Stranger Things is finally taking fans to the big screen — and it’s about time.
Series creators Matt and Ross Duffer have long dreamed of giving fans a theatrical experience for the show’s grand finale, and now it’s happening. The two-hour Season 5 finale, which will wrap up the beloved series, will play in select theaters alongside its Netflix streaming debut. Screenings are scheduled in more than 350 locations across the U.S. and Canada, starting Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, coinciding with the episode’s global Netflix premiere, and will run through Jan. 1, 2026.
“We’re beyond excited that fans will have the chance to experience the final episode of Stranger Things in theaters — it’s something we’ve dreamed about for years, and we’re so grateful to Ted, Bela and everyone at Netflix for making it happen,” the Duffers said in a joint statement. “Getting to see it on the big screen, with incredible sound, picture, and a room full of fans, feels like the perfect — dare we say bitchin’ — way to celebrate the end of this adventure.”
Will the Finale Still Premiere on Netflix?
Don’t worry, fans, the finale episode will still premiere on Netflix on December 31 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Episode Runtimes, Revealed
Netflix chief creative officer Bela Bajaria initially expressed hesitation about a theater release, telling Variety, “A lot of people — a lot, a lot, a lot of people — have watched Stranger Things on Netflix. It has not suffered from lack of conversation or community or sharing or fandom. I think releasing it on Netflix is giving the fans what they want.”
Matt Duffer explained that the theater option isn’t just about screen size. “People don’t get to experience how much time and effort is spent on sound and picture, and they’re seeing it at reduced quality,” he told Variety. “More than that, it’s about experiencing it at the same time with fans.”
When Does Season 5 Premiere?
The final season will roll out in three chunks. Volume 1 drops Nov. 26 on Netflix, featuring four episodes: “The Crawl” (1h 8m), episode 2 (54m), “The Turnbow Trap” (1h 6m), and “Sorcerer” (1h 23m). Volume 2, with the next three episodes, premieres on Christmas Day, and the finale streams Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Stranger Things 5 picks up in the fall of 1987, with Hawkins scarred by the Rifts and under military occupation. Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) is in hiding from a government seeking her, but she and the gang share one mission: find and defeat Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) — though he’s currently missing.
