For years, fans have loved the goofy charm of Dustin Henderson, especially moments like his unforgettable “grrrr” that perfectly captured his awkward bravery in Stranger Things. That lovable energy helped turn Gaten Matarazzo into one of the show’s biggest breakout stars. And now, he is bringing that same chaotic charm to his first big post-Hawkins adventure in the new pizza-flavoured comedy.

Gaten Matarazzo has traded Hawkins Upside Down for dorm-room delirium in Pizza Movie, his big post-Stranger Things swing that just dropped its wild trailer ahead of SXSW premiere on March 13, 2026, and will hit Hulu for streaming on April 3. He plays shy college freshman Jack, whose chill Friday night with reckless roommate Montgomery (Sean Giambrone ) goes all the wrong ways.

After d**** and pizza are ordered, the night spirals when their homemade batch hits way harder than planned. Add to that a busted elevator, Montgomery's social panic, campus hate for Jack, plus unhinged obstacles like a psycho RA, a vengeful butterfly, a dreaming robot, to turn the two-floor pizza grab into a hallucinatory odyssey of absurd revelations.

BriTANicK's Brian McElhaney and Nick Kocher (SNL veterans) write and direct this stoner comedy packed with Lulu Wilson, Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Marcus Scribner, Sarah Sherman, and more, produced by American High and All Things Comedy. Far from a finale filler, Matarazzo's lead turn has promised chaotic laughs and life-changing trips that scream breakout comedy gold.

While Matarazzo's college chaos looks hilariously wild, his Dustin energy gets a fresh animated spin, too.

Dustin in animated adventures in Stranger Things: Tales from '84

Stranger Things: Tales from '84, the animated miniseries bridging Seasons 2 and 3 with fresh Hawkins chaos, has brought back the Upside Down momentum. Set against 1984's backdrop, Dustin leads pint-sized adventures with Lucas, Max, and the younger crew, battling Upside Down glitches, Demogorgon offshoots, and Hellfire Club origins—far from the live-action teens' main timeline.

Gaten Matarazzo's nerdy charm shines through cel-shaded shorts, blending Dustin's gadget-whiz smarts with synthwave-fueled horror. With the date set for April 23, 2026, making way for Dustin's radio experiments, and butterfly-curse riddles that echo Pizza Movie's hallucinatory trips.

At 23, Matarazzo balances this with his Hulu lead, proving Dustin's curiosity fuels endless formats as his animated escapades tie straight to Matarazzo's Pizza Movie breakout. This only reflects how his signature goofy charm keeps evolving beyond Stranger Things while staying rooted in that Hawkins spirit that made fans fall in love with him in the first place.

What do you think about Gaten Matarazzo’s Pizza Movie? Let us know in the comments.

Written by

Pratham Gurung

Edited by

Adiba Nizami