The end of an era is officially in sight, and thanks to a new update from “Stranger Things” co-creator Ross Duffer, we finally know exactly how much time we have left in Hawkins.
After that massive cliffhanger drop on November 26, Netflix is feeding us the rest of the final season as a holiday gift. We’re getting three more episodes on Christmas Day, followed by the epic series finale on New Year’s Eve.
Despite the internet rumors claiming every episode would be a two-hour marathon, the Duffer brothers are keeping things tight and punchy—until the very end, of course. Here is the official breakdown for the home stretch.
The Final Episode Countdown
| Episode # | Title | Runtime | Release Date |
| Episode 5 | “Shock Jock” | 1h 08m | December 25 |
| Episo” e 6 | “Escape from Camazotz” | 1h 15m | December 25 |
| “Episode 7 | “The Bridge” | 1h 06m | December 25 |
| Episode 8 | “The Rightside Up” (Finale) | 2h 08m | December 31 |
Clearing Up the Rumors
You might have seen reports from TikTok videos claiming that this entire season would consist of “90-minute movies.” However, Ross Duffer’s Instagram post clarifies: the middle chapters are closer to the classic hour-long format we loved in previous seasons.
But don’t worry—they saved the “movie magic” for the grand finale. “The Rightside Up” clocks in at over two hours, making it the second-longest episode in the show’s history (falling just short of the Season 4 finale’s two-hour, twenty-two-minute runtime).
The Ultimate Holiday Binge
It’s a bittersweet way to 2026. Whether you’re watching the three Christmas episodes with the family or counting down to the New Year with the final showdown in the Upside Down, it’s going to be an emotional ride.
The Duffer Brothers, along with Shawn Levy and the team at 21 Laps, have spent nearly a decade building this world, and it looks like they are going out with a massive, two-hour bang. In case you haven’t heard, the finale will also be heading to theaters, where you can have the ultimate viewing experience.
Are you ready to see how it all ends? Let us know your predictions in the comments.
