Stranger Things season 5 is finally upon us—but now we’re not sure we’re ready to say goodbye.
In the summer of 2016, out of seemingly nowhere, everyone was talking about Netflix’s 1980s-set sci-fi series Stranger Things. Fast-forward a few months, and it was a pop culture phenomenon: Everyone watched it, and it seemed that three out of five people at every Halloween party was dressed up as a Stranger Things character. We’ll never look at Eggo waffles the same! Now, years later, the saga is about to come to a close with the fifth and final season. (At least, until we get a spin-off, of course.)
In an open letter to fans shared with the press all the way back in 2023, Stranger Things cocreators Matt and Ross Duffer said the Stranger Things saga needed to be told over the course of five seasons. “Seven years ago, we planned out the complete story arc for Stranger Things,” they wrote. “At the time, we predicted the story would last four to five seasons. It proved too large to tell in four but—as you’ll see for yourselves—we are now hurtling toward our finale.”
Now we’re about to see breakout stars Millie Bobby Brown and Finn Wolfhard, as well as longtime icon Winona Ryder, grace our screens as their Stranger Things characters for the very last time. Here’s everything we know about Stranger Things season five.
There are many sides to Sadie Sink, and she’s gotten really good at keeping most of them private. But now, as Stranger Things comes to a close and the actor is on the verge of new heights of fame, she's opening up about what comes next.
When does Stranger Things season 5 premiere?
In May 2025, Netflix announced the final season will be released in three parts during over the course of the holiday season. Here are the dates you need to put on your calendar—though they’re definitely already marked for other occasions:
- Volume 1: November 26, 2025
- Volume 2: December 25, 2025
- The Finale: December 31, 2025
How many episodes are there?
There will be eight total episodes. Variety reports the first four episodes will drop in volume 1, the second three in volume 2, and the final episode on New Year’s Eve. Here are all the episode titles, as well as the run times for the first four episodes, per Ross Duffer.
- Episode 1: “The Crawl” (1 hour, 8 minutes)
- Episode 2: “The Vanishing of…” (54 minutes)
- Episode 3: “The Turnbow Trap” (1 hour, 6 minutes)
- Episode 4: “Sorcerer” (1 hour, 23 minutes)
- Episode 5: “Shock Jock”
- Episode 6: “Escape From Camazotz”
- Episode 7: “The Bridge”
- Episode 8: “The Rightside Up”
Which cast members are returning?
Millie Bobby Brown, David Harbour, Winona Ryder, Cara Buono, Joe Keery, Amybeth McNulty, Charlie Heaton, Brett Gelman, Maya Hawke, Natalia Dyer, Jamie Campbell Bower, Priah Ferguson, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, and Sadie Sink will all be back.
The cast recently attended the Stranger Things 5 premiere, where they were joined by former cast member Shannon Purser, who played one of the series’ most iconic characters, Barbara Holland. Barb was best friends with Nancy Wheeler (Dyer) before she was dragged to the Upside Down and killed by the Demogorgon.
Does that mean Barb will return for the fifth season. Kind of? “I don’t know anything,” Purser told Vulture on the black carpet. ”All I know is that my body shows up and I have no idea what the context is. I wasn’t a part of that decision, so I’ll be just as surprised as you are.”
What about new cast members?
Nell Fisher will take over the role of Holly Wheeler from twin sisters Anniston and Tinsley Price, who depicted the Wheeler sibling for the first four seasons. “Holly is the youngest Wheeler, who’s trying to find her place among her family and friends,” Netflix says of Holly over on the Tudum website. “In season 5, she’s having a tough time at school and looking for a place to belong, and finds comfort in an imaginary friend.”
The most notable addition is sure to be living legend Linda Hamilton (The Terminator), who will be taking on the role of Dr. Kay. “Dr. Kay is the new head scientist overseeing the military occupation in Hawkins, taking on Dr. Brenner’s (Modine’s) work,” per Netflix. “She’s smart, intimidating, and the latest adversary for our group. Her work is her singular focus, and she ruthlessly pursues her goals. She’s hunting Eleven (Brown)—and wants to find her alive.”
Finally, Alex Breaux will be joining the series as one of Dr. Kay’s henchmen, Lieutenant Akers, while Jake Connelly will play Holly’s classmate and bully Derek Turnbow.
When does Stranger Things season 5 Take Place?
The fifth season of Stranger Things will take place “in the fall of 1987,” just 18 months after the season 4 finale.
What's going to happen?
According to Netflix, the final season “picks up in the fall of 1987, with Hawkins, Indiana, scarred by the opening of the Rifts at the end of season 4 and our heroes united in their efforts to find and kill Vecna. But that’s easier said than done since his whereabouts are unknown and Hawkins is under lockdown.”
“Nothing in Hawkins is normal anymore,” co-creator Duffer told Netflix’s Tudum. All the characters have been reunited in Hawkins, but their “movement is restricted, and there are Big Brother cameras everywhere.”
Sink opens up about the pressures she felt as a young actor in Glamour’s new cover story.
What about Max?
Last we saw Max (Sadie Sink), she was in a coma after being attacked by Vecna in season 4. Based on the first trailer (which you can watch in just a minute), she's still in that coma when the season picks up 18 months later. So, how will the story end for Max?
“It’s very unexpected,” Sadie Sink teases in her new Glamour cover interview, promising the upcoming season “answers all of those questions.” Ultimately, she tells Glamour that she trusted the Duffer brothers with Max’s story, saying, “I’ve loved what they’ve given Max, and it feels right.”
She later added, “It’s interesting to see where she is, and what she’s been up to, but it’s still very true to her.”
Do we have a trailer yet?
Yes, we finally have a trailer—and it seems our band of nerds are looking for Vecna…but it looks as though Vecna might find Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) first. “William,” he says at the end of the trailer. “You are going to help me one last time.” OMINOUS.