The Demogorgon entered popular culture through Stranger Things, where it appeared as the central creature threat in the first season, released in 2016. The children named it after a monster from Dungeons & Dragons, although the television creature has its own distinctive appearance and behavior. Short roar and screech clips associated with the character spread through horror edits, fan videos, gaming montages, and reaction posts. The sound remains useful because audiences quickly connect it with an approaching monster and the Upside Down.