The two-hour finale of Stranger Things is poised to deliver an emotionally charged cinematic farewell. The series' creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, have realized their long-held dream of having the final episode played in theaters. After a tireless fight for this possibility, Netflix, in an Instagram post, announced with excitement, "Fans can experience the final episode of Stranger Things on Netflix and in select theaters in the US and Canada on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. More details to follow!"
The screenings will take place in over 350 locations across the US and Canada, starting at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on December 31st, timed perfectly with the global premiere on the Netflix platform, and running through January 1st, 2026.
Following the announcement, the Duffer Brothers released a joint statement expressing their profound gratitude to Netflix for making this dream a reality. "We are beyond thrilled that fans will have the chance to experience the final episode of Stranger Things in theaters," they said. "It's something we've dreamed about for years, and we're so grateful to Ted, Bela, and everyone at Netflix for making it happen."
The statement continued, "Seeing it on the big screen, with incredible sound, picture, and a room full of fans, feels like the perfect way to celebrate the end of this adventure."
Earlier this month, when Netflix rejected the request for a theatrical release, Matt, in an interview with Variety, emphasized that the audience often doesn't realize "how much time and effort is spent on sound and picture," adding that many end up viewing it "at reduced quality." He stressed that the theater screenings are also about "experiencing it at the same time with fans."
Further information about theater locations and how to attend fan events will be announced later this year. The fifth and final season of Stranger Things is being released in three volumes, with the first part coming out on November 26th, the second volume on Christmas, and the third set of episodes on New Year's Eve.
