Yes, Stranger Things provided us with Demogorgons, chills in the Upside Down, and a lifetime’s worth of Eggo waffle nostalgia—but it also launched a new generation of young talent onto the world stage. Some have gone on to make blockbuster résumés, others have experimented in music, and some are already creating their material. But the question remains: who’s flown the highest since their days in Hawkins? Let’s number down the top 10, beginning with the scene-stealers and concluding with the complete breakout star.
10. Priah Ferguson (Erica Sinclair)
She was possibly the youngest of the principal crew, but Priah Ferguson never went unnoticed. Portraying Lucas’s sass-filled little sister Erica, Ferguson left her mark while balancing school—graduating high school with an above-average GPA—and gaining 3.6 million Instagram followers. She’s also had a turn in Netflix’s The Curse of Bridge Hollow and done voices for animated stalwarts such as Hamster & Gretel and My Dad the Bounty Hunter. School is now behind her, so she’s primed for even more show-stealing.
9. Eduardo Franco (Argyle)
Eduardo Franco slid into the series as Argyle, a pizza-delivery friend with a chill vibe, but he had already demonstrated his ambitions in Booksmart, American Vandal, and Self-Reliance. He’s also the voice of DJ Catnip in Gabby’s Dollhouse and is featured in a film soon. Although his social media following isn’t as towering as some of his fellow co-stars, his quick-witted comedic sensibilities and range are making him a go-to face for Gen Z comedy.
8. Dacre Montgomery (Billy Hargrove)
Billy Hargrove may have been the Hawkins bad boy we loved to hate, but in real life, Dacre Montgomery’s career is all about aspiration. Before Stranger Things, he’d already donned the Red Ranger in Power Rangers, and since then, he’s had a role in Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis. With four movies in the works—including his directorial debut with The Engagement Party—and 7.8 million Instagram followers, Montgomery is ready to take a big step up.
7. Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers)
Jonathan Byers is a brooding on-screen presence, but Charlie Heaton’s performances have a bent toward the indie and unconventional. He’s appeared in The New Mutants, No Future, and The Souvenir Part II. In private life, his on/off relationship with Natalia Dyer keeps the net in a tizzy, and his 5.2 million Instagram fans are waiting in anticipation to know what he’ll do next.
6. Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler)
Nancy Wheeler’s detective nature easily carries over into a real-life career interest. Natalia Dyer has been staying busy with such projects as Yes, God, Yes, Netflix’s Velvet Buzzsaw, Things Heard & Seen, and Peacock’s Based on a True Story. Her 7.3 million Instagram followers stay up to date on her consistent career—and her real-life rapport with Heaton.
5. Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair)
From the season-one doubting kid to a budding star on both TV and film, Caleb McLaughlin already has a solid résumé. He’s starred in Netflix originals Concrete Cowboy and High Flying Bird, had a turn as Ricky Bell for The New Edition Story, and even voiced a character for The Boys Presents: Diabolical. With more than 12 million Instagram followers and mounting fan appeals to cast him as Miles Morales, his next role could be gigantic.
4. Maya Hawke (Robin Buckley)
Yes, she’s Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman’s daughter, but Maya Hawke has made her way. Her post-Stranger Things projects include Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Fear Street, Do Revenge, and the voice of Anxiety in Pixar’s Inside Out 2. She’s also established a legitimate music career with three albums, a world tour for Chaos Angel, and she’ll be appearing in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping as Wiress. Her 8.6 million Instagram followers are here for both.
3. Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler)
Finn Wolfhard is ubiquitous. Aside from being the pulsing core of the Hawkins crew, he’s fronted huge franchises such as It and Ghostbusters, provided voice work in award-winning films like Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio, and explored music with bands Calpurnia and The Aubreys, as well as his solo album Happy Birthday. With 21.3 million Instagram followers, Wolfhard is not letting up.
2. Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield)
Sadie Sink’s season-four highlight with Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” instantly became pop culture history, but she’s not a one-hit wonder. She’s appeared in Fear Street, received a Critics’ Choice Award nomination for The Whale, and was even Tony-nominated for John Proctor Is the Villain. Her moments in Taylor Swift’s All Too Well: The Short Film and a reportedly rumored role in Spider-Man: Brand New Day demonstrate she’s not limited. With 24.7 million Instagram followers, she’s already a star.
1. Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven)
The gem of Stranger Things, Millie Bobby Brown, has built an empire. She’s been Emmy-nominated, appeared in the Godzilla franchises, produced such hits as Enola Holmes and Damsel, and is the force behind the Florence by Mills beauty, coffee, and fashion company. Paid $10 million for Enola Holmes, and she’s also made headlines for her marriage to Jake Bongiovi. With an amazing 63.7 million Instagram followers, she’s not only the face of Stranger Things—she’s among the most powerful young Hollywood actors.
The Realities Behind the Fame
For all the red carpets and record-breaking fan bases, coming of age under a global microscope is not easy. Millie Bobby Brown has spoken about coping with objectification and harassment on social media at a young age. Caleb McLaughlin has talked about the nuances of handling fame while still trying to figure out who you are. The industry is doing better to look out for young actors, but the pressures—media attention, loneliness, and issues around privacy—are very much present.
Despite this, the cast of Stranger Things has successfully avoided many of the downsides of child stardom. They’ve created careers that cross genres, mediums, and even sectors, all while motivating fans globally. Hawkins was just the beginning, but for these actors, better things are yet to come.