It sounds like the final season of Stranger Things is going to be the biggest yet, literally, in terms of length!
The wait for the final season of Stranger Things has been a long one. It’s been over three years since season 4, since production on the series was delayed due to the 2023 Hollywood strikes and the actors' varying schedules. It’s finally coming together, and Netflix is leaning into their new formula of breaking the season into segments, with a special grand finale on New Year’s Eve.
Among the many questions fans have had about Stranger Things 5 has been the episode lengths. While most Netflix shows go for the typical 44-50 minute episode length, Stranger Things has pushed that. Creators Matt and Ross Duffer pack so much into each episode that cutting them any shorter would hurt the storyline.
Season 4’s episodes were all super-sized; each ran over an hour, with the finale being a feature-length two and a half hours. Given how epic the production for season 5 has been, most expected the final year to be big, but it sounds like it’s going to be bigger than expected!
How long are the episodes for Stranger Things season 5?
Per a report via Puck, Hollywood insider Kim Masters shared that the Duffer Brothers spent between $50 million - $60 million per episode, suggesting the budget could have gone as high as $480 million when all was said and done. That would make it one of the most expensive TV shows ever produced.
The report also indicates that each episode will run between 90 minutes and two hours, with the finale likely the longest. In other words, it’s less a TV season and more eight movies hitting in chunks.
This can be a daunting watch for some viewers, as committing to these episode lengths could be too much. That’s especially true for those who just enjoy watching the show in the background, not taking in every detail. There's also a chance it could affect viewing numbers, since some viewers will have to pause episodes partway through.
However, given that it’s been so long since the show aired and that the Duffers want to go out with a bang, it’s no wonder Netflix opened up the pocketbooks to let them do what they wanted. Stranger Things is one of the streamer’s biggest cash cows. Allowing the Duffers to end it however they want is in Netflix’s best interests.
We’ll see how it all ends up, but for those waiting to check out the end of Stranger Things, make sure you clear a lot of time on your calendar!
Part One of Stranger Things season 5 premieres November 26 on Netflix. Part Two will follow on December 25, with The Finale airing on December 31.