Netflix has released the trailer for the Stranger Things Season 5 finale, hinting at the conclusion of the long-running series.
Warning! Spoilers for Stranger Things up to this point are discussed below:
The trailer opens with Jim Hopper (David Harbour) emotionally asking Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) to “fight one last time.” Flashbacks to previous episodes show Hopper acknowledging Eleven’s lost childhood and the immense challenges she has faced. In the present, Eleven, Hopper, Kali Prasad (Eight), and Murray Bauman prepare for a final confrontation with Vecna. Eleven is seen getting ready to enter the bath at Hawkins Lab in the Upside Down, a method to enhance her abilities.
A recent tweet from Netflix shared the trailer: “One last trailer. The final episode of STRANGER THINGS premieres TOMORROW at 8PM ET | 5PM PT. pic.twitter.com/cb3bJEqKFs” — Netflix (@netflix) December 30, 2025
Elsewhere, Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) observe a desolate, hellish landscape. Vecna is shown connected to his pulsating lair within The Abyss, where it is speculated he is using kidnapped children as vessels to transform Earth into this alternate dimension, the source of Stranger Things’ monstrous creatures. The trailer features an explosion, a piercing scream from Dustin (possibly indicating a character caught in the blast), and a peculiar shot of a curtain closing on Eleven, Max, and Kali. This could potentially represent a scene within Vecna’s mind.
The trailer concludes by showcasing what appears to be the heroes’ strategy, first detailed in Episode 7. This plan, dubbed “Operation Beanstalk,” involves allowing Vecna to merge the two worlds. The team will wait until the Squawk radio tower penetrates one of the rifts, signaling Eleven to act. Eleven intends to enter Vecna’s mind for an ambush, while the others ascend the “beanstalk” into the Abyss to rescue the captive children. Dustin exclaims, “Mother of god,” as he gazes skyward.
Who Will Die In Stranger Things Season 5?
The trailer concludes with the Squawk radio tower emerging through a rift. The Stranger Things Season 5 finale, Episode 8, titled “The Rightside Up,” boasts a runtime of 2 hours and 8 minutes. It is scheduled for simultaneous release in theaters nationwide and on Netflix at 5 PM PT on New Year’s Eve. Co-creator Ross Duffer has told fans they should only see it in theaters if they’re cool with crying in a crowded room. The Duffer brothers have also told fans not to expect a Game of Thrones-style bloodbath, even as there are big questions over who might die in the final episode.
Reports indicate that Stranger Things is experiencing review bombing following Season 5 Episode 7, which received lower audience scores than usual for the Netflix series. However, some fans are actively counteracting this trend with 5-star reviews.
