The Series Finale of Netflix's Biggest Show Streams Sooner Than You Think
For nearly a decade, one show redefined the streaming binge. For those who may not remember, when Netflix dropped all the episodes of Stranger Things Season 1 at the same time, back in 2016, it was a very big deal. While Netflix had already pioneered the binge model with House of Cards in 2013, when Stranger Things released all of its Season 1 episodes in July 2016, it became a breakout hit. It's hard to imagine a world before the 1980s nostalgia-fueled world of Stranger Things, but what's even odder now is that, as the show comes to a close, there's a sense of double-nostalgia, not just for 1987, but for 2016.
The last episode of Stranger Things Season 5 is about to stream, and this mega-sized story will bring everything to an end. Here's what to know about when to stream, or, if you're not watching it right away, when to start avoiding spoilers.
Stranger Things Season 5 Chapter 8 Release Date
The series finale of Stranger Things is the eighth episode of Season 5, which is titled "The Rightside Up." This is a reference to the famous alternate reality that has plagued the town of Hawkins since Season 1, The Upside Down. In fact, the last episode of Season 1 was titled "The Upside Down," making this very much a full-circle moment. "The Rightside Up" will be streaming on Netflix on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2025.
Stranger Things Series Finale Streaming Time
The series finale of Stranger Things will stream at 8:00 p.m. ET on Netflix on December 31, which means that no, you won't be able to start watching it the morning of December 31. Will you be watching Stranger Things instead of watching the ball drop at midnight?
Some folks will almost certainly be incorporating their IRL Stranger Things celebrations with a New Year's Eve party. The finale will be playing in select movie theaters around the country, starting at 8:00 p.m. ET, the exact same time the finale hits Netflix. This is a historical moment for Netflix, as Stranger Things has never been shown in a movie theater before. Tickets for the movie theater screenings of Stranger Things are on sale now, which include various showtimes starting at 8:00 p.m., but also showtimes all night, and a ton of showtimes on New Year's Day, January 1, 2026.
Stranger Things Series Finale Runtime
According to Fandango, "The Rightside Up" has a runtime of 2 hours and 30 minutes. So, this isn't really just a Stranger Things episode, but rather, a full-blown movie-length story that will wrap up the entire saga. Speaking to Men's Journal earlier this year, actor Finn Wolfhard called the ending of the series "bittersweet," while his co-star, Gaten Matarazzo, commented that he was "honored" to have played Dustin for a decade, and was ready to embrace whatever post-Stranger Things life holds.
For the fans, both diehard and casual, it's been a helluva ride with these young people. They're all grown-up now and ready to save the world. Here's hoping the finale delivers on what we've been waiting for since 2016.