The curtain is finally coming down on one of television’s most beloved supernatural sagas. After nearly a decade of Demogorgons, psychic battles, and the enduring friendship of a group of kids from Hawkins, Indiana, "Stranger Things" is set to reach its much-anticipated conclusion. As fans around the world prepare for the grand finale, emotions are running high, and expectations are soaring—for better or worse.
On Christmas Day 2025, Netflix delivered a special treat: the release of "Stranger Things" Season 5 Volume 2, a batch of four new episodes that set the stage for the show’s ultimate showdown. But the real event, the one that has everyone marking their calendars, is still to come. The final episode—a two-hour and five-minute movie titled "The Rightside Up"—will premiere on Netflix and in more than 500 select movie theaters on December 31, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, according to USA TODAY. For those eager to experience the finale with fellow fans, tickets are available at the official Season 5 finale website, with prices varying by theater.
"Getting to see it on the big screen, with incredible sound, picture and a room full of fans, feels like the perfect – dare we say bitchin’ – way to celebrate the end of this adventure," creators Matt and Ross Duffer told Netflix, as reported by USA TODAY. The finale’s theatrical release is a fitting tribute to a show that’s always felt larger than life.
But before the final credits roll, the show’s latest episodes have sparked both celebration and controversy. Season 5 has been a rollercoaster, with some soaring highs and a few frustrating lows. The second part of the season, released just before the holidays, was hyped to the heavens—but not everyone felt it delivered. According to a critical review published on December 26, 2025, the three-episode stretch was "packed with drawn-out filler and frustrating moments that went nowhere." Fans, it seems, were left wanting more punch and less padding.
Several scenes in these episodes have come under scrutiny. One notable example is a tense moment where Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) find themselves trapped in the Upside Down, facing what appears to be certain doom. Their heartfelt exchange, culminating in Jonathan’s "un-proposal" to Nancy, was expected to be a dramatic turning point. Instead, the danger is averted almost too conveniently when Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Steve (Joe Keery) break them free. The emotional buildup, some viewers felt, fizzled out without the payoff they’d hoped for.
Another scene that drew mixed reactions involves Max (Sadie Sink) and Holly (Nell Fisher) as they attempt to escape Camazotz. Max’s extended pep talk to Holly, delivered at the very brink of their escape, left some fans exasperated. Why not run for the exit while you still can? Instead, the show lingers on the conversation, testing viewers’ patience even as it tries to deliver a message about courage and self-reliance.
Yet, amidst the criticism, there were moments that resonated deeply, none more so than Will Byers’ (Noah Schnapp) coming out scene in Episode 7, "The Bridge." From the very beginning, Will has been at the heart of "Stranger Things"—the boy who vanished in Season 1, whose disappearance set off the entire chain of events. In this penultimate episode, Will finally comes out to his family and friends, a moment that was both long-awaited and emotionally charged.
According to Collider, Will’s journey has always been about more than just surviving monsters. His struggles with authenticity and acceptance have mirrored the coming-of-age themes that run through the series. In Season 5, Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) turns Will’s secret into a weapon, trying to convince him that his friends and family will abandon him if they know the truth. But Will, instead of crumbling, finds strength in his vulnerability. He comes out to his loved ones and is met with overwhelming acceptance—a scene described as "not only emotionally gratifying but also important in the fight against Vecna."
The Duffer Brothers, the show’s creators, admitted that crafting this pivotal moment was a challenge. "Originally, it was just going to be [Will] coming out to his mom, and then we felt it needed to be more than that and that it needed to involve his friends," Matt Duffer explained in a post-episode interview, as cited by Collider. They labored over the scene, determined to make it authentic and impactful. Noah Schnapp, who has grown up alongside his character, delivered a performance that was widely praised for its honesty and emotional depth.
Still, not all viewers were satisfied. Some critics felt that Will’s coming out, while important, was treated as the "big moment" of the episode at the expense of other dramatic payoffs. The emotional response, they argued, was expected to come from a shocking twist or a major character’s death, not from a personal revelation. "It wasn’t supposed to be the story," one reviewer wrote, suggesting that the scene could have been woven into the aftermath of the battle with Vecna rather than positioned as the episode’s climax.
Elsewhere in the story, the plot thickens with revelations about the true nature of the Upside Down and the emergence of new threats. Mr. Scott Clarke (Randy Havens) is finally brought into the fold, and Dustin’s discovery that the Upside Down is actually a bridge between Hawkins and the true lair of Vecna and the Mind Flayer adds a fresh layer of intrigue. Meanwhile, Dr. Kay (Linda Hamilton) emerges as a new antagonist, taking up the mantle from Dr. Brenner and pursuing her own dark agenda. Kali (Linnea Berthelsen) warns Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) that the only way to break the cycle of violence is for her and Eleven to sacrifice themselves after taking down Vecna and destroying the bridge between worlds. The stakes, as always, are sky-high.
As the series barrels toward its conclusion, the cast remains as star-studded as ever. Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers), David Harbour (Jim Hopper), Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair), Noah Schnapp (Will Byers), Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield), Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers), Joe Keery (Steve Harrington), Maya Hawke (Robin Buckley), Priah Ferguson (Erica Sinclair), Brett Gelman (Murray), Jamie Campbell Bower (Vecna), Cara Buono (Karen Wheeler), Amybeth McNulty (Vickie), Nell Fisher (Holly Wheeler), Jake Connelly (Derek Turnbow), Alex Breaux (Lt. Akers), and Linda Hamilton (Dr. Kay) all play pivotal roles in the final act, as reported by USA TODAY.
With "The Rightside Up" poised to drop on New Year’s Eve, fans are bracing for an ending that will either cement "Stranger Things" as a modern classic or leave them clamoring for more. After years of twists, heartbreak, and supernatural thrills, all eyes are on Hawkins. Whether the finale delivers the fireworks everyone craves or sparks new debates, one thing is certain: the world will be watching as the lights finally go out on "Stranger Things."
