Stranger Things Season 5 Release Strategy Released By Netflix And... Hmmm...
If you've ever been hooked on a tentpole Netflix series, the chances are you're already familiar with the concept of the platform's split seasons.
For the past few years, the streaming giant has been releasing hit shows like Bridgerton, Emily In Paris and You in two batches one month apart, in an apparent bid to hold onto subscribers for longer.
But for the upcoming Stranger Things finale, they're taking this one step further.
The fifth and final season of the award-winning sci-fi series has been a long time coming, and on Sunday, Netflix finally revealed when fans will be able to watch the last instalments.
'Volume one' of season five will debut on Wednesday 26 November, with the second batch coming just under a month later, on Christmas Day.
But that's not all – the actual finale isn't due to arrive until a week after that, premiering on New Year's Eve at 5pm Pacific time (which will be just as the clock strikes midnight at the arrival of 2026 here in the UK).
The fight isn't over yet. Get ready for the epic series finale of Stranger Things.Volume 1: November 26, 5pm PT*Volume 2: Christmas, 5pm PT*The Finale: New Year's Eve, 5pm PT**releasing worldwide all at once, date may vary based on your local timezone #TUDUMpic.twitter.com/nBcx9Ast9x
— Netflix (@netflix) June 1, 2025
And Netflix's decision to split Stranger Things into three separate parts has certainly raised eyebrows over on X…
taking over 3 years to release a new season and then releasing it in 3 parts. this is actually ridiculous https://t.co/RhJqy1CZWQ
— v (@R1CHONNES) June 1, 2025
3 parts pic.twitter.com/kRvKKwPx1ihttps://t.co/82GJ4xbI2i
— . (@originaixsin) June 1, 2025
Ah yes, split into three parts during the bustiest times of the year. Exactly what everyone wants. https://t.co/Tp71Es88zd
— Gissane Sophia (@GissaneSophia) June 1, 2025
why does netflix always release eps in batches now dont piss me offff https://t.co/IJLs0FEX2H
— clar (@clarnetwork) June 1, 2025
What . . Are these dates https://t.co/dprcUFjJ2Z
— 𝔫𝔬𝔠𝔱𝔲𝔯𝔫𝔞 (@deadarbok) June 1, 2025
Netflix will pay for releasing Stranger Things at 1am UK time https://t.co/9bjErCsX1K
— chlo ♡ (@gelphiethegood) June 1, 2025
they dragging the fuck outta this show https://t.co/kyVMBKE8dC
— 🫧 (@lonenjoyer) June 1, 2025
waiting like 5 years for a show, and them dividing it into 3 parts???? lmao its such a joke?? https://t.co/BIrEW8lepw
— camila (@mirrorballcam) June 1, 2025
I don't watch Stranger Things, but surely it's insane to release the final ever episode on New Year's Eve - literally midnight on New Year's Eve in the UK! - when most people are a tad busy? Also, a month between the first two volumes & a week between the second & finale is wild https://t.co/R4g8SYePgA
— Stephanie Soteriou (@StephanieRiou) June 1, 2025
I'm a huge fan and was really disappointed it's not on Halloween or Stranger Things day. It's much more suited to spooky season
— Rachel Bayne (@rachelbayne) June 2, 2025
What if instead of it coming out in 3 parts it came out in 8 and each part came out a week after the last one https://t.co/Ap2vp5w7ij
— Theseus' Dream of the 90s (@daftgirlpunk) June 1, 2025
I need every single person who works for Netflix and this show imprisoned. I am absolutely fucking fuming https://t.co/MwoyFTpPMG
— The Twt Menace (@rjsmichonne2) June 1, 2025
'The fall' and it is fucking christmas https://t.co/Wd8hSCZ7dx
— HAN ⨂ (@hanlovesryan) June 1, 2025
I miss the days when Netflix would release a whole season so everyone would just stay up to finish it https://t.co/k6QC0ZzPmp
— ✫彡𝔖𝔬𝔭𝔥𝔦𝔢 ✫彡 (@m0rgans___) June 1, 2025
I'm excited to see the Stranger Things kids get their PhDs in the upcoming season. https://t.co/hQKaEkoItL
— Adam Tisdale (@revtizzy) June 1, 2025
Despite the polarising release strategy, it's worth pointing out that many fans are excited for their final trip to Hawkins (even if they do need to do it in three parts)...
