“Stranger Things” to “Game of Thrones”: series that gained popularity due to conspiracy theories

Some shows are great because of their writing, acting, or production. But the few rare ones become something bigger; It seeps off the screen into Reddit threads, YouTube videos, and hours-long late-night conversations. These are shows where the theories, hidden clues, and unanswered questions become as entertaining as the show itself. Here are some series that became more popular due to the conspiracy theories they inspired.

A boy disappears in a quiet small town, a strange girl appears with a shaved head and has no memory of where she came from, and it’s clear that the government laboratory on the edge of town was up to something it shouldn’t have been. The series is said to be based on a real show that actually conducted mind control experiments on people, giving fans enough reason to believe that the whole thing could be based on something real. Between seasons, theories about Eleven, the Upside Down, and the final villain’s true identity have taken over the entire internet. It was created by the Duffer Brothers, and features Millie Bobby Brown, David Harbour, and Winona Ryder.

The list would not be complete if “Game of Thrones” found in George R.R. Martin’s books was mentioned. Set in a world filled with dragons, magic, and brutal betrayals, this series shows noble families fighting for control of the Iron Throne. The R plus L equals J theory, which fans discovered years before the show was confirmed, proved that Jon Snow’s true parentage had been hiding in plain sight all along. The theory that Bran Stark was manipulating events from the beginning has led to a frenzy on fan forums, and debate over whether the showrunners had this planned is still ongoing. The show, created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss, brought together Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Peter Dinklage and Lena Headey in one of the biggest ensembles in television history.

Hidden portals? Check! Invisible monsters? Check! A mysterious organization pulling the strings behind the scenes? Check! Well, that’s a recipe for a series where the plot twists at every turn. The 2004 release of “Lost” left the audience dissecting each episode in search of hidden numbers, codes and connections. The biggest theory was that everyone was already dead and living in purgatory, and the mysterious numbers 4 8 15 16 23 42 appearing everywhere became a complete obsession. JJ Abrams, Damon Lindelof, Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Josh Holloway, and Terry O’Quinn lead the cast through six seasons of beautifully controlled chaos.

A small German town, missing children, and families with secrets spanning three different time periods. “Dark” grabs you from the first episode. The entire show was built around the idea that time is a loop and that a secret group has been controlling it for generations, sending fans into a downward spiral of constructing timelines and family trees just to keep up. If you enjoy shows that leave you feeling confused and completely obsessed at the same time, this is the show for you. The film is directed by Baran Bou Odar, and stars Louis Hoffmann, Lisa Vicari, and Andreas Pechmann.

Employees at a mysterious company called Lumon Industries undergo a procedure that completely separates their work memories from their personal memories, meaning that their version of themselves at the office has no idea what their outside life is like. Conspiracy theories about what LeMon actually does and what is stored in files that employees are never allowed to see have become one of the biggest online obsessions in modern television. Even after two seasons, the full picture of Lomon’s true purpose remains unanswered, keeping the theories alive and growing. Adam Scott, directed by Ben Stiller, delivers the show brilliantly alongside Patricia Arquette, John Turturro, and Christopher Walken.

A chemistry teacher named Walter White turns into a powerful drug dealer after being diagnosed with cancer, but fans soon noticed that he showed signs of being dangerous long before the diagnosis gave him an alibi. The biggest theory is that Walter was never a good person to begin with, and that cancer simply allowed him to finally become what he always wanted to be. Written and directed by Vince Gilligan, Bryan Cranston, and Aaron Paul are legendary here, with strong support from Anna Gunn and Bob Odenkirk.