Stranger Things' Season 5, Vol. 2 Airs Tonight: Time...

The wait is nearly over for fans of Stranger Things. Netflix has revealed release dates for the fifth and final season, promising one last showdown in Hawkins, Indiana, as the beloved characters prepare to face Vecna.

What to Know:

Stranger Things 5 will debut in three volumes this fall.
- Episode 5 “Shock Jock”: 1hr 8min
- Episode 6 “Escape From Camazotz”: 1hr 15min
- Episode 7 “The Bridge”: 1hr 6min
Each volume drops at 5:00 p.m. PST with global release times adjusted by region.
The season synopsis places the story in fall 1987, with Hawkins under military quarantine and Eleven forced back into hiding.
The central mission: unite to find and kill Vecna, whose whereabouts remain unknown.
Expect deeper exploration of the Upside Down mythology, with creators Matt and Ross Duffer promising long‑teased reveals.
Returning cast includes Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Priah Ferguson, Brett Gelman, Jamie Campbell Bower, Cara Buono, Amybeth McNulty, Nell Fisher, Jake Connelly, Alex Breaux, and Linda Hamilton.

Stay with Newsweek for the latest updates.

Dec 25, 2025 at 09:46 PM EST

When did ‘Stranger Things’ Season 4 come out?

Netflix took a staggered approach to the release of Stranger Things Season 4, splitting the blockbuster chapter into two volumes.

The first set of episodes premiered on May 27, 2022, giving fans their long‑awaited return to Hawkins after a three‑year hiatus.

Just over a month later, the second volume arrived on July 1, 2022, delivering the season’s climactic showdown with Vecna and setting the stage for the series finale.

Dec 25, 2025 at 09:14 PM EST

‘Stranger Things’ revives nostalgia for a new generation

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'Stranger Things' Season 3 will premiere on Netflix on July 4. | Netflix

What began in 1983 as a supernatural adventure has grown into one of Netflix’s most influential cultural forces. Stranger Things doesn’t just reference the 1980s—it resurrects the decade in ways that feel fresh to younger audiences. From mullets and denim jackets to cassette tapes and analog quirks, the series has convinced Gen Z that retro style and physical media are worth rediscovering.

The show’s impact has extended far beyond fashion. A small detail in Season 1—Eleven’s love of Eggo waffles—sparked a surge in sales and social buzz for the brand. Season 4 delivered an even bigger cultural moment when Max Mayfield’s escape from Vecna was paired with Kate Bush’s 1985 hit “Running Up That Hill.” The track soared back to the top of global charts, reaching a billion streams on Spotify and earning praise from Bush herself.

Each season has fueled viral trends, from hashtags like #JusticeforBarb to remixed lines such as “Chrissy, wake up.” With Season 5 now underway, the Duffer brothers promise higher stakes and more ambitious storytelling, setting the stage for new music revivals, quotable dialogue, and fashion waves that will continue to shape the show’s legacy long after Hawkins closes its gates.

Dec 25, 2025 at 09:00 PM EST

Caleb McLaughlin reminisces about first Fallon appearance

Caleb McLaughlin, who plays Lucas, reminisced about his first appearance on The Tonight Show in 2016, after he joined Jimmy Fallon earlier this month.

Fallon showed an adorable picture of the Stranger Things cast on the show to promote season 1. In the picture, McLaughlin is wearing a white shirt, sparkling jacket, jeans and a bowtie.

When asked what he remembered about his experience, McLaughlin told the host, "I couldn't wait to wear my bowtie on Jimmy Fallon."

The actor, who has become something of the style icon of the Stranger Things cast, said that his mom had multiple bowties in different styles and he had been keen to show them off.

Fallon and McLaughlin also discussed some of the star's red carpet looks including his famous white and gold military style jacket.

Dec 25, 2025 at 08:53 PM EST

Stranger Things cast members describe new episodes in single words

Caleb McLaughlin, who plays Lucas, was asked to describe the final episodes of Stranger Things using one word, when he appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon earlier this month.

McLaughlin described the next episode, which airs on Christmas Day, as "electrifying," while Fallon said that Finn Wolfhard, who plays Mike, described it as "cripsy."

For episode 6, Wolfhard called it "shocking" while McLaughlin called it "adventurous," and for episode 7 Wolfhard called it "enlightening" and McLaughlin described it as "connective."

The finale, which is released on New Year's Eve, was described as being the "zenith" by McLaughlin, while Wolfhard called it "emotional."

