Stranger Things 5 Finale to Premiere in Theaters and on Netflix Simultaneously

For the first time, "Stranger Things" fans can experience the series finale at home and on the big screen. The highly anticipated last episode of the hit Netflix series will screen in more than 350 theaters across the U.S. and Canada beginning December 31, 2025, at 5 p.m. PT - the exact moment it premieres on Netflix worldwide. Screenings will continue through January 1, 2026.

This isn't a first for Netflix. It previously held limited screenings for "Stranger Things 4: Volume 2" on November 6, 2022, months after it debuted on the platform. Both the Season 4 and Season 5 finales, each running over two hours, have received brief theatrical windows. However, the simultaneous day-and-date debut is virtually unheard of for scripted television.

The push for a cinematic send-off came directly from series creators Matt and Ross Duffer. The brothers expressed their enthusiasm in a joint statement, saying, "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. 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."

Season 5 will be released in three parts:

Volume 1 (Episodes 501-504) - November 26, 2025

Volume 2 (Episodes 505-507) - December 25, 2025

Finale (Episode 508) - December 31, 2025

Set in the fall of 1987, the final season finds Hawkins ravaged by the Rifts. The friends reunite to hunt down Vecna, who has disappeared as the government imposes military control over the town and forces Eleven into hiding. As the anniversary of Will's disappearance approaches, an even darker threat emerges, demanding that every member of the group fight together one last time.

The cast includes Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, and more.