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Stranger Things Final Episode Arrives Jan. 1 on Netflix After Ratings Slump

The release caps a season marked by a ratings slide alongside a disputed ‘Cutgate’ campaign.

Overview

  • Netflix schedules the series capstone for Jan. 1, 2026 at 2:00 a.m. in Germany, with a runtime of about 2 hours 8 minutes.
  • The eight-episode final season was split into three drops: Nov. 27 (episodes 1–4), Dec. 26 (5–7) and Jan. 1 (episode 8).
  • Audience sentiment fell sharply after Volume 2, with Rotten Tomatoes audience scores reported around 56–59% and episode 7 near 5.8–5.9 on IMDb.
  • A viral #netflixreleasethevolume2files petition presses for alleged deleted footage, while actor Randy Havens publicly says no Director’s Cut exists.
  • New trailers frame a feature-length farewell set in autumn 1987 as creators signal a resolution to long-running threads and fans watch for a course correction.