Stranger Things fan slam final series news branding it 'worst release ever seen'

has finally unveiled the release dates for the fifth and final season of , but what should have been an exciting moment has instead sparked a wave of backlash from fans. Show bosses announced that the final season will be rolled out in four volumes during the streamer's Tudum event at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles.

The rollout includes eight episodes in total. Four are slated to come out as part of Volume I on November 26. Meanwhile, three episodes will be released on Day, December 25, 2025. Then the standalone final volume will come out on December 31, New Year's Eve.

Although the Duffer Brothers, who created the hit sci-fi series, described this season as "our biggest and most ambitious yet", not everyone is thrilled with the rollout process.

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One Stranger Things fan went viral after posting on social media saying: "This is actually the worst release schedule for a TV show that I have maybe ever seen. Pretty arrogant to assume people will be more interested in watching Stranger Things than spending time with family and friends."

Others echoed their frustration, calling the festive release dates inconsiderate. Another person ranted: "It sucks so bad honestly. 'Hey, watch our show we know you love on Christmas and ’s Eve and don’t spend time with your family, or else be spoiled!!'"

A third added: "Proper attention seeking nonsense." The release strategy mirrors ’s approach to other major series like Bridgerton and The Witcher, where they have also dropped episodes in multiple segments to keep the hype for the series alive.

However, fans are arguing that placing the final instalments of such a beloved TV show on two of the biggest holiday dates of the year means that Netflix is prioritising marketing over family values.

One person joked: "Netflix thinks we’d rather binge Stranger Things than fight over the last Christmas cookie—guess they forgot some of us actually like our families more than the Upside Down!" Another fan wrote: "New Year’s Eve and Christmas Day? Pretty crazy."

Despite the backlash, others defended Netflix's decision, saying that the Christmas holidays are the perfect time for families to sit down and watch Stranger Things together. The anticipation for season five is still sky-high, as fans have waited three years to see what happens next after the fourth season aired.

On top of that, the show's creators have promised an action-heavy conclusion to the series, with Ross Duffer saying it will pack the narrative punch of "eight blockbuster movies".

Matt Duffer added: "We think it’s our most personal story. It was super intense and emotional to film — for us and for our actors. We’ve been making this show together for almost 10 years. There was a lot of crying. There was so much crying. The show means so much to all of us, and everyone put their hearts and souls into it."

All the major cast members will return, including , Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Sadie Sink, and Gaten Matarazzo. Linda Hamilton is also joining the show in a mystery role.

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