Dec 25, 2025 at 08:41 PM EST

What is the Upside Down in ‘Stranger Things’?

The Upside Down, the sinister parallel world at the heart of Stranger Things, first appeared on November 6, 1983, when Eleven’s psychic contact with a hive mind inadvertently opened the “Mothergate” at Hawkins Lab. Though it mirrored the human world, the dimension was overrun with alien vines, spores, and predatory creatures, all psychically linked through Henry Creel—later known as Vecna—and the Mind Flayer.

Creel’s connection to the realm stretched back years earlier, when he discovered sentient particles and forged them into a hive mind. Once the gate opened, Hawkins began to decay: crops rotted, tunnels formed beneath the town, and Demogorgons prowled unseen. Eleven temporarily severed the link in 1984, but Soviet forces reopened it in 1985, allowing Vecna to reanimate fragments of the Mind Flayer and unleash new horrors.

By 1986, Vecna escalated his campaign, murdering Hawkins residents to open fresh gates and expand the Upside Down’s reach. Despite a coordinated assault by Eleven and her friends, Vecna survived, leaving the dimension poised to consume Hawkins and beyond.

Dec 25, 2025 at 08:29 PM EST

WATCH: Season 5, Volume 2 trailer for Stranger Things

Everything we have ever assumed about the upside down has been dead wrong.Volume 2 of the final season of Stranger Things arrives Dec. 25th at 5pm PT. pic.twitter.com/GIbx0SErFD
— sƃuᴉɥʇ ɹǝƃuɐɹʇs (@Stranger_Things) December 15, 2025

Dec 25, 2025 at 08:20 PM EST

‘Stranger Things’ cemented its place in Netflix history

Since its debut in the mid‑2010s, Stranger Things has stood out as one of Netflix’s earliest and most enduring original successes. The series quickly became a cultural phenomenon, blending supernatural thrills with 1980s nostalgia, and its fourth season alone drew more than 140 million views and 1.8 billion hours watched, according to Netflix.

The show’s popularity propelled its young cast into stardom. Millie Bobby Brown, who was just 12 when she first appeared as Eleven, has since headlined blockbuster films including Godzilla: King of the Monsters and the Enola Holmes franchise. Winona Ryder, already a two‑time Academy Award nominee, saw her career revitalized through her role as Joyce Byers. At the same time, David Harbour’s turn as Jim Hopper opened doors to significant projects such as Marvel’s Black Widow and Thunderbolts.

Beyond the screen, Stranger Things expanded into the theater with the West End production The First Shadow, further cementing its influence as more than just a streaming hit—it became a cultural touchstone.

Dec 25, 2025 at 08:10 PM EST

Stranger Things cast share secret Santa gifts

The Stranger Things cast got together to share some secret Santa gifts ahead of December 25.

Finn Wolfhard (Mike), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas), Noah Schnapp (Will), Nell Fisher (Holly), and Cara Buono (Mrs. Wheeler), shared some festive cheer as they exchanged sunglasses, a record player, and several on-theme Walkmans - featuring music from the show.

The next three episodes of Stranger Things will air on Christmas Day, with the finale on New Year's Eve.

Dec 25, 2025 at 08:00 PM EST

Stranger Things Season 5 Vol. 2 begins now

Grab your popcorn, and sit back on the couch, the next three episodes of Stranger Things have just been released by Netflix.

Season 5 Volume 2 airs at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PST) on Christmas Day.

The finale episode, with a running time of two hours five minutes, will be released on New Year's Eve.

Dec 25, 2025 at 07:58 PM EST

Netflix teases a WWE/Stranger Things crossover after finale

Netflix teased a mysterious Stranger Things and WWE Raw crossover on January 5, at 8 p.m.

"The WWE gets stranger," the Netflix X account posted, alongside a clip of the logos for WWE Raw and Stranger Things.

While Netflix didn't provide any more information beyond the time and date, fans have been wildly speculating about cast appearances and show-inspired matches.

Dec 25, 2025 at 07:43 PM EST

‘Stranger Things’ took nearly a decade to end—other shows started and finished first

By the time Stranger Things airs its final episode on December 31, 2025, the series will have spanned 9 years, 5 months, and 17 days, producing just 42 episodes across 5 seasons. While Netflix’s flagship hit took long breaks between installments, dozens of other major shows began and ended within the same timeframe.

