See The 'Stranger Things' Cast from Their First Premiere to Their Last

PEOPLE compiled photos of the 'Stranger Things' cast from their very first premiere in 2016 to the recent season 5 premiere almost a decade later. The original cast members joined the series as children, and fans have watched them grow over the years.

Farewell to a Beloved Series

After nearly 10 years, the hit Netflix series is concluding with the release of its fifth season on November 7. The cast reunited for the world premiere at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres in Hollywood, California. Their characters—and they themselves—have matured noticeably since the show began.

Cast Debuts and Career Beginnings

Most of the original cast, except for Maya Hawke and Sadie Sink, debuted on Stranger Things in 2016.
Maya Hawke joined in 2019, portraying Robin Buckley.
Sadie Sink joined two years earlier, in 2017, as Max Mayfield.

Notable Career Highlights

Millie Bobby Brown's role as Eleven was her breakout performance at age 12.
Gaten Matarazzo was 13 when he transitioned from Broadway to play Dustin Henderson on television.
Caleb McLaughlin, also 13, started on Broadway and found fame with his role as Lucas Sinclair.
Finn Wolfhard had minimal TV experience before landing Mike Wheeler at 13.

"The cast of Stranger Things is saying goodbye to the series. Over the years, the actors and their characters have grown up before viewers' eyes."

Looking back, these photos capture the cast’s incredible transformation from child actors to young adults over nearly a decade of storytelling.

Summary: The Stranger Things cast has grown alongside the show, marking a memorable journey from their first premiere in 2016 to the final season in 2025.

People — 2025-11-07