After nearly nine years, Netflix’s hit original series Stranger Things is reaching its final chapter. Fans following Hawkins’ journey to the Upside Down are now awaiting the release of Season 5 Volume 3, which contains the highly anticipated series finale. Netflix has confirmed that the final episode will premiere on Wednesday, December 31, bringing the story to a close.
The fifth and final season of Stranger Things is being released in three volumes. Volume I, consisting of four episodes, began on November 26 and ended on a cliffhanger. Volume II was released on December 25, with three new episodes released on Christmas Day. Now only the final is left.
Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 3 Release Date and Time on Netflix
Volume 3, consisting of just one episode, will premiere on New Year’s Eve, December 31 at 8 PM ET/5 PM PT. Like previous versions, the finale will be available exclusively on Netflix.
The final episode is titled “Chapter 8: The Rightside Up”. According to series creators the Duffer Brothers, the episode runs for 2 hours and 8 minutes, making it the longest episode of the season.
Ross Duffer also shared the official episode runtime on Instagram earlier this week. For reference, here are the full descriptions of the last four episodes:
- Episode 5, Shock Jock: 1 hr 8 min
- Episode 6, Escape from Camazotz: 1 hour 15 minutes
- Episode 7, The Bridge: 1 hr 6 min
- Episode 8, The Rightside Up: 2 hours 8 minutes
Here’s what makes the Stranger Things series finale different
For the first time in the show’s history, fans have more than one way to experience the finale. Netflix has announced that Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 3 will premiere simultaneously on Netflix and in more than 350 theaters across the United States and Canada. Theatrical screenings will begin on December 31 at 8 PM ET and continue through January 1, 2026.
Episodes 5, 6, and 7, which were released on Christmas Day, begin immediately after the events of Volume I and set the stage for the final showdown. Hopefully the final episode will tie together the show’s biggest storylines and bring closure to fan-favorite characters.
