'Stranger Things' to 'Game of Thrones': Series that gained popularity owing to their conspiracy theories

Some shows are great because of their writing, acting, or production. But a few rare ones become something bigger; they spill out of the screen and into Reddit threads, YouTube videos, and late-night conversations that go on for hours. These are the shows where the theories, the hidden clues, and the unanswered questions became just as entertaining as the show itself. Here are a few series that got even more popular because of the conspiracy theories they inspired.

A boy goes missing in a small, quiet town, a strange girl with a shaved head turns up with no memory of where she came from, and the government lab sitting at the edge of town has clearly been up to something it should not have been. Reportedly, the show taps into a real program that actually ran mind control experiments on people, which gave fans enough reason to believe the whole thing could be based on something real. Between seasons, the theories about Eleven, the Upside Down, and the true identity of the final villain took over the internet completely. Created by the Duffer Brothers, featuring Millie Bobby Brown, David Harbour, and Winona Ryder.

The list would be incomplete with the mention of 'Game of Thrones,' which is on George R.R. Martin's books. Set in a world full of dragons, magic, and brutal betrayals, this intense series shows noble families fighting for control over the Iron Throne. The R plus L equals J theory, which fans figured out years before the show confirmed it, proved that Jon Snow's true parentage had been hiding in plain sight the whole time. The theory that Bran Stark was manipulating events from the very beginning sent fan forums into a frenzy, and the debate around whether the showrunners planned this is still going strong. Created by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the show brought together Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, Peter Dinklage, and Lena Headey in one of the biggest ensemble casts in television history.

Hidden hatches? Check! Invisible monsters? Check! Shadowy organization pulling strings behind the scenes? Check! Well, that's a reciepe for a series where the plot gets twisted at every turn. The 2004 release, 'Lost,' left the audience dissecting every episode for hidden numbers, symbols, 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 full-blown obsession. Created by J.J. Abrams and Damon Lindelof, Matthew Fox, Evangeline Lilly, Josh Holloway, and Terry O'Quinn led the cast through six seasons of beautifully controlled chaos.

A small German town, missing children, and families with secrets that stretch across three different time periods. 'Dark' hooks you from the very first episode. The show is built entirely around the idea that time is a loop and a secret group has been controlling it for generations, which sent fans into a spiral of building timelines and family trees just to keep up. If you enjoy shows that make you feel both confused and completely obsessed at the same time, this one is for you. Directed by Baran bo Odar, featuring Louis Hofmann, Lisa Vicari, and Andreas Pietschmann.

Employees at a mysterious company called Lumon Industries undergo a procedure that completely separates their work memories from their personal memories, meaning the version of them at the office has no idea what their outside life looks like. The conspiracy theories around what Lumon is actually doing and what is stored in the files employees are never allowed to see became one of the biggest online obsessions in recent television. Even after two seasons, the full picture of Lumon's true goal remains unanswered, which keeps the theories alive and growing. Directed by Ben Stiller, Adam Scott carries the show brilliantly alongside Patricia Arquette, John Turturro, and Christopher Walken.

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