The wait is finally over. After almost a decade of supernatural mysteries and heartwarming friendships, the Hawkins saga is reaching its ultimate conclusion. Netflix has confirmed, once and for all, the release details about the finale of Stranger Things to make sure that 2025 ends with a big cinematic event.

But this final chapter promises to resolve the longstanding battle against Vecna while bringing closure to the beloved characters we have watched grow since 2016. Here is the complete breakdown of the release date, runtime, and where you can watch the series finale.

Release Date and Time Worldwide

For its final season, however, Netflix decided on a different release pattern. Instead of releasing a whole season, as was traditionally the case in previous years, the fifth season was segregated into three clear-cut volumes. Volume 3 contains a single feature: the grand finale with the name Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up.

The episode is set to go live globally on Wednesday, December 31, 2025. This New Year’s Eve launch differs from its usual midnight release schedule. For U.S. viewers, it means the finale will go live at 5 pm PT or 8 pm ET.

Due to the simultaneous release across the globe, for viewers outside of the US, the series finale will fall on New Year’s Day. As such, viewers in India will be able to stream the finale from 6:30 am IST on Thursday, January 1, 2026. In fact, the primetime slot ensures that this last battle for Hawkins will be a shared global moment.

Record-Breaking Runtime for the Series Finale

The Duffer Brothers have often described the final season as being larger in scale than any previous installment. To give the story the breathing room it deserves, the series finale is essentially a feature length film.

The estimated runtime for The Rightside Up is pegged at about 2 hours and 8 minutes long. It is, in fact, the longest episode in the show’s history. Although episodes earlier this season hovered at around the seventy-minute mark, this extended runtime permits a definitive wrap-up of multiple character arcs and the complex mythology surrounding the Abyss and the Upside Down.

Watching Stranger Things in Theatres

Marking a first for the streamer, Netflix is taking the finale to the big screen. For the very first time, aficionados will be able to view the series’ ending in a theatre.

The final episode will screen in more than 500 cinemas across the United States and Canada, at 5 pm PT, aligning perfectly with the digital release on the Netflix platform. With over a million fans already requesting tickets, these theatrical events are expected to be a communal celebration of the show’s legacy.

What to Expect from the Final Battle

Volume 2’s previous episodes left the stakes higher than they have ever been: Hawkins is still under military quarantine, and the boundaries between our world and the Upside Down continue to crumble. The finale will pick up immediately after the chilling events of Episode 7.

This means fans can expect a high-stakes showdown as Eleven and her friends launch a desperate mission to stop Vecna once and for all. Though the Duffer Brothers have said they won’t kill anyone off just for shock value, they do say the ending is emotional and definative. The series has always dealt with themes of sacrifice and growing up. The series now has to answer if after years of trauma, Eleven can truly find happiness as the group faces their greatest threat.

Whether you are watching from the comfort of one’s couch or at a local cinema, the New Year’s Eve release is set to be an unforgettable experience come this season for millions of viewers.