In a first for a TV show, the climactic episode of Stranger Things season 5 will be releasing in theatres simultaneously with its streaming premiere. As reported earlier, Volume 1 hits Netflix on November 26, while the second Volume releases on December 25. The finale episode is slated for the New Year's eve.
Titled 'The Rightside Up', the episode will be released in over 350 select theatres starting at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET, which will be playing through January 1, 2026. Details on the theatres are expected to be announced soon from the streamer.
Netflix has previously dismissed the idea of a theatrical distribution with CEO Ted Sarandos stating that it was "an outmoded idea", but the OTT giant has slightly stepped back to encompass many movies in recent times including KPop Demon Hunters, and the upcoming titles Frankenstein, Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery and Greta Gerwig's Chronicles of Narnia.
In an earlier interview with Variety, creators Matt and Ross Duffer shared their interest in a theatrical release for their finale episode. "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," Matt said, while Ross added, "That would be amazing. Because the fans could be there with other fans, and experience it as a communal thing — it would be incredible." Later, Netflix's chief creative officer Bela Bajaria reiterated that it would not get a theatrical release as thousands of fans had watched the show on Netflix. "I think releasing it on Netflix is giving the fans what they want," Bajaria said. However, the creaters and the streamer seem to have agreed on a theatrical release for an epic big-screen goodbye.
The upcoming season will see the return of beloved characters played by including 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).