- Netflix has changed its stranger things season 5 release plans
- The final episode of the hit show will now also hit theaters.
- Tours will be available from December 31, 2025 to January 1, 2026.
Great news, stranger things Fans: After all, Netflix will release the final episode of the sci-fi show’s fifth and final season in theaters, with screenings happening simultaneously with its streaming debut in a world first.
That means that when the final episode of stranger things Season 5 launches on Netflix on December 31 at 5pm PT in the US and midnight GMT in the UK (Australians will be able to stream it on January 1 at 10am), you’ll also have the option of heading to your local cinema to watch it on the big screen.
The Duffer brothers have said they are “beyond excited” that fans will have the option to watch the final episode on the big screen, saying “it’s something we’ve dreamed about for years” in a statement. “Seeing it on the big screen, with incredible sound, visuals and a room full of fans, seems like the perfect (dare we say damn) way to celebrate the end of this adventure,” they added.
The news is a great relief for the creators of stranger things, 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 goes into sound and picture, and they see it in reduced quality.”
The Duffer brothers hoped that the two-hour #StrangerThings series finale could be screened in movie theaters so everyone could “experience it at the same time with the fans.” However, Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria dismissed the idea, saying: “A lot of people, a lot, a lot… pic.twitter.com/6XTUtMYcjMOctober 15, 2025
While that story has since been taken down, at the time Netflix creative director Bela Bajaria had said that the show’s next installment would not be released in theaters because it “has not suffered from a lack of conversation, community, sharing or fandom.” In fact, he said that “releasing it on Netflix is giving the fans what they want.”
It was this stance on theatrical releases that ultimately contributed to Matt and Ross Duffer’s decision to sign an exclusive four-year deal for feature films, TV shows and streaming projects with Paramount as they wanted to make more movies for the big screen, according to Deadline.
Why theatrical releases are vital to streaming success
Of course, this isn’t the first time a hit TV show has been released in theaters, with stranger things season 4 and game of Thrones Season 8 sees episodes released in theaters after their television premieres. However, this approach is different.
Not only do studios often prioritize theatrical release before it is available on streaming to increase engagement, but they also tend to limit theatrical releases to movies rather than television shows, making stranger things The final release plan for Season 5 was one of the first to take this approach.
Investing in a theatrical marketing campaign means Netflix will double its chances of driving engagement since it will already be riding the wave of interest from the top two. stranger things Season 5 release dates: The first volume arrives on November 26, followed by the second volume on December 25.
I also suspect that this type of release schedule will likely cause spikes in Netflix’s back catalog. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw previous seasons of the hit show 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 venture into limited runs for select titles in 2025, like the global phenomenon. kpop demon hunters, Guillermo Del Toror frankensteinby Noah Baumbach Jay Kelly and Kathryn Bigelow A dynamite house.
But Netflix cannot continue ignoring the success its rivals are having releasing titles in movie theaters. All of the best streaming services have proven that this approach can be successful, especially for titles like A Minecraft Movie, Captain America: Brave New World, F1 and highest 2 lowest, which were among the next most streamed box offices.
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