As the highly anticipated series finale of "Stranger Things" approaches, the cast is encouraging fans to gather with loved ones to experience the emotional conclusion together. The two-hour finale, titled "The Rightside Up," will premiere on December 31st, simultaneously on Netflix and in over 350 movie theaters across the U.S. and Canada. Screenings will begin at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, also continuing on January 1, 2026.
Cast members have been vocal about the emotional weight of the finale. Noah Schnapp, who plays Will Byers, shared his feelings about watching the final episode with his co-stars. "I'm nervous to watch it," Schnapp said on Good Morning America, adding, "Once you watch that, it's done. That's the last episode we're ever gonna watch together". He anticipates a deeply emotional experience, saying, "It's so emotional, like reading it, I can't even fathom what it's gonna be like to watch," and revealed that the cast plans to "sit together as a group and watch it together one last time," likely resulting in a lot of tears. Schnapp also mentioned he would be watching the finale with his family in theaters, possibly with a disguise to maintain some anonymity.
The decision to release the finale in theaters marks a historic moment for Netflix, as it is the first time a series from the streaming platform has received a theatrical release. The Duffer Brothers, creators of "Stranger Things," expressed their excitement about the theatrical release, emphasizing the communal aspect of experiencing the finale with other fans. Matt Duffer told Variety that "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," while Ross Duffer added, "Because the fans could be there with other fans, and experience it as a communal thing — it would be incredible".
The finale promises to answer many of the questions that have lingered throughout the series. Priah Ferguson, who plays Erica Sinclair, assured fans that the conclusion would be fulfilling, stating, "I guess fans can expect, like, a lot of their questions to be answered. It's coming to an end, so they'll be, like, fulfilled". Millie Bobby Brown, who has been with the show since she was ten years old, also indicated that the finale would provide answers to everything.
The series, which premiered its first volume of the final season on November 26, 2025, followed by the second volume on December 25, has been a significant part of the lives of its young cast. Schnapp reflected on the close-knit community formed over the years: "I'm going to miss like, our family of Stranger Things," noting that it includes not just the cast, but also the crew and everyone at Netflix. "It's all kind of just family. We've grown up with each other, and it's going to be hard to not have that," he added.
As fans prepare to say goodbye to the beloved series, the "Stranger Things" stars are encouraging viewers to share the experience with those closest to them and to prepare for an emotional farewell. The series finale has a run time of 2 hours and 5 minutes. With the promise of answered questions and a satisfying conclusion, the "Stranger Things" finale is set to be a memorable event for fans worldwide.
