Fans of Hawkins, your wait is nearly at an end. For the first time, Netflix has revealed that the two-hour finale of its popular sci-fi series 'Stranger Things' will premiere in theaters simultaneously with its worldwide streaming release. The series, crafted by Matt and Ross Duffer, will have its fifth and final season released in three parts, comprising a total of eight episodes.
Stranger Things Season 5 release schedule
Netflix has unveiled a staggered release plan for Stranger Things 5:
Volume 1: November 26 (India: November 27, 6:30 am)
Volume 2: December 25 (India: December 26, 6:30 am)
Finale – The Rightside Up: December 31 (India: January 1, 2026, 6:30 am)
The concluding episode is set to be shown in more than 350 theaters throughout the US and Canada starting December 31 at 5 pm PT, aligning with its debut on Netflix. The screenings will extend into January 1, allowing fans to celebrate the new year in authentic Hawkins fashion.
Creators Matt and Ross Duffer expressed their excitement about fans having the opportunity to watch the final episode of Stranger Things in theaters, a dream they've had for years. They mentioned that experiencing the finale on the big screen with fans will be a memorable way to end the story. Netflix announced that information regarding ticket sales and theater locations will be revealed shortly.
The current situation: Hawkins' final defense
The fifth season kicks off in the autumn of 1987, with Hawkins still grappling with the turmoil caused by the Rifts. The group comes together with a single mission — to locate and eliminate Vecna. According to the official synopsis, 'Vecna has vanished, and his whereabouts and intentions remain unknown.' Meanwhile, the government enforces a military lockdown in Hawkins and searches for Eleven, as a menacing and recognizable threat emerges.
The final episode is set to deliver a monumental confrontation as Eleven and her friends come together for a last stand against a darkness "unlike anything they’ve encountered before." The returning cast features Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers), David Harbour (Jim Hopper), Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas), Noah Schnapp (Will), and Sadie Sink (Max), along with new characters joining for the decisive battle.
After the conclusion: A tribute to Hawkins
Netflix has planned a series of fan experiences and themed events leading up to the finale, including:
A Hawkins-style bike ride through Los Angeles
Custom Funko Pop! figures featuring new Season 5 accessories
Exclusive Stranger Things merchandise drops
Special screenings of the Broadway play Stranger Things: The First Shadow during a week-long fan celebration in November
Get ready to use your walkie-talkies and Dungeons & Dragons dice, as the ultimate showdown in Hawkins is approaching, and this time, it's hitting the big screen.
