Long before Star Wars, J.J. Abrams worked on science fiction films. After his Star Trek reboot, another science fiction movie came out, which he collaborated on with Steven Spielberg. Nowadays, the series would be compared to Stranger Things.
Today, J.J. Abrams is known for the Star Trek reboot and Episodes 7 and 9 of Star Wars. Overall, he has only directed 6 films. Between the two Star Trek films, the director collaborated with another legendary director, Steven Spielberg.
Steven Spielberg not only produced the science fiction film Super 8 but also co-wrote the screenplay of the film with J.J. Abrams. J.J. Abrams directed, resulting in a film that one would most likely compare to Stranger Things today.
You can find more science fiction films here: The 13 Best Science Fiction Films According to IMDb
You can see the trailer for the film here:
The Film Reminds of Stranger Things
A group of teenagers wants to shoot a zombie film in a small town at the end of the 70s. During the shoot, the children witness a train accident, which they manage to capture on camera. However, after the accident, unusual things happen and the military suddenly gets involved in the town.
The influence and style of Spielberg is noticeable from the beginning. A group of adolescents has to deal with things that might be too big for them. The youthful curiosity and innocence are a significant factor here. The mystery is also a major aspect, intertwined with science fiction elements, reminiscent of the movie E.T.
References to film classics also appear in the form of pop culture allusions.
Super 8 feels like an earlier version of Stranger Things. Even Deputy Jackson Lamb resembles Hopper. He too tries to solve the mystery on his own and stand up against the military.
The film was a success for J.J. Abrams. According to Box Office Mojo, the film earned approximately 260 million dollars on a budget of 50 million dollars. The film also received positive reviews from critics, as seen on Rotten Tomatoes.
Despite its success, the film is rather underrated and forgotten today. J.J. Abrams is now more commonly associated with Star Trek and the new Star Wars films. Those who want to form their own opinion about Super 8 can watch the film on the Joyn subscription.
If you need more feed before Stranger Things, you can check this list: 9 Series Like Stranger Things
