It’s now confirmed that the two-hour finale of Stranger Things will be shown in cinemas. The final and most exciting episode of Stranger Things, called “The Rightside Up,” will be released on December 31. It will premiere both on Netflix and in over 350 movie theaters at the same time, starting at 5 p.m. PT or 8 p.m. ET and it will keep playing in cinemas through January 1, 2026. This will probably be the first time ever that an episode from a Netflix series will also be shown in movie theaters.
So, Stranger Things will make history because Netflix has never released a TV episode in cinemas before. Netflix said that it will share more information later about which exact movie theaters will show the Stranger Things finale.
It Has Not Been Announced For Stranger Things
Right now, the specific locations haven’t been announced yet. In a recent Variety cover story about how the final season of the show was made, Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer said they were interested in having the movie-length finale premiere in theaters at the same time it becomes available on Netflix on New Year’s Eve. Matt Duffer is saying that most people don’t realize how much hard work goes into making the sound and picture perfect for Stranger Things.

He means that when people watch it on smaller screens or in lower quality, they don’t get the full experience or see the true detail and effort the team put into it. Ross Duffer is saying that what matters most is sharing the experience with fans — watching the finale together at the same time, rather than alone at home. He thinks it would be amazing if fans could gather in cinemas to watch it as a community, feeling the excitement and emotions together.
Netflix’s General Rule Is To Only Broadcast On Its Own Streaming Platform
Netflix’s usual rule is to release its original shows and movies only on its streaming platform, not in movie theaters. However, sometimes the company makes exceptions and shows some of its movies in cinemas, depending on the situation — for example, big or award-focused films. Greta Gerwig has secured a deal with Netflix (for her upcoming The Chronicles of Narnia-based film) to have the movie released in IMAX theaters next year before or alongside its streaming release. Netflix’s movies that are competing for awards, such as Frankenstein, Jay Kelly, and A House of Dynamite, are first released in a few theaters for a short time so they can qualify for the Oscars. They usually come to Netflix a few weeks later. After KPop Demon Hunters became very popular on Netflix during the summer, it was also shown in theaters for a special sing-along version, where audiences could sing with the movie.
Netflix announced on October 15 that the film will come back to cinemas over Halloween weekend, and it will be shown in the three biggest theater chains in the U.S.: AMC, Regal, and Cinemark.