My plan for this summer is rewatch the series so that I'm ready for this! #StrangerThings5https://t.co/KU5Zdyp9q1
— Steph2Def (@Steph2Def) June 1, 2025
I need it to be November already😭😭😭 https://t.co/9qBiBrhvWF
— 로템✡︎🎗️🍋 (@little_woobear) June 1, 2025
no one bother me November 26, Christmas, New Year's Eve https://t.co/czaYKpqxuz
— lewy. (@spcckyfucker) June 1, 2025
We will be there https://t.co/KYee6tinG5
— ໊ (@PapiGing) June 1, 2025
literally made my whole day. https://t.co/Dx5dbNCiNl
— camila (@rcadsbetween) June 1, 2025
The most recent season of Stranger Things premiered in 2022, with the first half of the episodes dropping in May and the second coming in July.
Stranger Things' fourth was notable as it led to a resurgence in popularity for Kate Bush's hit Running Up That Hill, which topped the UK singles chart almost 40 years after it was first released.
The first four seasons of Stranger Things are available to stream now on Netflix ahead of the fifth run premiering at the end of 2025.
Stranger Things Star Caleb McLaughlin Had The Perfect Response To The Long Wait For Season Five
This Behind-The-Scenes Stranger Things Video Has Made Us Even More Excited For Season 5
Stranger Things Star Gaten Matarazzo Reveals 'Messed Up' Tweak He'd Make To The Show
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
7 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Dodgers' Tyler Glasnow is optimistic about recovery from shoulder injury
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tyler Glasnow is feeling optimistic about his recovery from a shoulder injury that has sidelined him since late April, one of five Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitchers who are on the injured list. There's no timetable yet for his return. The 31-year-old right-hander got hurt against Pittsburgh on April 27. He was recently moved to the 60-day IL. 'My shoulder is totally fine,' he said Tuesday. Glasnow downplayed the general body soreness that manager Dave Roberts mentioned on Monday. He said back tightness after a bullpen session prompted a precautionary decision to rest him for a few days. 'We're both on the same wavelength,' he said of himself and the team. His shoulder feels better, he said, and he plans to throw a bullpen session later this week. He played catch in the outfield Tuesday. 'I'll be back as soon as I can in a healthy way to help the team in the playoffs is my goal,' he said. Last season, Glasnow didn't pitch in the postseason because of right elbow tendinitis. He signed a $135.5 million, five-year deal before the 2024 season. Also Tuesday, the Dodgers signed right-hander José Ureña, who was designated for assignment last weekend by Toronto. He was 0-0 with a 3.65 ERA in six appearances for the Blue Jays. He began the season with the New York Mets, giving up five runs in three innings of his lone appearance. Ureña, 33, has spent 11 years in the majors with Miami, Detroit, Milwaukee, Colorado, the Chicago White Sox, Texas, the Mets and Blue Jays. He is 44-77 with a 4.78 ERA in 239 games. The Dodgers also optioned right-handed pitcher Will Klein to Triple-A Oklahoma City and designated catcher Chuckie Robinson for assignment. ___ AP MLB:
Car and Driver
17 minutes ago
- Car and Driver
2026 Toyota Sienna Hybrid Review, Pricing, and Specs
Overview With lounge-like seating for up to eight, an available center-console fridge, and a built-in vacuum on upper trims, the Toyota Sienna minivan aims to be almost like a mobile home. While homes don't typically receive fuel economy estimates, the EPA rates the Sienna as the efficiency leader in its class. Its fuel-sipping hybrid powertrain comes with either front- or all-wheel drive, and the engine noise while accelerating is really the only disturbance to an otherwise tranquil cabin experience. With its superior fuel economy and flawless execution of all the minivan fundamentals, the Sienna is among our favorite vans, beating out stiff competition like the Honda Odyssey and Kia Carnival and trailing only the quirky and electric Volkswagen What's New for 2026? After a light interior refresh brought an updated