"When Stranger Things first premiered in 2016, Netflix was still courting new subscribers with splashy original projects that were meant to have broad audience appeal. The company had solidified itself as a major player in the streaming wars with massive hits like House of Cards, Orange Is the New Black, and a collection of live-action Marvel series. The shows were all very different, but they each felt like part of an ambitious plan to establish Netflix as the gravitational center of a new pop cultural"
"Those big, watercooler tentpole projects made Netflix feel like a platform worth subscribing to because of how large they loomed in the public consciousness. Especially in its early seasons, Stranger Things was thrilling to watch as a new sci-fi / horror series steeped in nostalgia. But it was also fascinating to see the show become a global phenomenon that dominated online discourse and inspired other studios to tell more stories set in the '80s."
Netflix initially courted subscribers with high-profile original series that aimed for broad audience appeal, including massive hits like House of Cards, Orange Is the New Black, and Stranger Things. Those tentpole projects created a sense of cultural centrality and drove public conversation. Stranger Things became a global phenomenon that inspired nostalgic, '80s-themed programming across the industry. More recently, Netflix has shifted strategy: the company stopped reporting quarterly subscriber numbers, introduced price increases and an ad-supported tier, and prioritized economic growth over producing universally attention-grabbing shows while still releasing major finales.
Read at The Verge
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