Ranking the cast members of Stranger Things from worst to best
- Elizabeth Sanate
- 7 hours ago
- 5 min read
Ranking the cast of Stranger Things feels kind of wrong, doesn’t it?
Like you’re about to start a fight in a group chat with people you actually love.
These aren’t just characters. These are faces we grew up with. Voices we heard while eating junk food at 1 a.m. People who made Hawkins feel weirdly real.
We defended them online. We cried for them. We picked sides like they were actual human beings. And we’ve all thought about it.
Who really carried this show?
Who had the scenes you still think about?
Who made you forget you were watching someone act?
That’s what this ranking is about. Not popular. Not memes. Not Instagram followers.
But on who made Stranger Things hit the hardest.
Here's the ranking of the Stranger Things cast from worst to best
10. Karen Wheeler
Karen Wheeler is not just a mom. She’s a force. “Walk ’Em Down Wheeler” didn’t become a thing for no reason. The way she stepped up, the way she fought back, even taking down demodogs on her own, wasn’t small.
Her character development is honestly one of the best after Steve and Will. She started as this normal Hawkins mom, and slowly, you see how fearless she actually is. Karen doesn’t have powers. She just has that kind of strength that comes from loving your kids too much to be scared.
9. Robin Buckley
Robin is funny and awkward and a little all over the place. But that’s what makes her feel real. She’s just being herself, and fans loved that.
And one thing people forget is how important she is to Will. She’s the one who motivates him. The one who helps him open up. And unlock something inside him. In a show full of monsters, Robin’s strength is emotional. She understands people.
8. Erica Sinclair
You can’t spell America without Erica, so how can we forget her? Every time Erica walks into a scene, the vibe changes.
Suddenly it’s funnier. Sharper. More alive.
Her “Just The Facts” attitude, her confidence, and her iconic one-liners. She never wastes a moment. And when she’s with Dustin? It’s always chaos in the best way. They turn danger into comedy without making it feel fake.
You’re always smiling when Erica’s on screen. Even when things are terrifying.
7. Max Mayfield
Max didn’t just join Stranger Things; she brought real pain with her. The kind you don’t shout about. The kind you carry around quietly.
Losing Billy left a hole in her that never really closed. You see it in the way she walks through scenes, like she’s always a little somewhere else. That’s what makes her so relatable.
And then there’s Season 2, when she took down Billy in front of the boys. No powers. Just pure nerves. That moment told you everything about Max. She’s not fearless. She's brave anyway. And that’s why she stays with you long after her scenes end.
6. Will Byers
Will is the softest heart and most innocent person in Stranger Things. He's just a kid who wanted to play D&D with his friends. But the world kept taking that away from him.
And then when he finally starts unlocking his powers, something shifts. He stops just surviving and starts fighting back. That “Max, Run” moment? That was the second time people realized how strong Will actually is. Not loud, not flashy, just brave.
What makes Will so special is how much he still cares. Even after all that fear, all that pain, he never wants anyone else to go through what he did. That’s why people love him so much. He’s gentle in a world that keeps being cruel.
5. Nancy Wheeler
The girl with the shotgun, and that isn’t just a nickname, it’s a warning. Every season of Stranger Things, people are just waiting for it. When is Nancy going to show up with a gun and start ending things?
She doesn’t hesitate. She doesn’t wait to be saved. She walks straight into danger like it’s her job.
Volunteering to be bait?
Knowing she could die and doing it anyway?
That’s Nancy.
And honestly, when she enters a scene, don’t you feel a little safer?
4. Dustin Henderson
Dustin is the heart of Stranger Things, even when he’s hiding it behind jokes. He’s the nerd guy, the one who talks too much. The one who always seems to have a weird plan.
His friendships are everything. Steve. Eddie. Suzie. Those weren’t just side plots, but were his whole emotional world. Losing Eddie didn’t just hurt him; it left a hole you can feel every time he smiles a little too hard. You can see the grief sitting behind his eyes.
And that Season 3 singing scene?
The world is literally ending, and then there was Dustin pouring his heart into a song. Funny, ridiculous, and quietly devastating just like him.
3. Jim Hopper
Jim Hopper is the father everyone deserves. He’s angry. He’s broken. He drinks too much. He pushes people away.
But when it comes to Eleven? That’s his entire soul.
You can tell he’s been through too much. It’s in his eyes. It’s in the way he drinks. It’s in how tired he always looks. He’s not just fighting monsters, he’s fighting his own past every day. And still, he shows up. Still, he protects. Still, he’s ready to give his life if it means El is safe.
Hopper doesn’t love quietly. He loves in a way that hurts. And that’s why he hits so deep.
2. Eleven
Eleven is the main character. That’s just facts. She has the most screen time. The most trauma and the most weight on her shoulders.
From a girl who couldn’t even speak properly to someone who understands love, loss, friendship, and sacrifice, her journey is brutal and beautiful.
She didn’t just fight monsters. She fought her stolen childhood.
And yeah, in Mike’s theory, she’s still alive. And honestly, that feels right. Because Stranger Things without Eleven just wouldn’t feel like home.
1. Steve Harrington
Steve is our babysitter. That alone already tells you everything. He’s the fan favorite for a reason. Honestly, who doesn’t like this man? But the crazy part is, he wasn’t always this lovable. In season one, Steve was actually the worst. Annoying. Selfish. The kind of guy you roll your eyes at. And that’s why his journey hits so hard.
Because no one in Stranger Things has better character development than Steve Harrington. He completely changed. From selfish to selfless. From scared to brave. From boyfriend to protector of every kid in Hawkins.
He runs toward danger. He stays when it’s terrifying. He loves these kids like they’re his own. And that’s why people love him.
So what does this ranking really say about Stranger Things?
Honestly? It proves how unfair this whole thing is. The cast of Stranger Things is so stacked that ranking them feels like trying to rank your favorite memories. Every character brought something. Fear. Comfort. Pain. Love. Laughter.
Leaving out Mike, Lucas, Joyce, and Jonathan hurts especially Mike, who really is the heart of this story.
But that’s the point. This cast is so deep that even a list like this feels emotional.
And if you’re mad about the ranking?
Good. That means Stranger Things did its job. It made you feel something. And that’s why we still care.
Got your own ranking?
Let’s argue about it on The ScreenLight.
