- Netflix has changed that Stranger Things season 5 release plans
- The last episode of the hit show is now also in cinemas
- Viewings will be available from December 31, 2025 to January 1, 2026
big news, Stranger Things fans: After all, Netflix will release the final feature-length episode of the sci-fi show’s fifth and final season in theaters, with screenings set to coincide with its streaming debut in a world first.
That means when the final episode of Stranger Things season 5 will be released on Netflix on December 31 at 5pm PT in the US and midnight GMT in the UK (Aussies will be able to stream it on January 1st at 10am). You also have the option of going over to your local cinema to see it on the big screen.
The Duffer Brothers have said they are “thrilled” that fans will have the opportunity to see the final episode on the big screen, saying “it’s something we’ve dreamed about for years” in a statement. “Getting to see it on the big screen, with incredible sound, visuals and a room full of fans, feels like the perfect – dare we say b****in’ – way to celebrate the end of this adventure,” they added.
The news is a great relief for the creators of Stranger Thing, who previously said in an interview with Variety (see post below) that they were disappointed that “people don’t get to experience how much time and effort is spent on sound and image, and they see it in reduced quality”.
The Duffer brothers hoped the two-hour #StrangerThings series finale could be shown in theaters so everyone could “experience it at the same time as fans.” However, Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria shot down the idea, saying: “A lot of people – a lot, a lot, … pic.twitter.com/6XTUtMYcj15 October 2025
While the story has since been pulled, Netflix chief creative officer Bela Bajaria had said at the time that the series’ next installment would not be getting a theatrical release because “it hasn’t suffered from a lack of conversation or community or sharing or fandom”. In fact, she said that “releasing it on Netflix gives the fans what they want”.
It was this stance on theatrical releases that ultimately contributed to Matt and Ross Duffer’s decision to sign a four-year exclusive deal for feature films, TV shows and streaming projects with Paramount as they wanted to make more films for the big screen, according to Deadline.
Why theatrical releases are critical to streaming success
It is of course not the first time that a hit TV program has had a cinema premiere, with Stranger Things season 4 and Game of Thrones season 8 sees both episodes released in theaters after their television premiere. However, this approach is different.
Not only will studios often prioritize a theatrical release before it becomes available on streaming to increase engagement, but they also tend to limit theatrical releases to movies rather than TV series, making Stranger Things season 5 finale release plans to be one of the first to take this approach.
Investing in a theatrical marketing campaign means Netflix will double its chances of increasing engagement, as it will already be riding the wave of interest from the first two Stranger Things season 5 release dates – the first volume lands on November 26, followed by the second volume on December 25.
I also suspect that this type of release schedule is likely to add spikes to Netflix’s back catalog. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see past seasons of the hit show back on the streamer’s most watched charts from late November to early January 2026.
Compared to rival studios, Netflix has been more reserved when it comes to theatrical releases, opting to only commit to limited runs of select titles in 2025, just like the global phenomenon KPop Demon Hunters, Guillermo Del Toror’s FrankensteinNoah Baumbach’s Jay Kelly and Kathryn Bigelow A house of dynamite.
But Netflix cannot continue to ignore the success its rivals are experiencing in releasing titles in theaters. The best streaming services have all proven that this approach can be successful, especially for titles like A Minecraft movie, Captain America: Brave New World, F1 and Highest 2 Lowest, all of which were among the most streamed following ticket sales.
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