Stranger Things Season 5 Finale: Premiere Date, Supersized Runtime & What to Expect

Netflix has officially revealed the premiere plans for the highly anticipated finale of Stranger Things Season 5, and fans are gearing up for a dramatic New Year’s Eve send‑off. The final episode, titled “The Rightside Up”, is scheduled to debut on December 31, 2025 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on Netflix, marking the end of one of the most popular sci‑fi series of the decade.

🚨 Supersized Finale Runtime

This season’s conclusion is shaping up to be a blockbuster‑length episode. Netflix confirmed that the finale will run for approximately 2 hours and 5 minutes, making it one of the longest episodes in the Stranger Things franchise. While this doesn’t quite beat the Season 4 finale’s longest runtime in the series, it promises a major cinematic experience for fans.

🎟️ Special Theatrical Release

In a first for the franchise, Netflix has announced limited theatrical screenings of the finale across over 500 theaters in the U.S. and Canada. These special showings will begin on December 31 and continue through January 1, 2026, giving fans a chance to watch the epic conclusion on the big screen.

For a full list of participating venues and ticket details, fans can check ST5Finale.com — but expect seats to fill up fast.

📅 How Season 5 Was Released

Season 5 was rolled out in a multi‑part format over the holiday season:

• Volume 1: Premiered November 26, 2025
• Volume 2: Arrived December 25, 2025
• Series Finale: Drops December 31, 2025 on Netflix and in theaters simultaneously

This staggered release kept excitement high as the beloved characters moved closer to their final confrontation.

👀 What’s Next?

With the finale approaching, fans are buzzing about how the storylines will wrap up, especially the looming clash with Vecna and the fate of Hawkins. While Netflix remains tight‑lipped about plot details, expectations are sky‑high for a satisfying conclusion to the decade‑long journey.