‘Stranger Things: The Finale’ Sets Fan Screenings Across U.S. and Canada for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day

The final chapter of Stranger Things is heading not just to Netflix, but to the big screen. Netflix confirmed the full list of theaters participating in fan screenings of the series finale, scheduled for December 31 and January 1, marking a rare nationwide theatrical rollout for a streaming series’ final episode.

Fans can now visit www.ST5Finale.com for a complete list of participating cities and theaters, as well as RSVP information.

The series finale will debut globally on Netflix on December 31 at 5:00 p.m. PT, and screenings will run concurrently across more than 500 theaters in the U.S. and Canada, beginning the moment the episode premieres and continuing through January 1, 2026. Netflix also confirmed a detail that will matter to audiences settling in for the last ride: the official runtime of The Finale is 2 hours and 5 minutes.

The theatrical send-off comes on the heels of another milestone. Prior to the release of Stranger Things 5: Volume 1, all four earlier seasons climbed into Netflix’s Top 10 simultaneously — the first time in the platform’s history that four previous seasons of the same series have charted together.

In an interview with Netflix’s Tudum, creators Matt and Ross Duffer acknowledged the emotional weight of the moment. “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,” 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 bitchin’ — way to celebrate the end of this adventure.”

A Three-Part Farewell

The fifth and final season will unfold across three global premiere dates, all at 5 p.m. PT:

• Volume 1 — now streaming worldwide (Episodes 501–504)

• Volume 2 — December 25 (Episodes 505–507)

• The Finale — December 31 (Episode 508)

The World of “Stranger Things” Prepares for Its Last Stand

Created by the Duffer Brothers and produced by Upside Down Pictures and 21 Laps Entertainment, the final season returns the core cast: Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers), David Harbour (Jim Hopper), Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair), Noah Schnapp (Will Byers), Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield), Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers), Joe Keery (Steve Harrington), Maya Hawke (Robin Buckley), Priah Ferguson (Erica Sinclair), Brett Gelman (Murray), Jamie Campbell Bower (Vecna), Cara Buono (Karen Wheeler), Amybeth McNulty (Vickie), Nell Fisher (Holly Wheeler), Jake Connelly (Derek Turnbow), Alex Breaux (Lt. Akers), and Linda Hamilton (Dr. Kay).

STRANGER THINGS 5 SYNOPSIS

The fall of 1987. Hawkins is still recovering from the ruptured Rifts, and the stakes have tightened into a single, urgent objective: find and kill Vecna. But Vecna has disappeared. As the government deepens its military quarantine on the town and intensifies its pursuit of Eleven, she is forced back into hiding.

As the anniversary of Will Byers’ disappearance nears, a familiar dread settles over Hawkins. The final battle is approaching — and with it, a force more dangerous than anything the group has faced. To end the nightmare, every member of the party must stand together, one last time.

A Franchise That Redefined Streaming Culture

Since its debut in 2016, Stranger Things has become one of Netflix’s defining franchises. Its fourth season alone amassed more than 140.7 million views globally, while its revival of Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” pushed the song into the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time in its 38-year history.

The series has earned more than 70 awards worldwide, including Emmys and a Screen Actors Guild Award, with over 230 nominations. Season Five will bring the saga to a close with releases on November 26, December 25, and December 31 at 5 p.m. PT.

Beyond the screen, the franchise continues to expand: the Olivier and Tony Award–winning stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow; an expanding library of tie-in books; touring interactive experiences in Brazil, Australia, and beyond; Stranger Things: Escape the Dark; a forthcoming immersive attraction at Netflix House; and the newly announced animated series Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, set for 2026. Each year, fans also mark November 6, the in-world anniversary of Will Byers’ disappearance, as Stranger Things Day. 

They can follow @StrangerThingsThings for daily engagement and franchise updates.

With fan screenings secured for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, Stranger Things is poised to let its audience say goodbye in the most communal way possible: together, in the dark, watching Hawkins face its final hour.