Stranger Things 5 is just around the corner, and, at long last, the cast has reunited once again to celebrate. More than three years after season 4 aired, the hit Netflix show is getting ready to close shop for good with its fifth and final season.
Normally, time jumps are reserved for fictional stories, but Stranger Things premieres have also been one in a way. In case you need a refresher, the last premiere event held for the show was in May 2022, before another three-year gap. (The coronavirus pandemic halted production of the series in March 2020.)
With an end on the horizon and an amazing journey behind us, we thought, “What better time to look back at the series' premieres than now?” Below, we have rounded up every single look the Stranger Things stars have worn to celebrate the release of new seasons — from the very first season in 2016 to the very last one in 2025. Yep, that's almost a full decade. BRB while we cry at these transformations. (Time is wild, people!)
Millie Bobby Brown
MBB's transformation is no joke. Stranger Things was her breakout role, which she landed when she was just 11 years old. (She was 12 when the series premiered.) By the time season 4 premiered, MBB was 18. Over the years, we had seen her grow Eleven's iconic buzzcut into a bob and long blonde hair. At the time of the show's ending, MBB is 21 and not only married but also a mum! See her season 5 look below:
Finn Wolfhard
Though Finn skipped the premiere for season 1, he made up for it by attending two events for season 3. Finn was 13 when the show premiered, and 19 by the time season 4 aired. Just a month after the premiere of season 5, he will turn 23. (We are also curious to see if anyone knows how many inches taller he has grown since season 1, because we know it's a lot — just like his hair!) See his season 5 look below:
Noah Schnapp
Noah captivated audiences as the lovable Will Byers when season 1 premiered in 2016. He was 12 at the time, the same age as his character. Born in 2004, Noah (and his twin sister, Chloe) was 17 years old when season 4 premiered and will be 21 when the last chapter airs. See his season 5 look below:
Gaten Matarazzo
Gaten Matarazzo was immediately beloved by Stranger Things viewers. Coming from Broadway, the actor was 13 when the series premiered and, like Wolfhard, 23 at the time of the show's wrap. See his season 5 look below:
Caleb McLaughlin
Can we take a minute to appreciate Caleb McLaughlin's glow-up? The actor, who was 15 when the show premiered, has really grown into his fashion sense over the years, and we love to see it. Freshly 24, see his season 5 look below:
Sadie Sink
Sadie Sink joined the cast during season 2 in 2017 and has brought impeccable style ever since. The star has become a fan favourite on film, TV and stage. She was 15 during the first premiere and 23 during the last one. See her season 5 look below:
Joe Keery
The man, the hair, the legend. Joe Keery, or Djo for some, who plays Steve Harrington, was 24 when the series premiered in 2016. By the time season 4 aired, he had entered his 30s and officially bows out at 33, with bleached tips to boot. See his season 5 look below:
Natalia Dyer
Natalia Dyer was 21 when we first saw her as Nancy Wheeler on our screens. She was 27 and embracing dark hair and “bangs” for season 4, and is now 30 (turning 31 shortly after the series' finale) and embracing blonde hair. See her season 5 look below:
Charlie Heaton
Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton have been a romantic item since 2016, but the British actor has skipped half of the premieres. Heaton was 22 when the show first premiered and is wrapping up the series as a 31-year-old. See his season 5 look below:
Maya Hawke
Maya Hawke joined the cast of Stranger Things as the beloved Robin Buckley in 2019 for the show's third season. She was 19 when she was cast and just about to turn 21 when the season hit Netflix, and she's wrapping up this chapter at 27. See her season 5 premiere look below:
Priah Ferguson
Priah Ferguson stole everyone's hearts when she was introduced as Erica Sinclair, Caleb's on-screen sister, during season 2. The Atlanta native was only a guest star then, but she became a show regular for season 3. She was 12 when season 3 premiered in 2019 and turned 19 before season 5's premiere. See her season 5 look below:
Jamie Campbell Bower
Jamie Campbell Bower entered the Stranger Things universe as Vecna in 2022 for the series's fourth season. He was just two days shy of his 32nd birthday when his casting was announced, 33 by the time season 4 premiered, and turned 37 before the final season's premiere. See his premiere looks for seasons 4 and 5 above.
Dacre Montgomery
Like his on-screen sister Sadie Sink, Dacre Montgomery joined the cast during season 2, when he was just shy of 23. He was 27 by the time season 4 premiered. Though his character died in season 3, Montgomery still had a small cameo in season 4, so he did attend the premiere. Though he was nowhere to be seen at the season 5 premiere, he is now 31 and still acting. You can see a photo from 2025 below:
This article was originally published on Teen Vogue.
