This is a code red, Stranger Things fans. We repeat, CODE RED! The fifth and final season of the Duffer Brothers’ blockbuster Netflix series consists of eight episodes, set to be released in three parts, with two volumes on Nov. 26 and Dec. 25, and the final episode on Dec. 31. The conclusion of the epic small screen saga is set to go out with a bang (and not just from the fireworks on New Year’s Eve), as the two-hour finale is now reportedly heading to the big screen, the same day that it arrives on its home streaming service, so those that haven’t scheduled a space on the sofa might consider buying a ticket to see it at the movie theater.
According to Puck‘s Matthew Belloni, “the two-hour Stranger Things series finale will debut in AMC and other theater chains on New Year’s Eve, the same day it drops on Netflix.” The bombshell news comes with the caveat that the deal has not yet been signed by the involved parties, but it is apparently “what’s happening” nonetheless. If this arrangement is finalized, then it would give one of Netflix’s biggest original shows an appropriate send-off on one of the biggest screens available, and it would not only please the fans of the series, but also fulfill the wishes of Matt and Ross Duffer, the creators of the smash-hit phenomenon, who asserted in a Variety profile published last week that the final episode deserves to be experienced in theaters:
“People don’t get to experience how much time and effort is spent on sound and picture, and they’re seeing it at reduced quality. More than that, it’s about experiencing it at the same time with fans.”
However, the idea of Stranger Things getting a theatrical release was seemingly ruled out in the very same piece. Netflix’s Chief Creative Officer, Bela Bajari, told the outlet that the show’s place is exclusively on Netflix, and it doesn’t need a box office boost. “A lot of people – a lot, a lot, a lot of people – have watched Stranger Things on Netflix,” she asserted. “It has not suffered from lack of conversation or community or sharing or fandom. I think releasing it on Netflix is giving the fans what they want.” Belloni notes that these remarks should be taken with a pinch of salt, as the interview was conducted before the deal was brought to the table.
Netflix Has Started to Embrace Theatrical Distribution
Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos maintained that streaming remains the primary focus of the company when he addressed its release strategies back in April. He stated that streaming services like Netflix are “saving Hollywood” and are a popular choice because they deliver content in the way that audiences want it. “[We’re] a very consumer-focused company. We deliver the program to you in a way you want to watch it,” he said, adding that movie theaters are “an outmoded idea,” before tacking on “for most people – not for everybody.”
Despite Netflix’s seemingly firm stance against theaters, the company has slowly started to embrace theatrical distribution and has found success in experimenting with this type of release. One of the most notable recent examples is the animated musical KPop Demon Hunters, which gave Netflix its first-ever number one film at the U.S. box office, having pulled in a gross of $18–20 million during its limited two-day opening. However, Sarandos emphasized in a recent earnings stream, per Deadline, that its strong box office performance was “because it was released on Netflix first” and there is “no change” to their release strategy.
With that said, Netflix has continued to secure theatrical runs for some of its biggest releases this year, including Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery and Guillermo del Toro’s Frankenstein. This strategy allows some of its most prestigious projects to qualify for awards consideration, while also generating extra buzz for its slate. Stranger Things Season 5 getting a run on the big screen would mark a historic first for the flagship show, and it only seems fitting given that it has spent nearly a decade on (small) screens.
- Release Date
-
2016 – 2025
- Network
-
Netflix
- Writers
-
Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock
