When Will the Last Episode of Stranger Things Be on Netflix?
The final episode of Stranger Things season 5 lands on Netflix on December 31, 2025, closing out the series on New Year’s Eve. Netflix and the Duffer Brothers have structured Season 5 as an eight-episode farewell, with the finale dropping separately after Volumes 1 and 2, almost like a mini-event of its own. It’s very much “spend New Year’s crying over Hawkins instead of going out” energy, and honestly, that fits how this show has permeated pop culture for nearly a decade.
The season is being released in three chunks: four episodes in November, three in December on Christmas Day, and then the single super‑sized finale on December 31, 2025. So if someone asks, “When is the actual last Stranger Things episode on Netflix?” the simple answer is: New Year’s Eve 2025, globally on Netflix. Netflix (@netflix) announced on X that the epic series finale of Stranger Things will roll out in stages, with Volume 1 on November 26, Volume 2 on Christmas, and the finale airing on New Year’s Eve, all at 5 pm PT.
Last Episode of Stranger Things Release Time
The Stranger Things series finale will stream on Netflix at 8 p.m. Eastern / 5 p.m. Pacific on December 31, 2025, matching the release time used for the rest of season 5. That’s a bit different from the classic “midnight Pacific” Netflix drops, and it has already confused a few fans who are used to waking up to new episodes instead of counting down to an evening premiere.
Netflix has confirmed this evening launch pattern across official release posts and coverage in outlets like Marie Claire, CNET, and Forbes, which all list 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT as the standard for Volume 1, Volume 2, and the finale. In practical terms, it means:
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North America: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on December 31.
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UK and most of Europe: just after midnight or early hours of January 1, 2026, local time, because of time zones.
It’s very deliberately set up as a global “countdown” moment rather than a quiet, overnight drop.
Last Episode of Stranger Things Run Time
The Stranger Things season 5 finale will run for about 2 hours and 8 minutes, essentially feature‑length. That runtime has been confirmed in reports on the final episode’s theatrical screenings and Netflix’s own promo coverage, which describe it as a long, movie‑style goodbye to Hawkins.
So this isn’t a quick “one more episode before bed” situation; it’s basically a full film. For fans, that probably feels right season 4 already flirted with movie‑length episodes, and the finale is meant to wrap up nine years of story, characters, and Upside Down chaos in one last extended chapter. It’s the kind of thing you plan snacks and maybe a group watch around, not something you squeeze in between errands.
Stranger Things Season 5 Episodes Schedule
Stranger Things season 5 has eight episodes, released in three parts: four in Volume 1, three in Volume 2, and the single finale as its own drop. The schedule looks like this in a simple, viewer‑friendly way:
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Volume 1 – Episodes 1–4: November 26, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
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Volume 2 – Episodes 5–7: December 25, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
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Finale – Episode 8 (series finale): December 31, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
Some fans have joked that Netflix basically turned Stranger Things into “holiday programming”, Thanksgiving, Christmas, then New Year’s Evebecause each drop is pinned to a major date. But that staggered schedule also gives people time to rewatch, theorize, and calm down between cliffhangers instead of burning through the whole thing in one night. For anyone planning content, watch parties, or just sleep, the key takeaway is clear: the last Stranger Things episode on Netflix is a New Year’s Eve event, not a random weekday binge.
Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) announced on X that the epic final season of Stranger Things will arrive in parts, with Volume 1 on November 27, Volume 2 on December 26, and the finale on January 1.
Disclaimer
This article is based on publicly available updates from Netflix and verified entertainment sources as of December 2025. Dates, runtimes, and regional release details are subject to change. Viewers should confirm final schedules directly on Netflix or official press channels before planning their watch parties or coverage.
