Netflix is splitting Stranger Things season 5 is one of the most anticipated shows of 2025, set to conclude the beloved coming-of-age sci-fi/horror drama after nine years. The title has long been one of Netflix's marquee hits, accumulating a massive fan base, with a musical stage play, multiple spin-off shows in development, and much more. With that in mind, the final run is bound to be an enormous television event.
At Netflix's Tudum 2025 event, Stranger Things cast Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, and Caleb McLaughlin shared some nostalgic behind-the-scenes looks from their experiences as child actors filming scenes from early in the series. The main attraction, however, was the reveal of a first-look trailer for Stranger Things season 5, which also showed the three separate release dates. Stranger Things season 5 now also has an official synopsis, which can be read below:
“The fall of 1987. Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time.”
Netflix Is Releasing Stranger Things Season 5 Into 3 Parts On November 26, Christmas, and New Year's Eve 2025
Stranger Things Season 5 Will Be A Three-Part Event
Stranger Things' season 5 release date is being split into three volumes on three separate days later this year. Volume one will include episodes 1-4 on November 26, 2025, while volume two will contain episodes 5-7 on Christmas Day, with the finale scheduled to drop on December 31. Each volume will be released at 5:00 p.m. PST on its respective day. The three separate days with different episode counts mean audiences will have a mix of the binge-watchable release plan and the show spreading over the span of multiple weeks.
Stranger Things Season 5 Being Split Into 3 Parts Follows A Recent TV Trend
Cobra Kai & Stranger Things Season 4 Used A Similar Method
Being split into three parts might be frustrating for TV fans who like to watch their shows all in one session or over the weekend. After all, that was the method by which the original season 1 was released, transforming Stranger Things into a cultural phenomenon over a weekend. Dividing binge-release television seasons is a common trend in recent years, though, allowing Netflix and other streamers to benefit from the best of both worlds: appealing to fans who want several episodes at once and having their show ongoing for an extended period.
This strategy has been a trend with multiple shows, including Netflix's recent final season of Cobra Kai. Audiences may that Stranger Things season 4 was released in two parts, with its first volume ending on a massive mid-season climax. The episodes are also expected to be quite lengthy, so it will almost be like movies being released for volumes 2 and 3 of the final season. From November 26 through New Year's Eve, audiences can enjoy Stranger Things spread out in different parts, building up momentum for the finale.
Stranger Things Season 5's Release Strategy Covers 2025's Major End-Of-Year Holidays
Netflix Looks To Capitalize On Audiences Being Home For The Holidays
Thanksgiving weekend, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve are among the days with the highest traffic for movie and television releases, making them prime targets for Stranger Things season 5. This strategy will not only allow Netflix to benefit from two months of subscriptions and a month of fans discussing the show's events, building up to the finale, but it will also capitalize on the holiday season, potentially transforming season 5 from an already massive release to one of the biggest television events of all time.
Stranger Things Star Caleb McLaughlin On Wrapping Final Season: "I Ended Up Just Bawling’"
EXCLUSIVE: Stranger Things' Caleb McLaughlin reveals what it was like to finish filming and the emotional weight of working on the show for 10 years.
Netflix's model is built around audiences watching their shows quickly, and the holiday season is when many of their subscribers will be at home, available to accumulate viewing minutes for them. If the show pans out as the streaming company is hoping, this could be an ingenuity in television marketing. That said, there are very few TV shows that could generate the level of traction that Stranger Things can, and they're looking to have the series go out with a bang.
Stranger Things
- Release Date
- 2016 - 2025-00-00
- Showrunner
- Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
- Directors
- Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
WHERE TO WATCH
- Writers
- Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Paul Dichter, Kate Trefry
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