Super 8: Spielberg-produced 2011 sci‑fi that echoes Stranger Things

Movieweb says it's time to revisit the 2011 film Super 8, a Steven Spielberg-produced, J.J. Abrams-directed sci‑fi adventure thriller about a group of late‑1970s kids who witness a mysterious train derailment while filming their own Super 8 zombie movie.

The film, which stars Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler, Riley Griffiths, Ryan Lee and Zach Mills, channels Spielberg's earlier works and features a score by Michael Giacchino. The article notes that Super 8 shares much of the same DNA as Stranger Things — kids in peril, a supernatural mystery, disbelieving adults and government conspiracies — and calls the result an impressive throwback with sweeping set pieces and stand‑out performances.

Boasting a Certified Fresh score of 81% from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and a 75% fan rating, many viewers described it as "brilliant," "a sci‑fi thriller classic," and "the perfect blend of childhood fun, family struggles, and extraterrestrial phenomena." The piece adds that Super 8 is currently not on any streaming platform but remains available to rent or purchase on digital retailers, and that it can serve as a primer of sorts for fans of the Netflix series.

Key Topics

Culture, J.j. Abrams, Steven Spielberg, Stranger Things, Joel Courtney, Elle Fanning