When Stranger Things premiered in 2016, it captured lightning in a bottle — a blend of ‘80s nostalgia, supernatural mystery, and heartwarming friendship that made it a defining show of the streaming era. Now, nearly a decade later, the Netflix juggernaut is reaching its end with Season 5, released on November 27, 2025.
But as the curtain rises on the first half of the final season, the series has hit a small stumble: according to Rotten Tomatoes, Stranger Things Season 5 holds an 85% critics’ score, marking the lowest rating in the show’s history.
Still, the number doesn’t tell the full story. Critics describe the season as emotionally rich, visually spectacular, and narratively bold — a “different kind of energy” that stays true to what made Stranger Things a cultural touchstone.
Series Score Overview: The Rise and Slight Dip of Stranger Things
Despite the newest season’s lower score, Stranger Things remains one of Netflix’s most critically acclaimed series.
Rotten Tomatoes Scores for Stranger Things by Season
| Season | Release Year | Rotten Tomatoes Score | Critical Consensus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 2016 | 97% | A nostalgic yet fresh sci-fi adventure full of heart and horror. |
| Season 2 | 2017 | 94% | Bigger and darker, but still packed with the show’s charm. |
| Season 3 | 2019 | 89% | Flashier and fun, but beginning to show growing pains. |
| Season 4 | 2022 | 89% | Epic in scope, emotionally charged, and terrifyingly effective. |
| Season 5 | 2025 | 85% | A mature, emotional farewell that redefines what a finale can be. |
Even with an 85%, the series remains Certified Fresh, a distinction Rotten Tomatoes gives to consistently high-rated shows. As a whole, Stranger Things maintains a 90% series average, which is a remarkable feat for a multi-season sci-fi series.
“Stranger Things plays its cards just right in Season 5, solidifying its pop culture classic status with genuinely captivating genre fare,” reads Rotten Tomatoes’ official critics’ consensus.
Critics’ Reactions: ‘A Different Kind of Energy’
While some critics note that the novelty of Stranger Things has naturally faded, most agree that the emotional depth of the final season more than compensates.
“It’s not the same jolt of energy that the earlier seasons had when it was still fresh,” wrote CBR’s critic, “but it’s a different kind of energy that still gets butts out the seat and eyes glued to the screen.”
The first batch of four episodes has been praised for its focus on closure — delivering character-driven moments while setting up a high-stakes final showdown.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, “Season 5 is less about nostalgia and more about reckoning. The kids we met in Hawkins are now adults, facing their demons — both literal and emotional.”
Fan Response: Record Viewership and Netflix Crashes
Despite the lower score, audience enthusiasm remains sky-high. Within hours of the premiere, Stranger Things caused Netflix servers to briefly crash as millions rushed to stream the new episodes.
The series also made history by becoming the first Netflix show to have all four previous seasons simultaneously in the platform’s Top 10 chart, just before Season 5’s debut.
“We knew fans were waiting, but the response exceeded all expectations,” said Peter Friedlander, Netflix’s Head of Scripted Series. “Season 5 is not just an ending — it’s a global event.”
Netflix Viewership Milestones for Stranger Things (2025)
| Metric | Detail | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Concurrent Streams | Netflix servers briefly overloaded at 5 p.m. PT | Nov. 27, 2025 |
| Total Hours Viewed (Opening Day) | 59 million hours | First 24 hours |
| Top 10 Seasons | Seasons 1–4 all in Netflix Global Top 10 | Pre-release |
| Hashtag #StrangerThings5 | 5.2 million posts | Within 12 hours of release |
Season 5 Release Schedule: A Staggered Farewell
For the first time in the series’ history, Stranger Things is releasing in multiple parts:
- Volume 1 (Episodes 1–4) – Released Nov. 27, 2025
- Volume 2 (Episodes 5–7) – Arrives Dec. 25, 2025
- Series Finale (Episode 8) – Debuts Dec. 31, 2025, on Netflix and in select theatres
The theatrical finale marks a major first for Netflix, signaling the streamer’s intent to give the series a cinematic send-off worthy of its cultural status.
Cast and Crew Reflect on the End of an Era
For the cast, saying goodbye to Hawkins, Indiana, was emotional.
“It hit all of us on the last day,” said Noah Schnapp (Will Byers). “I was writing notes for everyone — thank you letters — just remembering everything we’d been through. It really helped me see how impactful this experience has been on my life.”
Showrunners Matt and Ross Duffer have described the final season as “our love letter to the fans who’ve grown up with the show.”
“This isn’t just the end of Stranger Things,” the Duffers told Variety. “It’s the end of a story that defined an entire era of streaming television.”
Why the Score Drop Isn’t a Disaster?
While an 85% Rotten Tomatoes score might sound like a step down, it’s still a mark of strong acclaim in an industry where most shows rarely maintain that level of consistency.
The small dip, critics say, reflects expectations more than execution — after four near-perfect seasons, even a solid season can seem like a decline.
Moreover, early audience reactions are even stronger than critics’: as of publication, the audience score sits at 91%, indicating that fans are deeply satisfied with how the story is unfolding.
“If you’re grading on emotion, ambition, and scale,” wrote Collider’s review, “Season 5 earns an A. The Duffers knew the assignment — and they delivered.”
Conclusion
Stranger Things Season 5 may not have reached the critical heights of its debut, but it closes the curtain with the same emotional intensity and creative spark that made it a worldwide phenomenon.
As fans prepare for the final episodes this December, one thing is clear — the story of Hawkins will leave behind a legacy bigger than the Upside Down itself.
“It’s rare for a show to grow up with its audience the way Stranger Things has,” wrote TVLine’s critic, “and rarer still for it to end on its own terms.”
The lights in Hawkins are flickering for the last time — and audiences everywhere are watching.
FAQs
It currently holds an 85% critics’ score, making it the lowest-rated season but still Certified Fresh.
Yes. Stranger Things Season 5 is the show’s final chapter, concluding the story of Hawkins and the Upside Down.
Eight in total — four released now, three on Christmas Day, and the finale on Dec. 31.
Netflix is giving the finale a limited theatrical release to celebrate the series’ legacy and engage fans in a communal experience.
Yes. Despite mixed critical scores, fans have praised the emotional storytelling, visual effects, and closure for beloved characters.
