We’re just over one month out from the fifth and final season of Stranger Things’s November 26 premiere. The first four episodes will drop that day, followed by episodes five through seven on December 25 and the eighth and final episode on December 31. In honor of their flagship series ending, Netflix and the Duffer brothers realized that they had to go big or go home, and they chose to go big.

Each episode is reportedly between 90-120 minutes long and had a budget of $50-$60 million, putting the season’s overall cost at somewhere between $400 and $480 million. That price tag is more expensive than most Hollywood blockbusters, including Star Wars and Avatar. Speaking of Hollywood blockbusters, Netflix announced on Wednesday they’re bringing the final, two-hour-long episode of Stranger Things to theaters for a two day only event.

The streamer announced Thursday that the highly anticipated feature-length ending to the coming-of-age sci-fi hit will get a theatrical release after all. The screenings of the season five closer will take place in more than 350 theaters in the U.S. and Canada starting Dec. 31 at 5 p.m. PT — timed to the finale’s global premiere on Netflix — and will run through Jan. 1, 2026.

“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,” said The Duffer Brothers in a statement. “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.”

While Matt Duffer added at the same time, “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, [a theatrical release is] about experiencing it at the same time with fans.”

The news also follows the Duffer Brothers signing a four-year exclusive deal with Paramount explicitly to create feature films after their Netflix contract ends next year, a move which has been seen as a talent loss for the streamer. “I will say the biggest draw to us [to jump to Paramount] was just to be able to do something theatrical, which is not something Netflix does,” Duffer said about the deal in that Variety interview. The duo will continue, however, to be involved with potential Stranger Things projects for Netflix.

[From The Hollywood Reporter]

In hindsight, having them release the series finale on a standalone release date indicates that this was most likely always the plan. It’s not the worst idea in the world. I can see this appealing to fans who want to do something chill for NYE that will also get them home before midnight. There has to be one helluva “To Be Continued…” in between episodes seven and eight to make people excited enough to spend the money to see it in theaters on a holiday weekend.

I’m actually really excited for the ST final season. I’m starting a full rewatch on November 1. It’s been more than three years since season four ended, but if you need a refresher, the fourth season was the one that introduced a whole new generation to Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill,” had an epic scene involving Metallica’s “Master of the Puppets,” and ended with the Upside Down’s shadow coming to take over Hawkins. Mr. Rosie and I actually hit up the TKTS booth in Times Square after the No Kings rally on Saturday and scored tickets to see Stranger Things: The First Shadow. It’s a Vecna origin story and a prequel to the events of season four that takes place when Joyce, Hopper and Harry Creel are in high school. It’s a technical masterpiece that was much better than we expected it to be. If you’re planning on seeing it, rewatch or refresh yourself on S4.

Photos courtesy of Netflix Press