'Stranger Things' Season 5 Holiday Release Schedule Is Netflix's Cruelest Trick Yet

You might remember that Netflix used to have an incredibly popular series called Stranger Things. The first season came out in 2016, and the fourth in 2022, so it's okay if you don't.

'Stranger Things' Season 5 Release Schedule Is Finally Here, But It's Controversial

We finally have release dates for the final fifth season, which will be released in three parts. And according to many fans, this is the worst schedule Netflix could have come up with.

Here is the Stranger Things season 5 release schedule:

• Part 1 (four episodes) – November 26, 2025

• Part 2 (three episodes) – December 25, 2025

• Part 3 (one episode) – December 31, 2025

The Holiday Release Schedule Upset Many 'Stranger Things' Fans

Big picture: All parts of the final season will be released on holidays – Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Eve.

This creates problems for many fans who spend the weekend with their families and dedicate almost all their time to preparing for the holiday. It also creates problems for those who travel on these dates. Reddit user Snoo-32413 wrote:

“All I want to do is enjoy the holidays with my family. First of all, my family doesn't watch the show. Then, if I wait, by the next day there'll already be spoilers all over social media so you HAVE to watch it then to avoid them.”

Fans Waited 3.5 Years for Season 5, and Now We Have to Wait a Month to Watch Parts 2&3

Netflix's strategy of releasing seasons of popular shows in parts is nothing new. However, in the case of Stranger Things Season 5, this schedule seems like a mockery of the fans.

Why it looks bad: Do you remember the year-long wait between seasons one and two? The hiatus between seasons four and five will end up being three and a half years. Yet, Netflix is asking us to wait an additional month between the first and second parts of the final season.

Redditor FilmFervor commented:

“I'll pass. Im over the hype. This kind of release schedule is entirely unacceptable.”

Although many viewers claim to have lost interest in Stranger Things over the years and some won't be able to watch the final episodes due to the holidays, there's no doubt that the show's finale will break all of Netflix's viewership records.

However, the release schedule still seems manipulative, especially since Netflix gained popularity by releasing entire seasons at once.

Why Did It Take So Long for 'Stranger Things' Season 5 to Come Out?

Context: Stranger Things was renewed for a fifth season in 2022, with filming scheduled to begin in 2023. However, one of the largest writers' strikes in history occurred, causing delays for many showrunners. The Duffer brothers only resumed filming in January 2024.

Moreover, the pandemic has affected all filming processes. Before COVID-19, we always knew when new episodes of our favorite series would be released, allowing us to quickly refresh our memory of past episodes.

The pandemic happened in 2019, yet streamings still cannot get on the rails of stable releases.