Los Angeles, January 4, 2026
Netflix’s global phenomenon “Stranger Things” has created television history with an unprecedented theatrical performance for its fifth and final season finale, despite being primarily an OTT release.
The finale episode, titled “Chapter 8: The Rightside Up,” received a special limited theatrical release on December 31, 2025, and January 1, 2026, across select cinemas in North America. According to trade estimates available as of January 4, 2026, the finale generated an estimated $25 million to $30 million worldwide, exclusively from its short two-day theatrical run.
The episode screened in approximately 620 theaters across the United States and Canada, making it one of the largest cinema events ever staged for a television series. Due to contractual and royalty considerations involving the cast and creators, theaters did not sell traditional movie tickets. Instead, audiences purchased $20 concession vouchers, which included food and beverages and served as entry passes for the screening.
On New Year’s Eve, the Stranger Things finale reportedly outperformed James Cameron’s Avatar: Fire and Ash in daily earnings, surpassing its $23.7 million single-day collection, marking a rare crossover moment between streaming content and theatrical dominance.
Industry estimates suggest that 1.1 to 1.5 million viewers reserved seats through advance bookings and voucher purchases. Major cinema chains benefited significantly, with AMC Theatres alone generating approximately $15 million from the event.
The success extended beyond theaters. On Netflix, Stranger Things Season 5 recorded a staggering 8.46 billion minutes streamed in its first week, setting a new platform record and reaffirming the show’s global popularity.
While Netflix has not officially released box office figures, trade analysts have widely described the finale as the largest theatrical event ever for a TV series, calling it a major win for cinemas and a potential blueprint for future hybrid releases.
