The beginning of the end is here for Stranger Things fans.
Netflix has officially announced the release schedule for the fifth and final season of its blockbuster sci-fi hit, created by the Duffer Brothers—and they’re going big. The supersized farewell will roll out in three parts: Volume 1 lands on November 26, Volume 2 drops December 25, and the series finale hits just before the ball drops—December 31.
Yes, the Hawkins crew is back for one last ride through the Upside Down. Returning cast members include Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers), David Harbour (Jim Hopper), Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Finn Wolfhard (Mike), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas), Noah Schnapp (Will), Joe Keery (Steve), Sadie Sink (Max), Natalia Dyer (Nancy), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan), Maya Hawke (Robin), Brett Gelman (Murray), Priah Ferguson (Erica), and Jamie Campbell Bower (Vecna). Plus, in a twist worthy of the show’s 1980s aesthetic, Terminator icon Linda Hamilton is joining the cast in a still-undisclosed role.
Fans may remember Season 4’s epic showdown, which wrapped in summer 2022 with a two-part drop and feature-length episodes. That finale saw a brutal battle against Vecna and the Demogorgons in the Upside Down—and the heartbreaking sacrifice of fan-favorite Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn). While Vecna was left wounded, he managed to unleash chaos by merging the Upside Down with Hawkins. The core group survived, but Max was left in a coma after falling under Vecna’s control.
So what does that mean for Max’s role in the final season? Sadie Sink played coy in a recent Variety cover story, saying:
“They love having me run. That’s all I’ll say.”
Could that be a reference to the viral “Running Up That Hill” scene from Season 4? Possibly. The Duffer Brothers chimed in with more cryptic comments.
“She’s going to play a part in the season,” said Matt Duffer. Ross Duffer added, “But we don’t want to reveal how that’s possible.”
“Right, because she’s in a coma,” Matt clarified. “I think she’s grown just more confident as an actor and in her choices. We did film a scene the other day with her that was just absolutely heartbreaking. I don’t know how she hits those notes.”
Whatever happens, expect emotion, action, and nostalgia to run high as Stranger Things wraps its story across three high-stakes drops.
Watch the teaser for Stranger Things Season 5 above—and get ready to return to Hawkins one last time.
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