Stranger Things Photos: See How Much The Kids Have Grown Up Since Season 1

Stranger Things may whisk us back to the 1980s, but in reality, time keeps marching forward.

Netflix's sci-fi drama debuted in the summer of 2016 — back when Obama was still president! — and introduced us to a close-knit group of middle school pals who stumble upon a world of supernatural frights, including a mysterious girl with telekinetic powers. It became an instant hit and spawned three more seasons, with the long-awaited Season 4 finally debuting this Friday on the streamer. (Read our review here.) But while Mike and his school pals are still '80s kids, the young actors playing them have grown into full-fledged adults.

It's a little stunning to see how much the actors have grown up since we first saw them... although it makes sense, given that Season 3 aired way back in 2019, with the pandemic forcing a lengthy delay in production. So to commemorate the return of Stranger Things — and to show you just how far its stars have come — we're taking a look back at how the show's young cast members looked when the show premiered and comparing it to how they look now. (It's quite a change!) Plus, we're taking stock of how each actor's career has blossomed since the Netflix hit put them on the map.

Read on to see how much the Stranger Things kids have grown and what they're up to these days in Hollywood, and then hit the comments to share your hopes and predictions for Season 4.

Wolfhard was 13 years old when he debuted as Dungeons & Dragons fan (and future Eleven love interest) Mike Wheeler. Since then, his career has skyrocketed, landing the key role of Richie Tozier in the 2017 film version of It and its 2019 sequel It: Chapter Two. He also starred in last year's blockbuster sequel Ghostbusters: Afterlife and the book adaptation The Goldfinch. Now 19 years old, he'll join the voice cast of Guillermo del Toro's stop-motion animated Pinocchio reboot, slated to premiere this December on Netflix.

Matarazzo was also 13 when he first took on the role of lovable goofball Dustin Henderson on the Netflix hit, quickly becoming a fan favorite. Since 2019, he has hosted the horror-themed prank show Prank Encounters on Netflix, along with making appearances in music videos by the likes of Katy Perry and Green Day. Turning 20 years old this September, he's now set to return to the stage and join the cast of Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway.

McLaughlin was the elder statesman among the Stranger Things kids, being all of 14 years old when he debuted as the slingshot-wielding Lucas Sinclair. A theater veteran who had already played young Simba in The Lion King on Broadway, McLaughlin (now 20) has since played a young Ricky Bell in the BET biopic The New Edition Story, along with roles on Blue Bloods and Shades of Blue. He's next set to star alongside Glenn Close and Mo'Nique in the Lee Daniels horror film Demon House.

Schnapp was just 11 years old (!) when he first took on the role of Will Byers, who got sucked into the Upside Down in Season 1. He was upped to a series regular in Season 2 and also voiced Charlie Brown in The Peanuts Movie, along with a role in the Steven Spielberg historical drama Bridge of Spies. Now at age 17, he'll star with Garrett Hedlund and Victoria Justice in the big-screen thriller The Tutor.

Brown was 12 years old when she first broke out as the paranormally gifted girl known as Eleven. Her performance garnered widespread acclaim, including a pair of Emmy nominations for best supporting actress in a drama. She later starred in 2019's Godzilla: King of the Monsters and last year's sequel Godzilla Vs. Kong, along with the Netflix film Enola Holmes, where she played Sherlock's kid sister. Now 18 years old, Brown has a slate of high-profile projects lined up, including an Enola Holmes sequel and an adaptation of The Electric State from the Russo brothers, and has also signed a first-look deal with Netflix.