STRANGER THINGS Season 5 Finale Reportedly Getting a Theatrical Release After All

It looks like fans of Stranger Things might be ending 2025 in a movie theater instead of their living room. Despite earlier reports that the Stranger Things Season 5 finale would skip cinemas, it now appears that the final chapter of Netflix’s hit series will make its big-screen debut.

According to Puck’s What I’m Hearing newsletter, the epic two-hour series finale is set to premiere in AMC and other theater chains across the U.S. on New Year’s Eve, the very same day it hits Netflix.

“Now I can report that the two-hour Stranger Things series finale will debut in AMC and other theater chains on New Year’s Eve, the same day it drops on Netflix,” reads the report.

That’s a major reversal from what Netflix’s Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria said just days earlier. He seemed to shut down the idea of a theatrical run entirely, explaining, “I think releasing it on Netflix is giving the fans what they want.”

However, Stranger Things creators Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer have long been open about their desire to give fans a full cinematic experience. During the same interview, Matt Duffer explained:

“People don’t get to experience how much time and effort is spent on sound and picture, and they’re seeing it at reduced quality. More than that, it’s about experiencing it at the same time with fans.”

So what exactly happened between that Variety interview and this new report? Puck notes that the conversation with Netflix and the Duffers took place “weeks ago”, suggesting that internal discussions have evolved since then.

Given the massive anticipation surrounding the Stranger Things finale, it’s not surprising Netflix might want to capitalize on the event-level hype by giving it a theatrical push.

While Netflix hasn’t officially confirmed the news yet, a limited theatrical run certainly tracks with their recent moves. The streamer has been experimenting more with theater releases for its high-profile projects, including KPop Demon Hunters and Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming Frankenstein.

Other series have followed a similar route. Earlier this year, the finale of Doctor Who Season 2 starring Ncuti Gatwa screened in select theaters before streaming.

At this point, it’s unclear whether Stranger Things fans outside the U.S. will get to see the finale on the big screen, or if this is a domestic-only deal with AMC and other American chains.

Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 arrives on November 26, Volume 2 drops on December 25, and the final, feature-length episode, now seemingly destined for theaters, lands on December 31.

If this all pans out, the end of Stranger Things won’t just be a binge-watching event. It’ll be a cinematic sendoff worthy of the Hawkins crew’s last stand.