‘Stranger Things’ Finale Earns Rave Reviews, Scores High on Rotten Tomatoes
The highly anticipated fifth and final season of Stranger Things, officially titled Stranger Things 5, has finally arrived on Netflix, and the reaction from critics has been overwhelmingly positive.
The season, which consists of eight episodes, is being released in three parts. The first set premiered on November 26, followed by the second on December 25, with the final episodes set for December 31. The series is produced by its creators, the Duffer Brothers, along with Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen.
At long last… we can begin. The trailer for the epic final season of STRANGER THINGS is here pic.twitter.com/w4WuzuCqRs
— sƃuᴉɥʇ ɹǝƃuɐɹʇs (@Stranger_Things) October 30, 2025
The main cast returns, including Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Priah Ferguson, Brett Gelman, Cara Buono, and Jamie Campbell Bower. Joe Chrest and Amybeth McNulty, who appeared as guest stars in previous seasons, have been promoted to the main cast. Newcomers include Linda Hamilton, Jake Connelly, and Nell Fisher.
Critics have responded strongly to the opening episodes. Stranger Things 5 currently holds an 86% rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 49 reviews, and a 92% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes’ Popcornmeter from over 250 ratings.
At long last… we can begin. The trailer for the epic final season of STRANGER THINGS is here pic.twitter.com/w4WuzuCqRs
— sƃuᴉɥʇ ɹǝƃuɐɹʇs (@Stranger_Things) October 30, 2025
Many reviewers praised the season for returning to the core elements that made the series so popular, highlighting the mix of humor, suspense, and emotional depth. The finale has been noted for effectively paying off long-running storylines and creating a sense of excitement for the episodes to come. Critics also enjoyed seeing the characters work together and appreciated the series’ ability to appeal to both long-time fans and new viewers.
Just PERFECTION for fans! Incredible pay off from much of the setup from the entire series all coming together into a finale that has me dying to see the rest of the season. Loved the choices, Loved the surprises, and of course I cant wait
Zach Pope
This opening batch of episodes does more than set the stage for a climactic showdown; it reminds us why “Stranger Things” hooked us in the first place.
Zaki Hasan
It’s big, funny, scary, and sincere. Even with the bumps, that beating heart is still there—and I’m genuinely eager to see where this finale lands.
Matthew Jackson
The Duffer brothers’ ability to get back to what made this series so great is why the final season of Stranger Things is off to a brilliant start. The simple back-to-the-basics highlights the unity of these friends gathering for the greater good.
Ricky Valero
It takes a minute, but the Duffers soon find their groove in Vol. 1 of Stranger Things Season 5, confidently moving their epic campaign towards its conclusion.
Tara Bennett
Overall, the first part of Stranger Things 5 has set a high bar for the rest of the season, blending nostalgia with fresh surprises while building anticipation for the upcoming climactic episodes.
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