The 'Stranger Things' finale is light on surprises and heavy on sentiment, as the Netflix series bids a sound enough farewell — for now. [SPOILERS]

Netflix's supernatural hit "Stranger Things" debuted simultaneously on the streamer and in theaters on New Year's Day, giving the box office a much needed lift.

Co-creator Ross shared that 1.1 million people had RSVP’d to the finale screenings, with thousands of showtimes having sold out. By Jan. 1, 2026, exit polling firm EntTelligence estimated admissions totalled at 1.3 million, the Hollywood Reporter said.

How should the audience interpret Eleven's fate? Is a door open to explore more of Hawkins down the line? Creators Matt and Ross Duffer answer that and more in their spoiler chat with The Hollywood Reporter.

Watching the 'Stranger Things' finale with a crowd was satisfying for superfans of the Netflix series. Here are 11 moments that got big reactions.

Gaten Matarazzo, who plays fan-favorite Dustin Henderson, said he was "taken aback" by how much he realized the "Stranger Things" finale made sense.

The final episode of the hit Netflix series debuted simultaneously Dec. 31 on the streamer and in 600 theaters before holding encore performances throughout New Year's Day.

But 2025 did close with some welcome successes such as “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” “The Housemaid” and “Marty Supreme.” “Stranger Things,” a homage to ’80s fantasy adventures such as “The Goonies” and “E.

The “Stranger Things” finale boosted Spotify streams of Prince's catalog, namely "Purple Rain" and "When Doves Cry," as fans relived the show's magic.