What real-life experiments inspired the storyline of Stranger Things?

The Stranger Things series is inspired by the CIA's secret MKUltra project and the alleged Montauk Project, which involved disturbing government experiments on vulnerable individuals.

How are Eleven's powers connected to these real-life experiments?

In the series, Eleven's mother is depicted as having participated in the MKUltra project, with her exposure to psychedelic drugs and sensory deprivation during pregnancy leading to Eleven's development of psychic abilities.

What is the Montauk Project and how does it relate to Stranger Things?

The Montauk Project is an alleged government program that reportedly involved the abduction and psychological experimentation of orphans, which the Duffer Brothers have cited as another influence on the Stranger Things series.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Stranger Things Season 5 to Expose Disturbing Real-Life Experiments

Stranger Things Season 5 to Expose Disturbing Real-Life Experiments

18 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Stranger Things season 5 set to premiere on November 26, 2025
Series inspired by CIA's secret MKUltra project and The Montauk Project
Eleven's powers linked to her mother's exposure to psychedelic drugs

Stranger Things Season 5 to Expose Disturbing Real-Life Experiments

On November 26, 2025, the highly anticipated fifth season of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things is set to premiere. The show, which has captivated audiences with its blend of supernatural elements and references to dark historical events, is poised to continue its exploration of these themes.

According to reports, the upcoming season will once again draw inspiration from real-life government experiments, including the CIA's covert MKUltra project and the alleged Montauk Project. The Hawkins laboratory featured in the series is directly inspired by MKUltra, a secret program that aimed to manipulate unwitting subjects and extract information from the human consciousness.

Furthermore, the series' storyline surrounding Eleven's mother and her exposure to psychedelic drugs and sensory deprivation during her pregnancy is said to parallel disturbing accounts of actual government experiments on vulnerable individuals during the mid-20th century.