Series that wrapped during Stranger Things’ run:

Riverdale (2017–2023) — 7 seasons, 137 episodes
Young Sheldon (2017–2024) — 7 seasons, 141 episodes
The Good Doctor (2017–2024) — 7 seasons, 126 episodes
This Is Us (2016–2022) — 6 seasons, 106 episodes
Cobra Kai (2017–2025) — 6 seasons, 65 episodes
What We Do in the Shadows (2019–2024) — 6 seasons, 61 episodes
Star Trek: Discovery (2017–2021) — 5 seasons, 65 episodes
You (2018–2024) — 5 seasons, 50 episodes
Yellowstone (2018–2024) — 5 seasons, 53 episodes
The Good Place (2016–2020) — 4 seasons, 53 episodes

Other titles like Loki, Andor, Dark, Barry, Ozark, and Atlanta also completed their runs while Stranger Things was still unfolding. Even Netflix’s own Marvel series—Luke Cage, Iron Fist, The Punisher, and The Defenders—were launched, canceled, and partially re‑canonized during the show’s long hiatuses.

Dec 25, 2025 at 07:30 PM EST

Will Netflix crash when the next episodes drop of Stranger Things tonight?

When Stranger Things Season 5 premiered last month, many fans across the globe reported they were unable to watch the episodes due to service outages.

The outage occurred shortly after the first four episodes dropped, causing a brief moment of service interruption for many Netflix subscribers. Despite the technical difficulties, the streamer quickly restored service, and returned to normal operation. The crash shows the overwhelming demand for the show, as millions of viewers globally rushed to watch the new episodes at the same time.

The outage highlighted the challenges Netflix faces when handling such a high volume of traffic, especially during launches of highly anticipated shows. Season 4 of Stranger Things is the third most popular Netflix show of all time, with 140,700,00 views.

With record numbers expected to tune in again on Christmas Day, it's possible Netflix may experience similar issues for some viewers.

Dec 25, 2025 at 07:21 PM EST

Stranger Things cast then and now

It's been nearly a decade since the first season of Stranger Things was released in 2016.

Many of the young cast, including Mike, played by Finn Wolfhard, Dustin played by Gaten Matarazzo, Lucas played by Caleb McLaughlin, Will played by Noah Schnapp, and Eleven played by Millie Bobby Brown, all aged 12 when they first appeared on our screens.

Since then, the cast have grown up over the seasons with most now in their early to mid 20s with some almost unrecognizable in side-by-side pictures of the cast from 2016 to 2025.

Dec 25, 2025 at 06:59 PM EST

Shawn Levy explains why ‘Stranger Things’ ends with season 5

After nearly a decade on air, Stranger Things is preparing to close its story with Season 5. Executive producer and director Shawn Levy says the decision to end now was deliberate, rooted in the Duffer brothers’ long‑held plan to avoid overstaying the show’s welcome.

In an interview with ScreenRant, Levy described the finale as “satisfying” and “deeply emotional,” noting that it resolves major questions while giving each character a meaningful payoff. Netflix has invested heavily in the sendoff, reportedly spending close to half a billion dollars and planning a theatrical release of the two‑hour finale on New Year’s Day in the U.S. and Canada.

While the flagship series is ending, the franchise will continue. An animated spinoff, Tales From ’85, is slated for 2026, and a live‑action project is also in development. Levy reflected on the cast’s growth over the years, calling it a privilege to watch the young actors evolve into seasoned professionals. “They were always special, but now they’re special with command of their craft,” he said, adding that the memories of building iconic scenes together will remain his most cherished takeaway.

Dec 25, 2025 at 06:38 PM EST

Stranger Things creator hints that season five could be deadliest yet

Ross Duffer, the co-creator of Stranger Things with his twin brother Matt Duffer, has suggested that season five could be the deadliest season yet.

During an interview with Tech Radar, Duffer suggested that the expansive cast, which includes around 21 regular actors and another nine minor characters, would be reduced back to a smaller, tight cast more similar to the early seasons.

"We have so many characters now – most who are still living," Duffer said. "And it’s important to wrap up those arcs. A lot of these characters have been growing since season one so it’s a balancing act between giving them time to complete their character arcs and also tying up loose ends and doing our final reveals."

"I think that what we’re trying to do is go back to the beginning a little bit in the tone of [season] one, but scale-wise it’s more in line with what [season] four is,” Duffer continued. “Hopefully it’s got a little bit of everything."

He did not say how he plans to scale down the cast but his emphasis on the characters "who are still living" suggests that some of those may no longer be living by the end of the series.

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