‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Finale Will Head to Theaters As Netflix Preps Trailer Release
The news comes as a Variety piece last week stated that a theatrical release had been ruled out.
Picture: Netflix
Stranger Things season 5 will be on the big screen! We’re just 36 days to go until volume 1 releases on our screens, but for New Year’s Eve (or New Year’s Day, depending on where you live), you’ll be able to catch the series finale in theaters.
The news comes from Puck, Netflix has not yet confirmed, who wrote in one of their items in the What I’m Hearing newsletter yesterday, “Now I can report that 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 jump to theaters comes exactly a week after Variety released its big profile piece with The Duffer Brothers, some of the cast, and Netflix’s chief content officer, Bela Bejaria, where, despite word that the Duffers wanted a theatrical release, Bela ultimately ruled it out. According to Puck, that’s because the interview was conducted “weeks ago” and the situation has evolved.
The outlet cites that Netflix and AMC have had recent talks about expanding their relationship with AMC’s head, Adam Aron, and Netflix’s Ted Sarandos, and it would appear those talks have progressed. The outlet concluded, “The deals still aren’t signed, I’m told, but it’s happening.”
Whether this is a United States-only deal or will be more global, and how many screens will be included, are all details that will have to be finalized and released by Netflix itself.
That finale will be like a movie, according to the Duffers, with a runtime expected to be around two hours.
This all comes as it would appear that Netflix is warming up to theatrical. As they’ve always done, Netflix continues to release its biggest movies in select theatrical engagements either a few weeks, a week, or day-and-date alongside its Netflix release. Still, they’ve also moved into more “stunty” engagements such as KPop Demon Hunters, which will return to theaters for the third time, and a much bigger rollout, this Halloween. Narnia: The Magician’s Nephew in 2026 will also have a similarly unique rollout, playing in IMAX screens a month ahead of its Netflix debut next Christmas.
When will the Stranger Things Season 5 Trailer Drop?
The news comes as the Stranger Things rewatch, hosted by TUDUM, will conclude with its fourth season rewatch this coming weekend. That’s clearly building up to a trailer release, although exactly when it’ll drop is still up in the air.
Yesterday, Ross Duffer posted that he was “Back on the mix stage…” alongside a picture of what looks to be the trailer in the works. On the screen, it states “This November”, leading to lots of people believing that the trailer will be debuting in October. Numerous scoopers and people we’ve spoken to all believe it’s coming out next week, the week beginning October 27th, but some online believe they may be holding it back for Stranger Things Day, which would be November 6th.
Lots of Stranger Things news coming out at the moment – we’ll keep you posted on everything else we learn as and when we get it!