10 TV shows to watch after Stranger Things season 5 – including incredible hidden gems

These shows may just fill that Hawkins-shaped hole in your heart after Stranger Things season 5.

After almost a decade of Dungeons & Dragons campaigns, Demogorgon and Demodog battles, and death-defying adventures in the Upside Down, the last chapter of the Duffer Brothers' sci-fi fantasy horror behemoth is finally coming to a close – and we’re as bereft as you are.

Netflix’s Stranger Things is about to end, leaving a Dustin-shaped hole in many fans’ hearts and minds. Thankfully, multiple spin-offs are in the works, including Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85 – an animated series featuring the original gang, planned for release in 2026.

While we wait for the next chapters in this soon-to-be-expanded sci-fi universe, there are plenty of other series to dive into in the meantime. Whether you’re after more Dungeons & Dragons-inspired fantasy adventures, sci-fi monster mayhem, or twisty horror, these shows are perfect for filling the Stranger Things-sized void.

Scroll on to find our top 10 shows which you can tune into after Stranger Things.

1. It: Welcome to Derry

Where can I watch it? Sky/HBO Max

The prequel to Stephen King’s iconic (and nightmare-fuelled!) 1986 novel — featuring the evil, shapeshifting entity known as Pennywise the Clown — hit Sky and HBO Max earlier this year.

It: Welcome to Derry serves as a prequel to Andy Muschietti’s films, with the series set in the early, swinging sixties. The events unfold 27 years before the dark deeds of It Chapter One, in 1962, as more of the town’s children begin to mysteriously go missing.

Star Amanda Christine, who plays Ronnie in the prequel, explained how Pennywise star Bill Skarsgård was kept hidden on set: "I had wanted to see him [on set], but like the way we were kind of working, he was kind of kept like a secret, in a way, and it was like, very top secret.”

“We kind of got glimpses of him here and now and then, but once we got to that official scene, when we got to see him, it was so scary because he's tall, his outfit, plus the head, and sometimes he had teeth and, like, blood.”

As in King’s novels, the series explores an earlier resurfacing of the evil shapeshifting entity – a cyclical event that occurs approximately every 27 years – as Pennywise feeds on the fears and hatred of Derry’s residents, particularly its children.

So, if you’re after a series featuring an immersive retro time period, small-town terror, and a supernatural force that feeds on fear, this is definitely one to add to your watchlist!

2. Monarch: Legacy of Monsters

Where can I watch it? Apple TV+

If you’re looking for a monster-heavy, world-building-rich series – complete with a similarly shady and secretive government outfit – Monsterverse spin-off Monarch: Legacy of Monsters might be for you.

The Apple TV+ show follows two distinct timelines: one centres on siblings Cate and Kentaro as they uncover their father’s surprising connection to the secretive organisation Monarch, while the other flashes back to a younger Lee Shaw in the 1950s, as he discovers the existence of Titans and the Hollow Earth.

And for those who’ve already stomped through the first season, there’s not long to wait for the second instalment. The show is confirmed to return on 27th February 2026 – and it’s certainly shaping up to be a must-watch for Kong: Skull Island fans.

Speaking about filming the first season finale, Russell exclusively told RadioTimes.com: "It actually was [emotional to film]. Yeah. I just said to Mari [Yamamoto] last night, 'I have some sort of emotional connection with you. I don't know what it is. But the minute I see you, I cry!'"

He added: "I just thought it was important to capture the absolute tragedy in this adventure for her and for him.

3. Wayward

Where can I watch it? Netflix

Comedian and Feel Good actor Mae Martin’s foray into the psychological thriller genre surprised many, given the dark nature of Netflix limited series Wayward and their departure from comedy roots. What emerged, however, was an incredibly gripping drama packed with twists and turns that kept viewers guessing right up until the very end.

The series centres on a cult-like community in the small rural town of Tall Pines, where everything isn’t quite as it seems. “Troubled” teens are conveniently shipped off to a so-called “correctional” facility known as Tall Pines Academy, run by charismatic ringleader Evelyn (Toni Collette).

When newcomer Alex (Martin) moves to the town with his pregnant wife (Sarah Gadon) and joins the local police force, he becomes entangled in an escalating case involving an escaped teen and the facility – unravelling a decade-long web of deeply unsettling secrets.

Packed with small-town mysteries and disturbing authority figures reminiscent of Stranger Things, this tense thriller – underpinned by a dark emotional core – is another engrossing watch.

4. Castle Rock

Where can I watch it? Prime Video

If you’re after an extra horror fix, the next two entries are definitely for you.

First up is Castle Rock, a dark, two-season series set within Stephen King’s multiverse in Maine. It blends creeping dread with an atmospheric small-town setting, echoing the hidden horrors that plagued Hawkins and its residents.

The self-contained first season centres on a mysterious case involving death row attorney Henry Matthew Deaver (André Holland) and an unnamed prisoner — “The Kid” (Bill Skarsgård) — who is discovered caged in a secret wing of Shawshank Prison, repeatedly and inexplicably calling Henry’s name.

What follows is a whole heap of supernatural, timey-wimey goings-on, with an ever-present sense of looming cosmic evil.