infotainment suite, an Advanced Rear Seat Reminder feature, and some upgraded wireless charging tech last year, the Sienna carries over into 2026 unchanged. Pricing and Which One to Buy The price of the 2026 Toyota Sienna is expected to start around $41,000 and go up to $58,000 depending on the trim and options. LE $41,000 (est) XLE $46,000 (est) XSE $49,000 (est) Limited $52,000 (est) Woodland Edition $52,000 (est) Platinum $58,000 (est) We'd go for the XSE model, which comes with sport seats, a 12.3-inch infotainment touchscreen, second-row captain's chairs, and Toyota's "one-motion-stow" third row. Other tweaks include 20-inch wheels, more aggressive front and rear bumpers, and tauter suspension. The XSE, like all Sienna trims, comes standard with front-wheel drive, but adding all-wheel drive costs less than $1000 and seems like a worthwhile upgrade to us. Engine, Transmission, and Performance The Sienna has been offered exclusively as a hybrid since its 2021 redesign. Its powertrain consists of a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine and a pair of electric motors that make a combined 245 horsepower. All-wheel drive is available across the lineup and features a third electric motor that drives the rear wheels but doesn't increase total output. The Sienna delivers an uninspiring driving experience but, importantly, it aces ride comfort without going too far toward the soft end of the spectrum. 0–60-MPH Times An all-wheel-drive Sienna Limited we tested required 7.5 seconds to reach 60 mph. For context, that's quicker than the Pacifica Hybrid, the same as the Kia Carnival's time, and behind the hot rod of the segment, the Honda Odyssey. View Exterior Photos Toyota Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG The EPA hasn't released fuel economy information for the 2026 Sienna yet, but without any significant changes, the newest model should deliver similar fuel economy to last year's model. The front-drive 2025 Sienna stood as the segment's thriftiest people hauler, with EPA fuel-economy estimates of 36 mpg city and 36 mpg highway. Adding all-wheel drive reduced the city metric by 1 mpg. Over 40,000 miles, our all-wheel-drive Platinum long-term test vehicle averaged 29 mpg. In our 75-mile highway fuel-economy test, an all-wheel-drive Sienna returned an impressive 33 mpg. For more information about the Sienna's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website. Interior, Comfort, and Cargo Toyota packed tons of storage into the Sienna's interior, the centerpiece of which is a large center console that stretches from the dashboard to the start of the second row, with a sizable open storage cubby underneath. There are also 18 cupholders scattered about the cabin. Frequent haulers of cargo may be disappointed to learn that the Sienna's second-row seats are not removable like those in the Odyssey and the Pacifica Hybrid. As a consolation prize of sorts, the second-row captain's chairs can slide a total of 25 inches fore and aft, providing either maximum legroom for either of the rear rows or more cargo space behind the second row. The cargo area behind the third row measures 34 cubic feet compared to the Kia Carnival's 40 cubes. Limited and Platinum models feature reclining second-row seats with pop-up ottomans, and an onboard vacuum cleaner and fridge are available on the Limited and standard on the Platinum trim. View Interior Photos Toyota Infotainment and Connectivity The Sienna LE's infotainment touchscreen measures 8.0 inches, while all other models get a 12.3-inch display. