when is stranger things last episode coming out

The last episode of Stranger Things Season 5, the series finale, came out on December 31, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET. Today, December 26, it's already streaming on Netflix after its New Year's Eve global premiere.

Release Schedule

Stranger Things 5 dropped in three volumes to build hype through the holidays:

• Volume 1 (Episodes 1-4) : November 26, 2025 (Thanksgiving eve).

• Volume 2 (Episodes 5-7) : December 25, 2025 (Christmas Day).

• Finale (Episode 8, "The Rightside Up") : December 31, 2025 (New Year's Eve), a 2-hour-20-minute epic.

Theater Screenings

Fans could catch the finale in over 500 U.S. and Canadian theaters on December 31 and January 1, synced to the Netflix drop for that big-screen thrill. The Duffer Brothers called it a "bitchin'" way to end the Upside Down saga.

Fan Buzz Highlights

• Episode titles like "Sorcerer" (1h23m) and the finale fueled theories on Vecna's fate and Hawkins' endgame.

• Netflix timed it perfectly for holiday binges, turning family gatherings into watch parties.

• No major delays reported; production wrapped smoothly after years of anticipation.

"Getting to see it on the big screen... feels like the perfect way to celebrate the end." – Duffer Brothers

TL;DR : Binge the full final season now on Netflix – no more waiting!

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.