‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Breaks an Unflattering Record, a First in the Show’s History

Stranger Things has hit an unexpected low point with its fifth and final season. For the first time in the show’s history, the audience score on Rotten Tomatoes has dropped into “rotten” territory.

The Popcornmeter now sits at 57 percent, based on more than 5,000 user ratings. This shift happened after Volume 2 of the season was released on Christmas Day.

Many fans say the second batch of episodes changed how they feel about the season overall. While Volume 1 was widely praised and seen as a strong start, Volume 2 sparked a wave of negative reactions.

Viewers complained that the story focus drifted away from the original group that made the show popular. Some were frustrated by what they felt was too much screen time given to newer or younger characters, while longtime favorites were pushed aside.

A major point of backlash came from Will Byers’ coming-out storyline. Some viewers reacted angrily to it, and a portion of the negative reviews clearly stem from that.

Others, however, said their issue was not with representation, but with timing and execution. One fan wrote that the moment felt rushed and out of place during what was supposed to be the most intense part of the story. Another said the season stopped building tension just to make a point, instead of moving the plot forward.

There were also complaints about the writing choices. Fans questioned why certain locations and side plots were repeated so often, calling them boring and unnecessary. Others felt that important characters survived moments that should have had real consequences, which lowered the stakes. Some viewers said the season felt rushed overall and lacked the emotional weight of earlier seasons.

Critics echoed some of these concerns. Forbes was especially harsh in its review of Volume 2, calling it “genuinely dreadful Netflix slop.” The outlet criticized the storytelling and character focus, suggesting the show lost sight of what originally worked.

Despite the mixed reaction, Stranger Things is still heading toward a major finale. It has been confirmed that the final episode will get a limited theatrical release in the United States and Canada, running through January 1, 2026.

While earlier reports claimed the finale would stay exclusive to Netflix, later updates revealed the theater plan had been discussed for some time.

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