In an unpreceded move for any streaming show, the upcoming two-hour series finale of Netflix's smash-hit sci-fi horror show, Stranger Things, will play in theaters in the US and Canada - but only for a very brief run.
The climactic episode, which is titled “The Rightside Up,” will premiere on Netflix and in more than 350 theaters on December 31, starting at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET, playing through Jan. 1, 2026. Specific theater locations will be announced at a later date.
Last month, Netflix’s chief content officer Bela Bajaria seemed to dismiss the idea of allowing the finale to play on the big screen.
“A lot of people — a lot, a lot, a lot of people — have watched Stranger Things on Netflix,” she said. “It has not suffered from lack of conversation or community or sharing or fandom. I think releasing it on Netflix is giving the fans what they want.”
Whether she was attempting to throw fans off the scent in the buildup to this announcement or simply came around to the idea (or was overruled) is not clear.
The Duffer Brothers released the following statement.
“We’re beyond excited that fans will have the chance to experience the final episode in theaters — it’s something we’ve dreamed about for years, and we’re so grateful to everyone at Netflix for making it happen. Getting to see 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.”
According to the official synopsis: “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.”
In the season 4 finale, Eleven and her friends managed to defeat the evil entity known as Vecna, but at great cost. Eddie was killed (there's been some speculation that he might return, but we're not buying it), and Max was left blind, broken and in a coma.
Vecna - who was ultimately revealed to be the deranged Henry Creel - was vanquished, but It was only a temporary victory, as the concluding moments of the episode confirmed that dark forces in the Upside-down are amassing for what will almost certainly be a massive final battle.
Are you up to date with Stranger Things? If so, what do you hope to see from this final season?