Target Creates Immersive Fan Experience for 'Stranger Things 5'
Target is bringing the world of Netflix’s “Stranger Things” to life in stores this fall, creating an immersive shopping destination for fans as the series’ fifth and final season approaches.
Beginning Oct. 5, the retailer will debut more than 150 products inspired by the series, spanning apparel, collectibles, home goods, food and beverages, and toys. Over half of the assortment will be exclusive to Target, including items from Funko, Mattel, Gatorade and Squishmallows.
The collection will include a Demogorgon-shaped popcorn bucket, a Walkie Talkie phone case and Funko POP! figures of characters Dustin and Steve, to name a few. Target will also roll out 1980s retro-inspired decor, apparel and limited-edition snacks.
Creating an In-Store Experience
To showcase the collection, Target is creating a dedicated in-store shopping destination designed to immerse guests in the world of Hawkins, Indiana, and the “Upside Down.” These spaces will feature themed merchandising, product spotlights and digital elements that highlight key items and encourage interaction.
The installations are intended to evolve throughout the season, keeping fans engaged as the show’s final episodes roll out in three volumes from November through New Year’s Eve, Target said in a news release.
First, in October, the assortment will feature products fans may need to rewatch the series before the final season. Products will include rewatch party goods, a show-inspired vinyl record player, Hellfire Club locker mini fridge, limited-edition collector cups and a special collaboration with Otherland on heat-reactive candles that reveal hidden designs when lit.
Target said the campaign and in-store experience will reach its peak on Oct. 12, when it recreates a 1987 Target set in Hawkins, blending nostalgia and storytelling with merchandising for fans.
Target is the only retailer with a national marketing campaign co-created with Netflix, featuring talent from the series.
Target’s approach reflects a broader trend in retail: transforming stores into experiential destinations that connect pop culture content to tangible shopping experiences. By offering exclusive products alongside themed displays, Target aims to make the in-store visit an extension of the fan experience, encouraging engagement and repeat visits as the show’s finale unfolds.