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and Amazon Alexa connectivity features are all standard, as is an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot and SiriusXM satellite radio. A smattering of USB-C ports dot the van's cabin, and there's a USB-A port in the console for older devices. The base stereo is a 6-speaker setup, and XLE models get eight speakers. A 12-speaker JBL stereo system is optional on the XLE and XSE and standard on the Limited and Platinum. In-dash navigation is standard starting with the XSE trim; a rear-seat entertainment system with an 11.6-inch display is optional on all but the base LE model. A 7.0-inch instrument cluster display is nestled between analog gauges on LE and XLE models, while upper trims get a fully digital gauge cluster. A head-up display is available and is standard on Platinum. Safety and Driver-Assistance Features Ten airbags, blind-spot monitoring, rear-cross-traffic alert, and Toyota's Safety Sense 2.0 bundle of driver-assistance features are standard on the Sienna, while convenience items such as parking sensors and a 360-degree exterior camera system are optional. For more information about the Sienna's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include: Standard automated emergency braking with pedestrian detection Standard lane-departure warning with lane-keeping assist Standard adaptive cruise control Warranty and Maintenance Coverage The Kia Carnival offers longer powertrain and bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage than the Sienna. But Toyota adds some value to its fairly basic warranty package with a two-year complimentary maintenance plan. Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers five years or 60,000 miles Hybrid-component warranty covers ten years or 150,000 miles Complimentary maintenance is covered for two years or 25,000 miles Specifications Specifications 2023 Toyota Sienna Hybrid Limited Vehicle Type: front-engine, all-wheel-drive, 7-passenger, 4-door van PRICE Base/As Tested: $51,730/$53,855 POWERTRAIN DOHC 16-valve Atkinson-cycle 2.5-liter inline-4, 189 hp, 176 lb-ft + 3 permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors, front: 180 hp, 199 lb-ft; rear: 54 hp, 89 lb-ft (combined output: 245 hp); 1.5-kWh (est.) nickel-metal hydride battery pack TRANSMISSIONS, F/R CVT/direct drive CHASSIS Suspension, F/R: struts/multilink Brakes, F/R: 12.9-in vented disc/12.5-in vented disc Tires: Goodyear Assurance Finesse 235/55R-19 101H M+S DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 120.5 in Length: 203.7 in Width: 78.5 in Height: 69.7 in Passenger Volume, F/M/R: 58/58/47 ft3 Cargo Volume, Behind F/M/R: –/75/34 ft3 Curb Weight: 4811 lb C/D TEST RESULTS 60 mph: 7.5 sec 1/4-Mile: 15.8 sec @ 88 mph 100 mph: 22.1 sec Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.3 sec. Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 8.5 sec Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 3.9 sec Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 5.8 sec Top Speed (gov ltd): 117 mph Braking, 70–0 mph: 190 ft Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.78 g C/D FUEL ECONOMY Observed: 27 mpg 75-mph Highway Driving: 33 mpg 75-mph Highway Range: 590 mi EPA FUEL ECONOMY Combined/City/Highway: 35/35/36 mpg C/D TESTING EXPLAINED More Features and Specs
CNN
17 minutes ago
- CNN
Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders reject CEO David Zaslav's pay package
Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders voted on Tuesday to reject the pay packages for several of the company's executives, including CEO David Zaslav's compensation package of more than $50 million. Nearly 60% of the symbolic vote was against the 2024 executive payouts at Warner Bros. Discovery's annual meeting, according to a regulatory filing. The vote is non-binding. Last year, shareholders narrowly approved executive pay, with 53% voting in favor. Warner Bros. Discovery is the parent company of CNN. Zaslav, who has been CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery since 2022, when the company was created by the merger of WarnerMedia and Discovery, Inc., was paid a total of $51.9 million last year, including equity awards and other compensation. Warner Bros. Discovery's stock (WBD) declined 7% in 2024, while media competitor Netflix (NFLX) saw its stock gain more than 80% in 2024 and Disney's stock (DIS) rose 24%. Netflix's co-CEOs, Ted Sarandos and Greg Peters, were paid $61.9 million and $60.3 million last year, respectively, while Disney's Bob Iger was paid $41.1 million. The broader S&P 500 gained over 23% last year. Warner Bros. Discovery did not respond to a request for comment.
