To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web
browser that
supports HTML5
video
Stranger Things season 5 – the Netflix phenomenon’s final outing – is reportedly set to cost close to half a billion dollars.
One of the creators of the epic sci-fi series has now also confirmed the exact length of the show’s final episodes for the first volume, after fans were sent into a frenzy speculating about how long they’ll be.
Ever since it made its debut almost a decade ago in 2016, Stranger Things has been hailed as one of the greatest TV shows ever made.
It made stars of former child actors such as Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp and Sadie Sink, and from the sounds of it, the final season is going to be the most dramatic and extravagant yet.
According to Dexerto, season five has cost $460million (£343m) to make, averaging at around $50m to $60m (£37m to £44m) per episode.
Get personalised updates on all things Netflix
Wake up to find news on your TV shows in your inbox every morning with Metro’s TV Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your show in the link we’ll send you so we can get TV news tailored to you.
Currently, the most expensive TV show ever made is Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, at $465m (£347m).
From the release date of the last episodes in the series to the cast, here’s everything you need to know about Stranger Things’ farewell.
When is Stranger Things season 5 coming out?
The fifth season of Stranger Things is being released in three parts.
First, four episodes are dropping on November 26 for volume one.
Volume two will follow with three episodes on Christmas Day, and then one final episode will premiere on New Year’s Eve for volume three.
How long will Stranger Things’ final episodes be?
Following reports that were circulating about the length of the final episodes, in a post shared on Instagram, Ross Duffer set the record straight… at least, for volume one of season five.
He uploaded a video showing the episode titles, as well as their run times. They go as follows:
Full list of Stranger Things season 5 run times and episode titles
Volume one episode titles and run times
- Chapter One: The Crawl – 68 minutes
- Chapter Two: The Vanishing of… – 54 minutes
- Chapter Three: The Turnbow Trap – 66 minutes
- Chapter Four: Sorcerer – 83 minutes
Volumes two and three episode titles
While we don’t know the exact run times yet for the episodes in volumes two and three, the remaining episode titles are:
- Chapter Five: Shock Jock
- Chapter Six: Escape from Camazotz
- Chapter Seven: The Bridge
And for the final episode released on New Year’s Eve:
- Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up
The Duffer Brothers previously said that episodes four and eight are the longest, which means that all of the episodes in volume two will be under 83 minutes long.
Who is in the Stranger Things season 5 cast?
The final season of Stranger Things will see several familiar faces return, as well as new characters making their debuts in the story.
Of course, there is a lot of fear among fans about who’s going to survive to the end, with Jamie Campbell Bower’s villain, Vecna, plotting to destroy the world as they know it from the Upside Down.
Millie is back as Eleven, with her superpowers restored by the end of season four, and having finally reunited with her dad, Hopper, played by David Harbour.
Among the rest of the gang, Noah returns as Will Byers, with Finn Wolfhard back as Mike Wheeler, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair and Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield, who was in a coma at the end of season four.
In the older generation of teenagers, Natalia Dyer is back as Nancy Wheeler, alongside Joe Keery as Steve Harrington, Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers and Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley. While Priah Ferguson is also returning as Lucas’ younger sister, Erica Sinclair.
Having returned from her mission to Russia, Winona Ryder reprises her role as Joyce Byers, while Brett Gelman is also returning as the karate-chopping Murray Bauman.
In addition to several more returning cast members, The Terminator legend Linda Hamilton is making her Stranger Things debut in the final season as Dr Kay.
How have fans reacted to the final season plans?
After it was reported that the episodes in Stranger Things season five would be feature-length, the news garnered a mixed reaction from fans.
While some were excited to be getting plenty of time in the Upside Down before the show ends, others lamented how much of a ‘commitment’ each episode will be.
‘Nobody asked for this. Hurry up,’ MusicMan22 wrote on X, while PFGaming said: ‘The Duffer brothers need to get out of TV and into movies. This is NOT okay for television between the duration of the episodes and the duration of time between seasons.’
Some fans claimed that because of the time between seasons – with season four airing in 2022 – they ‘no longer cared how the show ends.’
However, others completely disagreed, with the teaser for season five accumulating more than 23 million views on YouTube.
Commenting underneath, @ShadowTheHedghogk wrote: ‘I have a feeling I’m gonna be traumatised and depressed for months after watching the final season.’
‘The story, the emotion, the music, the 80s vibes, and the characters — the ones we got to meet and bond with, and the ones who we miss and remember. Stranger Things will be a nostalgic roller coaster of emotions for us all,’ @alricbraganza added.
Stranger Things season 5 volume 1 will premiere on Netflix on November 26. The first four seasons are now available to stream.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.