‘Stranger Things’ Finale to Hit Over 350 Theaters — Find Out When You Can Watch It

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As a huge fan of Stranger Things, I was really surprised to hear Netflix’s latest announcement! It turns out the final season won’t just be on Netflix – they’re actually releasing it in movie theaters first! I remember they originally said it would be a streaming-only event, so this is a pretty big change of plans, and honestly, I’m thrilled! It feels like a proper send-off for such a massive show.

The last episode of the show’s fifth season will be shown in over 350 cinemas across the U.S. and Canada starting December 31st at 5 p.m. Pacific Time, coinciding with its release on Netflix. These screenings will run through January 1, 2026.

Matt and Ross Duffer, the creators of Stranger Things, expressed their enthusiasm about fans being able to watch the series finale in movie theaters. They shared that this has been a long-held dream, and they thanked Ted, Bela, and the entire Netflix team for making it a reality.

Seeing the film in a theater, with amazing sound and visuals, surrounded by fellow fans, feels like the absolute best way to mark the completion of this project.

Honestly, I’m really surprised by this news! Just a few weeks ago, the creators, the Duffer Brothers, and Netflix’s head of content, Bela Bajaria, specifically said there weren’t going to be any movie theater releases. Bajaria even pointed out that so many people have already watched Stranger Things on Netflix, and it hasn’t lost any of its buzz or fan following because of it. It’s a total shift from what they were saying!

She added that keeping it on Netflix would give fans what they wanted.

Matt Duffer expressed a desire for viewers to experience the show as originally intended. He explained that audiences aren’t fully appreciating the work put into the sound and visuals because they’re watching a lower-quality version. He also emphasized the importance of sharing the experience with fans simultaneously, which a theatrical release would allow.

Only a week after the interview, the industry newsletter Puck revealed that Netflix was actually planning a theatrical release. They explained that earlier statements were made weeks prior, and the situation had evolved since then. Later, a source at Netflix confirmed the deal had been developing for a while, despite rumors to the contrary.

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2025-10-24 09:14