Stranger Things: Netflix opened rifts to the Upside Down at 15 global landmarks to promote new season

After a three year wait between seasons, seven of the nine episodes that make up Stranger Things season 4 are now available to watch on the Netflix streaming service. (The last two episodes will be released on July 1st.) Many Stranger Things fans are now deep into their binge watches; some have probably even watched all seven episodes by now. Our own Alex Maidy has watched the seven episodes, and you can read his 9/10 review at THIS LINK. To make sure as many people knew about the return of Stranger Things as possible, Netflix even opened rifts to the Upside Down at fifteen different global landmarks, in fourteen countries around the world.

These rifts were, of course, just light shows. The Upside Down doesn’t really exist, as far as we know. But it was still quite a spectacle, as you can see in images on the Netflix website.

The locations where these rifts were opened were

Empire State Building in New York City; Bondi Beach in Australia; Duomo Square in Milan; Malecon Barranquilla in Colombia; the Gateway of India in Mumbai; Menara Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia; Al-‘Ula National Monument in Saudi Arabia; Cologne Media Park in Germany; XBox Plaza in Downtown Los Angeles; Wawel Castle in Krakow, Poland; Medborgarplatsen in Stockholm; and the Guggenheim Museum, Bilbao; Telefónica building, Gran Vía 28, Madrid; and Plaza del Callao, Madrid in Spain. Other locations include Shoreditch, London and Tokyo, Japan.

Here’s how Netflix described what to expect in some of the locations:

In NYC, as dusk approaches at 8:45pm ET on 26 May, a crack will start to grow on the southern facade of the Empire State Building as a massive rift opens, transporting onlookers into the Upside Down through an incredible visual spectacle. Local fans are also invited to watch in person – for a hint at the best vantage point, study up on your local coordinates (40.7411 N 73.9894 W). Eighties vibes will be in full gear, along with a lot more surprises.

In Milan, after the sun goes down at 9:45pm CET on 26 May in the iconic Duomo Square, a spectacular rift will open on the facade of the historic Palazzo Carminati, allowing fans to witness the Upside Down unfolding right before their eyes. The next morning, Duomo Square will transport visitors back to the 80s with throwback brand logos on display and multiple dedicated themed fan experiences.

At Australia’s iconic Bondi Beach at 5am AEST on 27 May, a mysterious and forbidding gateway to an alternate dimension will open up on the golden sands. The large gaping portal will appear overnight, complete with deep vines and a glowing red core. Scientists in hazmat will patrol the area while lifeguards will set up a safe perimeter around the scene.

A video of the Empire State Building “Upside Down light show” can be seen at the bottom of this article.

Stranger Things season 4 has the following synopsis:

It’s been six months since the Battle of Starcourt, which brought terror and destruction to Hawkins. Struggling with the aftermath, our group of friends are separated for the first time – and navigating the complexities of high school hasn’t made things any easier. In this most vulnerable time, a new and horrifying supernatural threat surfaces, presenting a gruesome mystery that, if solved, might finally put an end to the horrors of the Upside Down.

Episodes of Stranger Things season 4 were written by the Duffer Brothers (401, 402, 407, 408, 409), Caitlin Schneiderhan (403), Paul Dichter (404), Kate Trefry (405), and Curtis Gwinn (406). They were directed by the Duffer Brothers (401, 402, 407, 408, 409), Shawn Levy (403, 404), and Nimród Antal (405, 406).

Here’s the list of this season’s cast members and the characters they’re playing:

Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers), David Harbour (Jim Hopper), Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair), Noah Schnapp (Will Byers), Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield), Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers), Joe Keery (Steve Harrington), Maya Hawke (Robin Buckley), Priah Ferguson (Erica Sinclair), Brett Gelman (Murray), Cara Buono (Karen Wheeler), Matthew Modine (Dr. Brenner), Paul Reiser (Dr. Owens), Jamie Campbell Bower (Peter Ballard), Joseph Quinn (Eddie Munson), Eduardo Franco (Argyle), Sherman Augustus (Lt. Colonel Sullivan), Mason Dye (Jason Carver), Nikola Djuricko (Yuri), Tom Wlaschiha (Dmitri), Myles Truitt (Patrick), Regina Ting Chen (Ms. Kelly), Grace Van Dien (Chrissy), Logan Riley Bruner (Fred Benson), Logan Allen (Jake), Elodie Grace Orkin (Angela), John Reynolds (Officer Callahan), Rob Morgan (Chief Powell), Amybeth McNulty (Vickie), and Freddy Krueger himself Robert Englund (Victor Creel).

Stranger Things is produced by Monkey Massacre Productions and 21 Laps Entertainment. The Duffer Brothers serve as executive producers alongside Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen of 21 Laps Entertainment, Iain Paterson, and Curtis Gwinn.

Have you watched any of Stranger Things season 4 yet? Let us know by leaving a comment below.