Netflix recognizes the immeasurable importance of keeping fans on the edge of their seats, eagerly anticipating the next chapter of Stranger Things. To this end, the streaming platform continues to drip-feed updates, reminding viewers that the story's climax is still yet to come. Rumors have swirled around the length of the series finale, but Netflix has put an end to the speculations by announcing the official runtime for the final episode of the fifth and final season.
The finale of Season 5, titled The Rightside Up, will clock in at a lengthy 2 hours and 5 minutes, making it the second-longest episode in the show's history. This highly anticipated episode is set to join the ranks of those that have surpassed the two-hour mark, with the longest being the Season 4 finale at an impressive 2 hours and 19 minutes.
Along with this announcement, Netflix revealed that the final episode will be screened in over 500 theaters across the United States and Canada, simultaneously with its Netflix premiere. This allows fans in both countries to experience the finale at the exact moment it drops globally.
The theatrical screenings of Stranger Things Season 5 finale will commence on December 31 and run through January 1.
Netflix released Volume 1 of the series, consisting of four episodes, on November 26 and received overwhelmingly positive reviews. The final episode of Volume 1 saw Will and the gang face off against Vecna and his army of monsters in Hawkins. Vecna's chilling words to Will—"It was easy to break you and accomplish my mission"—hinted at his sinister plan to dominate the world by kidnapping children and taking them to the Upside Down. The episode ends on a dramatic note as Will unleashes previously dormant powers of his own, suggesting he may be the key to turning the tide in the final battle.
The anticipation is palpable as we wonder how Will, Eleven, Mike, Lucas, Dustin, and other members of the group will manage to defeat Vecna and bring this terrifying ordeal to an end. Volume 2 of Stranger Things Season 5 will premiere on Netflix on Thursday, December 25, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
