Netflix releases VHS-style edition of Stranger Things season one

Netflix has released a new version of the first season of Stranger Things, timed to the show’s 10th anniversary. The edition matters for fans because it reframes the series’ opening run with a visual treatment meant to echo the era the show depicts.

According to The Verge, Netflix calls the release the “VHS Special Edition.” The outlet reported that all episodes in the first season have been processed with a VHS-style filter, giving the series a more overtly analog look.

The treatment is designed to make Stranger Things feel more like a product of the 1980s, The Verge reported. The show has long drawn on 1980s genre influences, and the new version applies that nostalgia directly to the image itself.

The Verge said the effect is “surprisingly convincing” and suggested the edition may appeal to viewers planning to start the series again from the beginning. That assessment reflects the outlet’s view of the presentation, not a technical claim from Netflix.

The release follows several other Stranger Things projects after the show’s final episode aired on New Year’s Eve, according to The Verge. The outlet reported that Netflix has also put out a behind-the-scenes documentary and an animated series that expands the story.

The new edition focuses only on the first season, based on the details reported by The Verge. Netflix’s move gives the streamer another way to keep the franchise visible after the main series ended.

The Verge did not report additional changes to the episodes beyond the VHS-style rendering. It also did not describe the release as adding new scenes or altering the story.

This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.