When Stranger Things stars Finn Wolfhard and Gaten Matarazzo decided to live together in Atlanta while filming the show’s final season, what sounded like an ideal arrangement for two longtime friends quickly turned into a memorable challenge. The Finn Wolfhard roommate experience became a lesson in how even close friends can struggle with the realities of sharing a home.
How Two Friends Took On a Shared Space
The decision by Finn Wolfhard and Gaten Matarazzo to be roommates during the filming of Stranger Things’ fifth season offered them both a taste of independent living, far from their childhood homes. Set in Atlanta, their apartment gained a reputation among cast members for its less-than-tidy appearance as time went on, transforming from a place of camaraderie into what Matarazzo later described as a “disaster zone.”
According to Gaten Matarazzo, sharing a living space with Finn Wolfhard mimicked the typical college experience, filled with new responsibilities that neither had fully anticipated. Though they shared a decade-long friendship and many years working together on set, the realities of adulthood—especially chores—became unavoidable as their time as roommates stretched into nearly a year.
Realization Sets In
After about three months of living side by side, both actors began to notice the toll their relaxed approach to cleaning was taking. As Matarazzo put it,
I would look around like three months after we lived together and like, this place is disgusting. What are we doing?
– Gaten Matarazzo, Actor
He admitted that their easygoing friendship made it difficult to enforce any cleaning standards, causing the apartment’s condition to deteriorate. Rather than one roommate blaming the other, Matarazzo explained that each matched the other’s habits, leading to mutual neglect of chores. Clothes began to pile up, laundry remained unfinished, and dishes stacked up, a situation that became overwhelming the longer they ignored it.
The Moment of Truth
It wasn’t until friends and cast members suggested meeting at their apartment that the reality of their situation truly sank in. Matarazzo recalled,
The wake up call came when like we would plan to go out and someone would be like, ‘All right, we’ll just meet you at yours.’ And both of us would be like, ‘No, do not come 10 feet to our home.’
– Gaten Matarazzo, Actor
This embarrassment exposed just how challenging it can be to live with someone you are close to, especially when neither person wants to take the lead on responsibilities like cleaning. What started out feeling like a college adventure soon revealed the true test of sustaining a friendship within the walls of a shared, cluttered space.
Learning From the Mess and Moving Forward
Despite all the chaos, the Finn Wolfhard roommate experience did not strain their friendship. Over time, both actors recognized their shared predicament and gradually improved their habits, especially as their time together as roommates came to an end. According to Matarazzo, while living together can sometimes damage the closest relationships, his bond with Finn Wolfhard remained strong. They were able to laugh at their shortcomings and move forward with an even deeper understanding of one another.
The rest of the Stranger Things cast—including Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, and Caleb McLaughlin—remained close throughout and after filming, often keeping in touch via group chat and reunions. As their time on the Netflix hit series came to a close, these actors demonstrated not only the challenges but also the resilience of friendships forged under the spotlight and tested in everyday life.
The Enduring Bonds of the Stranger Things Cast
As the final season of Stranger Things wraps, Finn Wolfhard’s roommate saga stands out as a reminder of how young stars navigate personal growth and relationships under unusual circumstances. Despite the initial struggles, the shared experience has only strengthened the connection between Wolfhard and Matarazzo. Together with their fellow cast members, they’ve built bonds that have weathered not only fame and a demanding filming schedule but also the messy realities of growing up and living independently.
This candid account of the Finn Wolfhard roommate experience offers insight into the off-screen lives of some of television’s most recognizable young actors, highlighting both the difficulties and rewards that come with sharing space and responsibilities—even when you’re living with your best friend in the middle of a Hollywood phenomenon.
