J.J. Abrams is most popularly known for directing two modern Star Wars films, which are Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. Before doing these tentpole studio films, he made his impressive debut with Mission Impossible III, bringing back the franchise on the right track after the underwhelming second installment.
The director also kicked off the modern era of Star Trek with the 2009 reboot which was received very well. Abrams then made arguably his best film with 2011’s Super 8, which was a throwback to Steven Spielberg’s sci-films. When the idea of the film came to him, he knew he had to call Spielberg to help him make it.
J.J. Abrams And Steven Spielberg Was Committed To Making Super 8 A True Amblin Movie
In 2011, J.J. Abrams came out with the sci-fi thriller Super 8, starring Elle Fanning, Kyle Chandler, Joel Courtney, Gabriel Basso, and many others. The film chronicled a group of children who are making a movie on their Super 8 camera and bizarre happenings that start to haunt their town. The film felt like a classic sci-fi feature from the 70s and 80s like Steven Spielberg‘s E.T. and The Goonies.
The idea of the film hit Abrams suddenly at one point in his life and he knew it would be a very fun film to do. Having been inspired by Spielberg’s films, he wanted a new sci-fi feature to have the same feeling and vibe of films of classic Amblin films. In an interview with Forbes, Abrams stated that he immediately called Spielberg and told him his brilliant idea.
The E.T. director agreed to help him make his passion project. The two held many meetings and shaped the story of the film. In true Amblin form, they infused Super 8 with grounded characters and an underworldly feel. Abrams said,
It just hit me one day that a movie called Super 8, about a group of kids making movies, would be a fun project to work on. I nearly immediately called Steven Spielberg and asked if he’d want to do that with me. He said, ‘Yes.’ We hung up. That was the beginning. From then on, we held many meetings, discussing the shape of the story — wanting it to be a true Amblin movie — giving it a grounded group of characters and something supernatural and otherworldly.
The result was a very wholesome and original sci-fi feature that harkened back to the magic and wonder of Spielberg’s sci-fi films. Super 8 was a big critical and commercial success, grossing $260 million against a $50 million budget (via Box Office Mojo). Audiences celebrated the film for its mysterious and adventurous nature, which is rare nowadays.
The Duffer Brothers Were Inspired By J.J. Abrams’ Super 8 For Stranger Things
Stranger Things has been one of the biggest successes on Netflix and the thrilling adventures of the beloved kids on the show have impressed fans till its fourth season. The formula/DNA of the show is quite similar to the 2011 hit Super 8 and surely indeed, the Duffer Brothers were greatly inspired by the film while making the show.
In a 2023 interview, the Duffers revealed that they wanted to bring back the sincere and adventurous family storytelling that seems to have faded away with the show. They are huge fans of J.J. Abrams‘ Super 8 and wanted Stranger Things to be in a similar zone as that film in terms of its tone and storytelling. The creators said (via Collider),
We wanted to bring back that more not ironic, sincere, adventure, family storytelling that just seemed to have gone [away] – with the exception of ‘Super 8’, nobody was doing [it]. And ‘Super 8’ was kind of a one-off. I loved ‘Super 8’ but then it was just gone. No one else did it. And I do think there was an appetite – or that’s what I hoped – for this type of storytelling, so that really more than anything is what it is, is trying to stay in that zone.
Stranger Things is currently shooting its fifth and final season will premiere on Netflix sometime next year. For director Abrams, it was recently reported that Glen Powell will lead his upcoming film (via Deadline) with a script the director came up with.
Fans can watch Super 8 on Paramount+.
