Fans planning a holiday marathon in Hawkins now have a clearer idea of how much time they’ll be spending in the Upside Down. Ross Duffer, who co-created Stranger Things with his brother Matt, has shared the official runtimes for the second volume of the show’s fifth and final season.
The three episodes that make up Vol. 2 together span close to three and a half hours. Episode 5, titled "Shock Jock", clocks in at 1 hour and 8 minutes. It is followed by "Escape From Camazotz" at 1 hour and 15 minutes, while Episode 7, "The Bridge", runs for 1 hour and 6 minutes.
Along with the Vol. 2 details, Ross Duffer also offered a small update on the length of the much-awaited series finale. The concluding episode, Stranger Things: The Finale, "The Rightside Up", has been extended slightly and will now run for 2 hours and 8 minutes, three minutes longer than what was previously announced.
Earlier, the Duffer Brothers had teased what viewers can expect from these episodes. "Shock Jock" picks up immediately after the events of Vol. 1’s finale, "Sorcerer", and is written by Frank Darabont. Ross Duffer described it as considerably darker and more terrifying than Darabont’s previous episode, "Turnbow Trap".
"Escape From Camazotz" marks the return of Shawn Levy to the director’s chair. According to the creators, it is the largest episode in scope among the three, with performances that consistently leave them emotional during rewatches.
"The Bridge" is co-directed by Levy along with the Duffer Brothers themselves. While they’ve been careful not to reveal too much, they have hinted that, barring the finale, it may be the most emotionally intense instalment of the season. Ross Duffer added that the wait between this episode and the finale would feel especially long.
Vol. 2 of Stranger Things 5 premieres on Netflix on Christmas Day. In India, the episodes will premiere on December 26 at 6.30 am IST. The grand finale, meanwhile, will receive a simultaneous global Netflix release and a special theatrical rollout, screening in around 500 cinemas across the US starting December 31 and continuing through January 1, 2026.
