Just a week after Netflix swore they wouldn’t cave to fan requests for a theatrical release, they’ve done exactly that. The streaming giant has officially announced that the final episode of “Stranger Things 5” will hit the big screen this New Year’s Eve.

To celebrate the end of one of TV’s most beloved series, Netflix will screen the finale in over 350 theaters across the U.S. and Canada, starting December 31, 2025, at 5:00 PM PT, with encore showings continuing through January 1, 2026.

In a statement, The Duffer Brothers shared their excitement:

“We’re beyond excited that fans will have the chance to experience the final episode of Stranger Things in theaters — it’s something we’ve dreamed about for years, and we’re so grateful to Ted, Bela, and everyone at Netflix for making it happen. 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.”

Netflix says more details on ticketing and participating theaters will be announced later this year.

As for the release schedule, fans won’t have to wait until the finale to dive back into Hawkins. The first four episodes of the eight-part final season drop on November 26, followed by three more episodes on December 25, and finally, the grand finale on December 31 — both streaming on Netflix and premiering in theaters.

The final episode is said to run around two hours, making it more like a feature-length film than a typical TV finale.

Season 5 jumps ahead 18 months after the events of Season 4, with the Upside Down spilling into Hawkins. Set in fall 1987, the story follows the gang as they regroup for one last battle against Vecna. But with Hawkins under military quarantine and Eleven forced into hiding, the stakes have never been higher.

“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. The government has placed the town under military lockdown and intensified its hunt for Eleven. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, a familiar dread returns. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful than ever before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time.”

The Duffer Brothers are expected to part ways with Netflix after the series wraps, moving their production company to Paramount next year — a shift that aligns with their growing focus on theatrical filmmaking.