In an unpreceded move for any streaming show, the upcoming series finale of Stranger Things will play in theaters in the US and Canada for a brief run.
We now have confirmation that the episode will run for 2 hours, 5 minutes.
Billed as Stranger Things: The Finale for its theatrical release, the climactic episode is titled “The Rightside Up,” and 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.
Netflix has now launched popup website ST5Finale.com, which will allow fans to look up the specific theatrical locations.
The Duffer Brothers released the following statement back in October.
“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?