‘Stranger Things’ Finale to Hit Over 350 Theaters — Find Out When You Can Watch It

Netflix has made a surprising move with its biggest show, Stranger Things. The streamer has confirmed that the highly awaited series finale will be released in movie theaters, reversing its earlier stance that it would only debut on streaming.

The final episode of the show’s fifth season will be screened in more than 350 theaters across the U.S. and Canada starting December 31 at 5 p.m. PT, the same time it premieres on Netflix. The screenings will continue through January 1, 2026.

In a joint statement, creators Matt and Ross Duffer shared their excitement about fans getting to see the final chapter on the big screen. “We’re beyond excited that fans will have the chance to experience the final episode of Stranger Things in theaters — it’s something we’ve dreamed about for years, and we’re so grateful to Ted, Bela and everyone at Netflix for making it happen,” they said.

“Getting to see it on the big screen, with incredible sound, picture and a room full of fans, feels like the perfect — dare we say bit*** — way to celebrate the end of this adventure.”

What makes this move even more interesting is that earlier this month, both the Duffer Brothers and Netflix’s chief content officer, Bela Bajaria, told Variety there were no plans for a theatrical release. Bajaria explained that “a lot of people — a lot, a lot, a lot of people — have watched Stranger Things on Netflix. It has not suffered from lack of conversation or community or sharing or fandom.”

She added that keeping it on Netflix would give fans what they wanted.

Matt Duffer, however, hinted that he wished audiences could see the show the way it was meant to be seen. “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,” he said. “More than that, [a theatrical release is] about experiencing it at the same time with fans.”

Just a week after that interview, industry newsletter Puck reported that plans for a theatrical release were actually underway, explaining that the earlier comments were made weeks before and that things had since changed. A Netflix insider later confirmed that the deal had “been in the works for some time, contrary to any speculation that would suggest otherwise.”

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