In an unprecedented move, Netflix has announced that the final episode of Stranger Things will be released in theaters on the same day as its streaming premiere.
Some fans have been clamoring for the streamer to release the hit show's final episode on the big screen, as it is expected to have an epic scope and a feature-length runtime that warrants a theatrical experience. Initially, Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria, shot down the idea of releasing the episode in theaters, but now, it looks like they have changed their mind.
Is Netflix Releasing the Final Episode of Stranger Things in Theaters?
As reported by Deadline, Netflix is now set to release the final episode of Stranger Things in over 350 theaters across North America.
The feature-length finale of the hit series will arrive on the big screen the same day as its streaming premiere on December 31, 2025, at 5 pm PT for a limited time until January 1, 2026.
While there has been a theatrical release of TV episodes in the past (usually for one screening only), this is still an unprecedented move since it's rare for a streaming series to get the big-screen release treatment, especially on a debut premiere.
The showrunners, The Duffer Brothers, celebrated the final episode's confirmed theatrical release in the announcement.
"We’re beyond excited that fans will have the chance to experience the final episode of Stranger Things in theaters — 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," they said in a statement.
"Getting to see it on the big screen, with incredible sound, picture, and a room full of fans, feels like the perfect — dare we say bitchin’ — way to celebrate the end of this adventure."
The details regarding which theaters will release the Stranger Things finale will be announced at a later time.
What to Expect in the Final Season of Stranger Things
According to the logline for the final season of Stranger Things, set in the fall of 1987, "Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding."
"As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time."
The ensemble for the show's final season includes Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Priah Ferguson, Brett Gelman, Jamie Campbell Bower, Cara Buono, Amybeth McNulty, Nell Fisher, Jake Connelly, Alex Breaux, and Linda Hamilton.
The final season will be released later this year across three phases: Volume 1 (four episodes) on November 26, Volume 2 (three episodes) on Christmas Day, December 25, and Volume 3 (the final episode) on New Year's Eve, December 31.
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