- Netflix changed its Stranger Things season 5 release plans
- The latest episode of the hit series will now also be available in cinemas
- Projections will be available from December 31, 2025 to January 1, 2026.
Great news, Stranger Things fans: Netflix will finally release the feature-length finale of the sci-fi series’ fifth and final season in theaters, with screenings expected to take place simultaneously with its streaming debut in a world premiere.
This means that when the final episode of Stranger Things season 5 releases on Netflix on December 31 at 5 p.m. PT in the US and midnight GMT in the UK (Australians will be able to stream it on January 1 at 10 a.m.), you’ll also have the option to head to your local cinema to see it on the big screen.
The Duffer Brothers said they were “beyond excited” that fans would have the opportunity to watch the final episode on the big screen, saying “this is something we’ve been dreaming about for years” in a statement. “Being able to see it on the big screen, with incredible sound, image and a room full of fans, seems like the perfect – dare we say b****in’ – way to celebrate the end of this adventure,” they added.
The news is a big relief for the creators of Stranger things, who previously said in an interview with Variety (see article below) that he was disappointed that “people don’t realize how much time and effort goes into sound and picture, and they see it in reduced quality.”
The Duffer Brothers hoped the two-hour series finale of #StrangerThings could be shown in theaters so everyone could “experience it at the same time with the fans.” However, Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria shut down the idea, saying: “A lot of people – a lot, a lot,… pic.twitter.com/6XTUtMYcjMOctober 15, 2025
Although this story has since been removed, at the time Netflix Chief Creative Officer Bela Bajaria said the next installment of the series would not be released in theaters because “it did not suffer from a lack of conversation, community, 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 essential to streaming success
Of course, this isn’t the first time a hit TV show has hit theaters, with Stranger Things season 4 and Game of Thrones season 8 both see episodes released theatrically after their television premieres. However, this approach is different.
Not only do studios often prioritize a theatrical release before it is available for streaming to boost engagement, but they also tend to limit theatrical releases to movies rather than TV shows, making the Stranger Things The Season 5 finale release plan is one of the first to take this approach.
Investing in a theatrical marketing campaign means Netflix will double its chances of driving engagement, as it’s already riding the wave of interest from the first two. Stranger Things Season 5 release dates – volume one arrives on November 26, followed by volume two on December 25.
I also suspect that this type of release schedule will likely lead to spikes in Netflix’s back catalog. Indeed, I wouldn’t be surprised if we see previous seasons of the hit series in the streamer’s most-watched charts between late November and early January 2026.
Compared to competing studios, Netflix has been more reserved regarding theatrical releases, choosing to only launch limited series for certain titles in 2025, like the global phenomenon. KPop Demon Hunters, Guillermo Del Toror Frankensteinthat of Noah Baumbach Jay Kelly and that of Kathryn Bigelow A house of dynamite.
But Netflix cannot continue to ignore the success its competitors are experiencing in releasing titles in theaters. The best streaming services have all proven that this approach can be effective, especially for titles like A Minecraft movie, Captain America: Brave New World, F1 And The highest 2 the lowest, all of which were among the next highest-streamed box office runs.
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