Ranking the success of the stars from 'Stranger Things'

The highly anticipated fifth and final season of "Stranger Things" premiered in November, marking nearly a decade since the show first captivated audiences. Many of the original cast were young, relatively unknown actors, who have now grown into adults carving out impressive paths in Hollywood and beyond.

Back in July 2016, Netflix introduced a series that merged 1980s nostalgia with cutting-edge special effects, featuring a cast of previously unrecognized young talent. That series, of course, was "Stranger Things," which quickly became a cultural phenomenon, transforming its child actors into household names almost overnight.

While some cast members have leveraged their fame to expand into film, music, and other ventures, others have remained more private, focusing on indie projects or education. Heres a ranking of the "Stranger Things" stars based on their post-show accomplishments, social media influence, and overall industry presence.

14. Priah Ferguson

Priah Ferguson, 19, plays Erica Sinclair, Lucas outspoken younger sister. She joined the series at age 11 and recently graduated high school while balancing her acting career. Ferguson has appeared in films like "The Oath" and "The Curse of Bridge Hollow," as well as animated series including "Hamster & Gretel" and "My Dad the Bounty Hunter." She is set to appear in the upcoming Jean-Michel Basquiat biopic "Samo Lives."

13. Charlie Heaton

Charlie Heaton, 31, portrays Jonathan Byers. Outside of the series, Heatons work includes "The New Mutants," indie film "No Future," and "The Souvenir Part II." His Instagram following is 5.5 million, and his real-life relationship with co-star Natalia Dyer has kept him in the public eye.

12. Natalia Dyer

Natalia Dyer, 30, plays Nancy Wheeler. Her roles include "Velvet Buzzsaw," "Things Heard & Seen," and the indie film "Yes, God, Yes." She also starred in Peacocks "Based on a True Story" and has 8 million Instagram followers.

11. Dacre Montgomery

Dacre Montgomery, 31, plays Billy Hargrove. His career highlights include "Power Rangers," "Elvis," and "The Broken Hearts Gallery." Upcoming projects include "Faces of Death," "Dead Man's Wire," and his directorial debut, "The Engagement Party." He has 7.7 million followers on Instagram.

10. Eduardo Franco

Eduardo Franco, 31, joined in season four as Argyle. Known for "Booksmart," "Superintelligence," and voice roles in "Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken" and "Gabbys Dollhouse," Franco continues to expand his acting portfolio. He has 573,000 Instagram followers.

9. Noah Schnapp

Noah Schnapp, 21, plays Will Byers. He has taken a break from acting to attend the University of Pennsylvania and run his business TBH. Schnapp has 22.9 million Instagram followers and has also gained attention for his public statements on global issues.

8. Caleb McLaughlin

Caleb McLaughlin, 24, portrays Lucas Sinclair. He has appeared in Netflix films "High Flying Bird," "Concrete Cowboy," "The Deliverance," and "The Book of Clarence." His TV work includes "The New Edition Story," and he has voiced characters in several animated series. McLaughlin has 13 million Instagram followers.

7. Gaten Matarazzo

Gaten Matarazzo, 23, plays Dustin Henderson. His career includes film roles like "Honor Society" and "My Father's Dragon," theater roles in "Into the Woods" and "Parade," and hosting Netflixs "Prank Encounters." He has 16.6 million Instagram followers.

6. Maya Hawke

Maya Hawke, 27, joined in season three as Robin Buckley. Daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, she has starred in Netflix originals like "Fear Street" and appeared in films such as "Asteroid City" and "Inside Out 2." Hawke is also a musician with three albums and has 8.9 million Instagram followers.

5. Finn Wolfhard

Finn Wolfhard, 22, plays Mike Wheeler. He has appeared in blockbuster franchises including "It" and "Ghostbusters," made his directorial debut with "Hell of a Summer," and maintains a music career with The Aubreys. Wolfhard has 22.2 million Instagram followers.

4. Joe Keery

Joe Keery, 33, known as Steve Harrington, transitioned from a popular teen to a fan-favorite. He has starred in films like "Spree" and "Free Guy" and has a successful music career as Djo, with his 2025 album "The Crux" earning a Grammy nomination. His Djo Instagram account has 3.3 million followers.

3. Sadie Sink

Sadie Sink, 23, portrays Max Mayfield. She has starred in Netflix films "Fear Street," the Oscar-winning "The Whale," and earned a Tony nomination for her Broadway role in "John Proctor Is the Villain." She has 26.2 million Instagram followers and is set for upcoming projects including a "Spider-Man" film.

2. Joseph Quinn

Joseph Quinn, 31, joined in season four as Eddie Munson. Since then, he has appeared in hits like "A Quiet Place: Day One" and "Gladiator II," and is set to portray George Harrison in a Beatles-focused film series. He has 5.7 million Instagram followers.

1. Millie Bobby Brown

Millie Bobby Brown, 21, plays Eleven and is widely regarded as the breakout star of the series. She has starred in "Godzilla: King of the Monsters," "Godzilla vs. Kong," and Netflix films "Enola Holmes" and its sequel. Brown is also an entrepreneur with beauty, coffee, and fashion brands, and has 66.7 million Instagram followers. In 2024, she married Jake Bongiovi and became a parent.

Author: Maya Henderson