Stranger Thingsshowrunner Ross Duffer has burst fans’ bubbles by debunking a major season 5 rumor concerning the episode runtimes, suggesting viewers will not be tucking into their popcorn for movie-length watch parties every episode. Debuting on Netflix back in 2016,Stranger Thingsfound immediate and resounding success, which continued for seasons 2 through 4. Boasting an 80s-themedDungeons & Dragonsaesthetic, the premise follows a group of kids from the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, who become entangled in a human experimentation scandal that unlocks the nightmarish Upside Down dimension, full of hostile creatures.
Starring Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, et al, later seasons welcomed newcomers Maya Hawke as Robin and Joseph Quinn’s beloved Eddie Munson, and fans are hoping all of their favorite characters survive the final stand against Jamie Campbell Bower’s Vecna. Ahead of its November release,Stranger Thingsseason 5 has already broken a new Netflix recordthrough audience impressions, proving the show’s popularity has not waned in the slightest during its three-year hiatus after season 4’s cliffhanger.
Stranger Things Showrunner Shuts Down Season 5’s “Film-Length” Episode Runtimes
Posted on Instagram Stories (thanks What’s On Netflix), Duffer included a screenshot of season 5’s rumored runtimes, which teased approximately two-hour-long episodes with a three-hour-long finale. “Lol not even close to accurate,” Duffer captioned, which certainly put an end to fans’ cinematic expectations. The runtime rumor was fueled when starFinn Wolfhard commented on season 5’s “film-length” episodes, which delighted the fanbase. Now, Duffer’s correction may cause fans to worry in case the final season ends up feeling rushed to conclude. It’s worth noting that Netflix has yet to confirm the official runtimes of each season 5 installment. While there’s a good chance the final episode will be slightly longer to provide closure, the last bike ride will be split into three parts to prolong fans' goodbyes.
Stranger Thingsfans were initially pleased about the longer runtimes, and relieved that the final season would last a little longer. After the season 5 trailer dropped, the fandom had primarily positive things to say while tearing up over their conflakes, slowly realizing that the near-decade-long epic was coming to an end. One criticism that did its rounds on Reddit involvedfans mocking Vecna’s design, and even going as far as to compare the villain’s prosthetic costume to the Grinch. For the most part, however, viewers are continuously blown away by the stellar show’s visuals, humor, and character development, and most are waiting on tenterhooks to see how the story wraps up.
As for the directors bringing the Hawkins kids’ final adventure to life,Stranger Thingsseason 5 will break one Marvel director’s filming tradition. Shawn Levy will be taking a backseat while other, acclaimed directors helm various episodes of the last hurrah. Instead, Frank Darabont, a legendary auteur who helmedA Nightmare on Elm Street 2, Stephen King adaptationsThe Green MileandThe Mist, and executive-produced the first season of AMC’sThe Walking Dead, will step in to direct, and the Duffer Brothers will also be sitting in the director’s chair as well.
Stranger Thingsseason 5 volume 1 is scheduled to be released on June 22, 2025, on Netflix.
