Rise to Success: Career Highlights of The Duffer Brothers

Discover the career path of The Duffer Brothers, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Matt and Ross Duffer, known as the Duffer Brothers, are American filmmakers and television producers. Identical twins, they collaborate on all projects, achieving fame as the creators, directors, and executive producers of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things. They also wrote and directed the film Hidden and contributed to the Fox series Wayward Pines. Their production company, Upside Down Pictures, has a deal with Netflix.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

2007: Graduation from Chapman University

In 2007, the Duffer Brothers graduated from Chapman University's Dodge College of Film and Media Arts in Orange, California.

2011: Warner Bros. Acquires Hidden Script

In 2011, Warner Bros. Pictures acquired the Duffer Brothers' script for the post-apocalyptic horror film Hidden.

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2015: Hidden Release and Wayward Pines

In 2015, the Duffer Brothers directed 'Hidden'. They were also hired as writers and producers for the Fox television series 'Wayward Pines'.

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2015: Hidden Release

In 2015, the Duffer Brothers wrote and directed the horror film Hidden.

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July 15, 2016: Release of Stranger Things

On July 15, 2016, Stranger Things was released and received overwhelming praise for its characterization, pacing, atmosphere, acting, soundtrack, directing, writing, and homages to 1980s genre films and developed a cult following online.

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2016: Stranger Things Release

In 2016, the Duffer Brothers gained recognition as the creators, directors, and executive producers of the Netflix science fiction horror series Stranger Things.

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September 30, 2019: Netflix Signs Deal with the Duffers

On September 30, 2019, Netflix announced it had signed the Duffer Brothers for additional films and television shows over the coming years.

March 2021: Adaptation of The Talisman

In March 2021, the Duffer Brothers announced they would team up with Spielberg to adapt Stephen King's and Peter Straub's The Talisman as a Netflix series.

July 2022: Launch of Upside Down Pictures

In July 2022, following the premiere of the fourth season of Stranger Things, the Duffer Brothers launched the production company Upside Down Pictures and recommitted to Netflix with new projects, including a live-action series adaptation of Death Note and a series adaptation of The Talisman, in addition to their follow-up series to Stranger Things.

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2024: Executive Producers of The Boroughs

As of 2024, the Duffer Brothers were the executive producers of a Netflix show called 'The Boroughs', which is a supernatural drama set in a retirement community in the New Mexico desert.

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August 2025: Paramount Deal

In August 2025, it was announced that the Duffer Brothers and their company would be signing a four-year deal at Paramount, departing from their long-time partnership at Netflix. This would allow them to create new series and produce and direct theatrical feature films.