Filming for Stranger Things started in November 2015 for the first season.

Quick Scoop

  • The pilot and season 1 began shooting in November 2015, primarily around Atlanta, Georgia, which doubled for the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana.
  • Early production planning had aimed for Long Island, but the team shifted to Georgia before cameras rolled that November.

In other words, Stranger Things as a show really “came to life” on set in late 2015, kicking off the whole Upside Down era.

TL;DR: They started filming Stranger Things in November 2015.

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