Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 is finally here! But despite the incredible hype surrounding the fifth and final season, its Rotten Tomatoes score is continuously declining, and it looks like Netflix should be worried about it.
As one of the earliest Netflix originals and a breakout success, Stranger Things is the flagship series for the streamer. It attracts record viewership with each season’s release, not to mention critical acclaim throughout its run. Despite that, however, Season 5 hits a new low.
Why is Stranger Things Season 5’s Rotten Tomatoes Score Declining?
Back in 2016, Stranger Things started out strong, debuting with an almost perfect Rotten Tomatoes score of 97% from critics and 96% from audiences.
However, when Season 2 dropped, its critic score dipped to 94%, still undeniably high, while its audience score fell to 90%.
But the numbers slipped further in Seasons 3 and 4, which both earned an 89% critic score, alongside audience scores of 86% and 89%, respectively.
By the looks of it, the show has been reviewed more negatively with each season’s release, and Season 5 continues that trend.
A day after its premiere (November 27), the final season sits at an all-time low of 87%, although the audience score remains strong at 92%.
Still, an 87% score is far from disastrous, meaning only about one in ten critics gave the season a negative review.
Even so, the consistent decline makes it clear that Stranger Things is ending at the right time, wrapping up its nearly decade-long run before it risks overstaying its welcome.
It’s also worth noting that the show still has four episodes left, so its Rotten Tomatoes score may continue to shift. And since it has only been a day since its release, critics may still respond to it more positively as the days go by.
What Do Critics Say About Stranger Things Season 5?
Inarguably, many critics praise Stranger Things Season 5 for its emotional stakes, spectacle, and strong production values.
But for others, like Giant Freakin Robot’s Joshua Tyler, the new season “is like watching a Ponzi scheme happening in real time.”
Slate’s Sam Adams says the show feels “cut off from the world – just like Hawkins – being in an airless, impenetrable bubble of stagnant characters and snarled lore.”
True enough, the first four episodes of the new season are commendable for their scope, scale, and twists, but they also feel somewhat convoluted.
The characters are once again split into smaller groups, each uncovering their own secrets, which makes the story feel unfocused.
So, why should Netflix be worried about this? As a core franchise for the streamer, even a single negative review matters; it can impact retention, leading to fewer rewatches, reduced social word-of-mouth, and weaker merchandising or ancillary revenue.
The narrative surrounding a show can also influence how long casual viewers stick around after the initial binge.
In addition, the negative reviews shape headlines and social conversations about the fifth and final season, potentially leaving a lasting impact on the series as a whole.
Expectations for the final season and its ultimate finale are astronomically high, and many hope Netflix can meet them.
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