There is no officially confirmed secret, hidden, or “lost” Stranger Things episode at this time; the “secret episode” talk is a fan theory and rumor, not something Netflix or the creators have validated.

What fans mean by a “secret episode”

When people ask “is there a secret Stranger Things episode,” they’re usually talking about:

  • A rumored extra finale episode for season 5 (often called a “secret 9th episode”).
  • Claims that Netflix cut or is hiding additional footage that would “fix” plot holes or give a darker alternate ending.

These ideas have spread through YouTube breakdowns, Reddit threads, and TikTok theory videos, which give the impression there’s something big we haven’t seen yet.

What the official sources say

  • Cast and crew members who have addressed the rumor have said there is no hidden cut or Snyder‑Cut‑style alternate version waiting to drop.
  • Public episode guides (like IMDb and major wikis) list only the released episodes through the series finale, with no extra “secret” chapter in the official count.

So from the official side, what you see in the released seasons is considered the complete show, even if some fans feel storylines were rushed or unresolved.

Why the “secret episode” theory blew up

Several things have helped the rumor go viral:

  • Unanswered questions and plot gaps in season 5 gave fans the sense something was “missing,” which fueled petitions demanding “unseen footage.”
  • Deep‑dive videos and essays interpret clues, dialogue, and epilogue details as hints that the ending isn’t what it seems, which easily morphs into “maybe there’s another episode.”
  • A large online petition gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures asking for more material, which made the theory feel more real than it actually is.

These are part of fandom culture and speculation, not evidence of a secret, fully produced extra episode locked away somewhere.

Could a surprise drop ever happen?

Streaming platforms have done surprise bonus episodes or specials for other shows in the past, so fans keep their hopes up for things like:

  • A making‑of special or extended cut of the finale.
  • A one‑off epilogue, spin‑off teaser, or short film set in the Stranger Things universe.

Right now, though, there is no credible reporting or official announcement that a secret Stranger Things episode actually exists or is scheduled to be released.

Bottom line: If you’re seeing people ask “is there a secret Stranger Things episode,” they’re talking about fan theories and petitions, not a confirmed hidden episode on Netflix.

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