds happiness and a little respect (let’s not forget, even the showrunners skipped his birthday!) in Season 5.
4. Joyce Byers:
- Actress: Winona Ryder
Joyce Byers is the main character in the Netflix TV series Stranger Things. Still, we did not necessarily expect to see her so high in the rankings because of a nature that sometimes has difficulty evolving. The perfect Winona Ryder is occasionally content to play the worried mother about to sink into madness. Despite this, her love for her children, her relationship with Hopper, and her chemistry with Hopper are undeniable, and she is arguably at her best when they are together. And her ability to always go above and beyond to help those in need more than makeup for these few flaws.
3. Jim Hopper:
- Actor: David Harbour
Hopper is one of the most loveable characters on the show. He embodies a father figure role and is one of the few who takes Hawkins’s kids seriously. Due to his trauma, he often shows a tough exterior toward others but lets his guard down as the series progresses. Hopper has demonstrated on several occasions that he will go to great lengths to protect others and keep them safe.
2. Steve Harrington:
- Actor: Joe Keery
Every character of Stranger Things is popular, but Steve has a different fan base. Steve Harrington is still in love with Nancy Wheeler while both are separated. He has made a good friend at school, Dustin Henderson, who can give him excellent relationship advice. Even though he is very popular, according to Hawkins High School, he has no problem teaming up with new friends. In season 3, Steve works at an ice cream parlor at the Starcourt Mall, where he meets his good friend Robin Buckley. The parlor becomes the location for some of Steve’s most hilarious and memorable scenes.
1. Eleven:
- Actress: Millie Bobby Brown
Eleven is one of our favorite Stranger Things characters, and she’s not just because of her telekinesis. Many experiments were carried out in Hawkins Lab. She could have used her powers to get revenge.
Eleven is incredibly loyal and even sacrifices himself for his friends; after learning that friends don’t lie, she promises to be dedicated to the ones she loves. But eleven greatest superpower is her vulnerability and ability to love. She gives without expecting anything in return, so she is the most loved stranger things character.