Stranger Things season 5: Finale episode of supernatural thriller is as long as a feature film

Still from Stranger Things season 5

Fans of Stranger Things are eagerly awaiting Netflix to release the remaining episodes of its final season. The first four episodes of Season 5 went live on the platform on November 26. The opening batch has left fans excited and eager to see how the rest of the story unfolds - and whether peace will be restored in Hawkins before Vecna claims more lives. While the wait is nearing its end, the makers have ensured that the thrill and suspense will not be short-lived. The runtime of the remaining episodes has been revealed, with the finale shaping up to be a movie in itself.

Runtime of finale episode

Episodes 5-7 of the final season will drop on Christmas Eve, December 25 (morning of December 26 in India). While most episodes have an average runtime of about one hour, the final episode - releasing on New Year's Eve - will run for 2 hours and 8 minutes. The total runtime of Season 5 Volume 2, spread across three episodes, will be nearly 3.5 hours.

What happened in Season 4?

Season 4 premiered in the summer of 2022 in two parts, released in May and July. The episodes were supersized, each running over 60 minutes, with the final episode exceeding two hours.

The season ended with an all-out battle against Vecna and the Demogorgons in the Upside Down. Fan-favourite newcomer Eddie Munson sacrificed himself to save the group. While Vecna was weakened, he remained powerful enough to spread the Upside Down into Hawkins. All the main characters survived, but Max was left in a coma after being controlled by Vecna.

What to expect from Season 5?

Set in the fall of 1987, Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts. The heroes are united by one goal: to find and kill Vecna, who has mysteriously disappeared. The government has placed Hawkins under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding.

As the anniversary of Will's disappearance approaches, a familiar sense of dread returns. The final battle looms - darker and deadlier than anything before. To end the nightmare, the entire group must come together one last time.

Created by the Duffer Brothers, the series is produced by Upside Down Pictures in collaboration with 21 Laps Entertainment, with Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen serving as executive producers.