The second season links directly to one of King’s classic novels, exploring the origin story of Annie Wilkes — Misery’s infamous nurse — as she moves to Castle Rock with her daughter, Joy. However, she soon becomes entangled in a showdown with a mysterious evil force tied to the town.

5. The Outsider

Where can I watch it? Prime Video

The next horror entry is perhaps one of the most underrated shows of recent years, adapting another slow-burn supernatural mystery from Stephen King and starring an impressive cast including Cynthia Erivo, Jason Bateman, and Ben Mendelsohn.

The miniseries begins as what feels like a standard crime mystery, following a brutal child murder that shocks the entire community. However, when ironclad evidence emerges that directly contradicts the DNA evidence implicating prime suspect and Little League coach Terry Maitland (Bateman), it falls to sceptical detective Ralph Anderson (Mendelsohn) and a private investigator (Erivo) to uncover the truth.

Across its 10 episodes, the series genuinely keeps you guessing, gradually shifting from a procedural crime drama into something far more unsettling and supernatural. It’s packed with cliffhangers and shocking twists – and the finale ranks among the most jaw-dropping in recent television memory.

So, if you’re after a slow-burn supernatural mystery with a creature hiding in plain sight, this is perfect viewing for fans of Stranger Things's darker arcs.

6. His Dark Materials

Where can I watch it? BBC iPlayer

Adapting Philip Pullman’s beloved trilogy, this three-season epic is one of the best modern fantasy series to date – and a great pick for Stranger Things fans. Like the Netflix hit, it’s a child-led adventure rooted in parallel worlds and an emotionally rich coming-of-age story.

The series follows young orphan Lyra (Daphne Keen) and her animal companion, Pantalaimon, as she uncovers a doorway to a parallel world and stumbles upon a dangerous secret tied to the oppressive religious authority known as the Magisterium.

Teaming up with Will Parry (Amir Wilson), a boy from our universe, Lyra embarks on a perilous journey north. Along the way, the pair encounter armoured talking bears (yes, really!), witches, and angels, as they become entangled in a war that could determine the future of the multiverse itself.

The show is also impressively star-studded, with Ruth Wilson, James McAvoy, and Lin-Manuel Miranda joining Keen in the BBC fantasy drama.

7. Locke & Key

Where can I watch it? Netflix

Another YA fantasy entry from Netflix that dips its toes into the horror genre is Locke & Key, an adaptation of the hit IDW graphic novels by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez.

The three-season series follows the coming-of-age story of the Locke siblings – Tyler, Kinsey, and Bode – as they move to their ancestral home following the death of their father. However, the house isn’t quite as it seems: the discovery of hidden magical keys unlocks new worlds and extraordinary powers, along with malevolent forces best left undisturbed.

With its young protagonists facing otherworldly threats, Locke & Key is packed with supernatural mysteries, portals, and sinister entities. The family home also plays a larger-than-life role in the story – much like the Creel house – making it an easy recommendation for Stranger Things fans.

8. The Legend of Vox Machina

Where can I watch it? Prime Video

Did Mike, Will, and Eddie’s Dungeons & Dragons campaigns – threaded throughout Stranger Things – pique your interest in tabletop role-playing games? If so, Critical Role’s hit animated series The Legend of Vox Machina is definitely one for you, bringing the famous voice actors’ first TTRPG campaign to life.

Following an adventuring party of unlikely heroes, the gang set out to protect their world, Exandria, from looming threats including cults, evil vampires, and a conclave of power-hungry dragons – with plenty of adult humour thrown in for good measure.

The main characters are all classic fantasy archetypes from the hugely popular game, making the series a fantastic introduction to Dungeons & Dragonn's many classes and races. And there’s plenty to sink your teeth into, too, as the show is set to run for five seasons, alongside The Mighty Nein, Critical Role’s animated adaptation of their second campaign.

9. Chilling Adventures of Sabrina

Where can I watch it? Netflix

This gothic take on the character, a far cry from the family-friendly ’90s sitcom, follows teenager Sabrina Spellman as she juggles two very different worlds. While trying to appear like a normal teen at Baxter High – complete with mortal friends and a complicated love triangle – she’s also secretly part of the Church of Night coven and a powerful witch.

Across its two seasons, Sabrina, aided by her magical family, coven, and mortal friends, battles demons, uncovers dark family secrets, faces trials in Hell, and even confronts the Dark Lord himself, Satan.

This dark, supernatural teen drama is a perfect companion for Stranger Things fans, with its seemingly normal small-town setting, teens facing otherworldly threats, and plenty of monsters. However, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina leans far more heavily into witchcraft and cosmic horror than Stranger Things.

10. Wednesday (Netflix)

Where can I watch it? Netflix

Another gothic Netflix entry is the hugely popular series Wednesday, an Addams Family spin-off set at Nevermore Academy for outcasts. The show is packed with fascinating supernatural beings, including sirens, werewolves, vampires, gorgons, and psychics.

This coming-of-age murder mystery follows outsiders attempting to solve supernatural crimes, set against a similarly atmospheric backdrop. The series chronicles Wednesday Addams's early years at the academy as she investigates a disturbing killing spree, hones her psychic abilities, and navigates the usual high school drama.

With the series already renewed for a third season in July 2025 – even before the second season premiered – there’s plenty to dive into while you wait for Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85!

Stranger Things season 5 will premiere on Netflix on New Year's Day.

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