Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) hides from a Demogorgon in 'Stranger Things' Season 1Image via Netflix
By
Collier Jennings
Published Feb 2, 2026, 9:07 PM EST
Collier Jennings is an entertainment journalist with a substantial amount of experience under his belt. Collier, or "CJ" to his friends and family, is a dedicated fan of genre films - particularly science fiction, fantasy and comic book adaptations, not to mention all forms of animation animation. This stems from a close bond with his father, who introduced him to these genres via copies of X-Men comics and reruns of the original Ultraman series. Using his near-encyclopedic knowledge and bottomless love of genre, he's been able to tackle a wide variety of articles.
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Stranger Things is arguably the show that people think of when they think of Netflix, thanks to its mix of '80s pop culture references and eldritch monstrosities. Even though its final season wrapped up last year, Stranger Things continues to hold a spot on Netflix's Top 10 list...but it's been dethroned by another sci-fi series, 11.22.63. Based on Stephen King's novel, 11.22.63 features a truly unique time travel story: teacher Jake Epping (James Franco) is tasked with going back to 1963 in order to prevent John F. Kennedy from being assassinated. What Jake isn't counting on is building an actual life in 1963, or that time itself will be willing to fight him.
11.22.63 has been making waves ever since it moved from Hulu to Netflix, occupying #7 on the latter streamer's top list according to FlixPatrol. In contrast, Stranger Things has dropped to #10 — a far cry from the beginning of the year, where it held the top spot despite a finale that inspired divisive reactions, not to mention sparking conspiracy theories about a secret finale. This shift also showcases how Stephen King's stories continue to be a major draw, and if Netflix is looking for something to fill the Stranger Things-sized hole in its pop culture impact, it should consider adapting more of those stories.
Stephen King's Stories Are Built For Streaming
A man and woman dance with each other and smile as a crowd cheers in 11-22-63.Image via Hulu
Anyone who's picked up one of Stephen King's books will notice one key thing, other than the fact that they all take place in Maine. King's books build momentum from beginning to end, whether it's the gritty Western meets sword and sorcery vibes of The Dark Tower, or the pulse-pounding cat and mouse game that fuels Firestarter. Simply put, once someone picks up one of King's books, they can't put it down. 11.22.63 is a great example of this, as Jake's quest to save JFK means he has a set period of time to work. Netflix could use more series with that kind of momentum, especially since other streamers are commissioning work based on King's novels like MGM+'s The Institute.
There's also the fact that there are plenty of King's novels that have yet to be adapted into television or film. There are the novels he wrote under his pseudonym Richard Bachman, including The Running Man (which inspired two different feature films). King also isn't limited to horror; 11.22.63 is a shot of straight science fiction, while one of his more recent novels, Fairy Tale, features a teenager traveling to a mysterious realm to battle the forces of darkness. Fairy Tale not only sounds like it could be the perfect replacement for Stranger Things, but also the type of series Netflix needs if it wants to outpace Percy Jackson and the Olympians or HBO Max's upcoming Harry Potter series.
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It's no surprise that Stephen King was a major influence on Stranger Things, as the series bears most of the hallmarks that show up in his horror novels. There's a small town where evil's usually afoot, a group of unlikely protagonists winds up joining forces to face said evil, and there's a character with supernatural abilities. Ross and Matt Duffer even used King's work as a touchstone when developing Stranger Things; the title is inspired by one of King's lesser known books, Needful Things, and they used images from King classics like Firestarter and Stand by Me to pitch it to Netflix, back when it still had the working title of Montauk.
"Montauk is a love letter to the golden age of Steven Spielberg and Stephen King – a marriage of human drama and supernatural fear."
There's one element of King's books that Stranger Things should have leaned more into, and that's the fact that his characters are immensely flawed, not to mention they're never guaranteed safety. 11.22.63 is the perfect example, as Jake ends up making massive changes to time when stopping the JFK asassination. Chief among them is falling in love with a schoolteacher named Sadie Dunhill (Sarah Gadon); Sadie is wounded and even briefly dies as a result of being pulled into Jake's orbit. Compare that to Stranger Things, where nearly every major character manages to defy death time and time again. King puts real risk into his stories, which makes them more compelling.
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Want more context on Stephen King adaptations and Netflix's strategy? Subscribe to the newsletter for focused, in-depth coverage and analysis of King-inspired shows, streaming trends, and what they mean for pop culture. Subscribe By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. You can unsubscribe anytime.A lot has changed in the decade since Stranger Things made its debut, including streaming habits. If Netflix wants to stay ahead in the streaming game, it should look at 11.22.63's success, and also consider pursuing more of Stephen King's work for adaptation purposes. It should also remember what makes King's work such a great read and preserve that for the screen.
11.22.63
Like Follow Followed TV-MA Sci-Fi Drama Release Date 2016 - 2016-00-00 Showrunner James Franco Directors James Franco Writers James FrancoCast
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