Stranger Things: Season 5. (Left to Right) Linnea Berthelsen as Kali and Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven in Stranger Things: Season 5. Courtesy of Netflix © 2025
The end is finally here. Just one week after the heart-breaking events of Christmas Volume 2 was released, stranger things Season 5 Volume 3 (The Finale) is here to celebrate the New Year. Following the precedent set by Volumes 1 and 2, Netflix is sticking to its unconventional release strategy for this final film-length chapter, meaning it won’t be releasing in the standard midnight timeslot. When can you watch the final moments of the Hawking saga? Here’s your complete guide.
Now that the Abyss has been fully exposed and the bridge between worlds is breaking, the final confrontation is inevitable. The chess pieces are ready for one last stand: Max has finally awakened to join the fray, the military has isolated Hawkins, and Eleven, along with everyone else, is preparing for a sacrifice that could change everything.
what time does stranger things Will season 5 part 3 go live?
Like they did for Thanksgiving and Christmas releases, Netflix is using a “primetime” release schedule for the series finale. This is separate from the classic Midnight PT drop, meaning US audiences can watch it on New Year’s Eve, while international fans will be up for the final chapter on the first day of 2026.
If you’re in North or South America, the end date will be Wednesday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve). If you’re in Europe, Asia, or anywhere east of the Atlantic, the episode will be available on Thursday, January 1, 2026 (New Year’s Day).
UPDATE: Confirmed timezones for final release:
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The only way to see the movie a little early is to see it on the big screen, but only for people in the United States and Canada, and to be fair, Ross Duffer has said that the screening is already sold out, so good luck. We would advise avoiding social media to avoid any unwanted spoilers.
Why isn’t Volume 3 releasing at Midnight PT?
For over a decade, Netflix has conditioned us to expect new content at 12:00 a.m. Pacific Time. However, for this final season, they have completely switched gears. Volume 3 is getting a “primetime” slot to turn the series finale into a global live event.
By releasing the show at 5:00 pm Pacific (8:00 pm Eastern), Netflix allows friends and families gathering for New Year’s Eve parties to watch the finale together before the ball drops. This strategy also helps to tone down the spoilers for American audiences by ensuring that the final secrets of the Upside Down are revealed when most people are awake, rather than at midnight.
I still can’t see Finale on my dashboard!
It’s New Year’s Eve (or New Year’s Day), the clock has struck, but you’re only watching Volume 2? Don’t panic. You’ll likely need to force refresh the Netflix library. Here’s how to do it depending on your device:
- Smart TV/Console: Go to the “Get Help” section in the sidebar menu (usually near the bottom). Select “Reload Netflix.” If that fails, exit the app completely and relaunch it.
- Tablets and phones: Force close the app (swipe it away from your active apps list) and tap the icon to reopen it.
- Desktop/Laptop: If you’re in a browser, press CTRL+F5 (Windows) or CMD+R (Mac) to trigger a hard refresh.
If the episode still refuses to display, try completely restarting your device. You can find more troubleshooting tips in Netflix Help Center,
What episodes are coming in Volume 3?
Volume 3 consists of a single, lengthy chapter. This is not just an episode; In fact, it is a feature film designed to conclude the series.
- Episode 8: The Rightside Up – 2 hours 12 minutes
Is there anything after this?
Once you finish your watch of Volume 3, there are no more dates left to mark on your calendar. This is the definite conclusion of stranger things Main series.
However, fans can look forward to the animated spinoff series Stories of ’85, coming out in the spring next year, and stage plays first shadowin both London and New Yorkwhich serves as an important prequel to the series. We don’t know if any of this lore will be explored in the final episode, but if you’re a fan of Stranger Things, you should really move heaven and earth to see this. But as for the XI and the party? Their story will end tonight.
This is your essential guide to the final release of Volume 3. Will you be watching before the New Year countdown begins?