Netflix is Saying Goodbye to One of Its Biggest Shows Ever

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Today marks the end of a major era for Netflix as the final episodes of Stranger Things Season 5 become available in theaters and on the streaming service. Stranger Things has consistently been one of Netflix’s biggest hits, with its first season ranking among the most-watched ever in the US and the third season attracting over 40 million US viewers upon its release. Although Season 5 hasn’t received the same critical acclaim as previous seasons, the finale signifies the end of the entire series, leaving many fans with mixed emotions.

When the first season of Stranger Things premiered in 2016, it was a huge hit with critics and audiences alike, earning a 97% rating on Rotten Tomatoes and high scores on Metacritic. Praised for its unique blend of 1980s science fiction, drama, and references to Dungeons & Dragons, the show quickly became one of Netflix’s biggest productions. Season 5 drew almost 60 million views upon release and over 34 million viewers on Christmas Day. Despite some negative reviews, the final episodes will be available just before the new year, and you can watch them either in movie theaters or on Netflix at home.

Say Goodbye to Stranger Things in 2026

Stranger Things Season 5 Finale: Release Date, Time, Episode Name, Runtime

You can find a countdown to the release of the final Stranger Things episodes on the official Netflix website. Here are the details for the Season 5 finale: release date, time, and episode title.

  • Stranger Things Season 5 Finale
    • Episode Name: Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up
    • Release Date: December 31, 2025 (Americas) / January 1, 2026 (Europe, Africa, Asia, Oceania)
    • Release Time: 5 pm PST / 8 pm EST (US time)
    • Runtime: 2 hours and 8 minutes
Image via Netflix

Season 5 of Stranger Things sparked a lot of debate among fans, with theories ranging from a potential romance between Will and Mike to the idea that the entire series was a Dungeons & Dragons game played by Mike, or even that major characters would die. Despite the differing opinions, the show has consistently been a huge success for Netflix, significantly boosting viewership and keeping subscribers engaged over the years. The final part of Season 5 delivered one of Netflix’s best Christmas Days ever in terms of viewers, and previous seasons also performed exceptionally well, ranking among the most-watched shows during the week of December 22nd to 28th.

The final season of Stranger Things is expected to be a huge success for Netflix, with excitement building online. It’s bittersweet to see the show end after nearly a decade. If you’re feeling nostalgic, LEGO is releasing a Stranger Things set called Creel House tomorrow, January 1, 2026. The set includes minifigures of the main characters and a detailed replica of Creel House.

As a huge fan, I’m already wondering what’s next for the world of Stranger Things – will we see more Dungeons & Dragons games or even video games? Honestly, with how popular the show is, I can’t imagine it just disappearing after the final season. And the best part? You can watch the very last episode in cinemas or on Netflix – it’ll be available on Netflix just five hours after this is posted!

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2025-12-31 23:05