The end of an era is officially here. As we prepare to ring in 2026, we first have to find out if the Hawkins gang can survive their final stand. The final installment of Stranger Things Season 5 (Volume 3), featuring the series finale episode “The Rightside Up,” premieres globally today, Wednesday, December 31, 2025.
Whether you are watching from your couch or heading to a cinema for a special screening, here is exactly when you can catch the 2-hour-and-8-minute masterpiece.
What Time Does the Finale Drop?
In my time zone (Pacific Time), the finale will go live on Netflix at 5:00 PM PT.
Because this is a simultaneous global launch, the date actually flips to January 1, 2026, for many viewers across the world. Find your local time below:
The Americas (Dec. 31, 2025)
- Hawaii (HST): 3:00 PM
- Alaska (AKDT): 4:00 PM
- Pacific Time (PT): 5:00 PM (Los Angeles, Vancouver)
- Mountain Time (MT): 6:00 PM (Denver, Calgary)
- Central Time (CT): 7:00 PM (Chicago, Mexico City)
- Eastern Time (ET): 8:00 PM (New York, Toronto)
- Brazil (BRT): 10:00 PM (Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo)
Europe, Africa & Middle East (Jan. 1, 2026)
- United Kingdom & Ireland (GMT): 1:00 AM
- Western & Central Europe (CET): 2:00 AM (France, Germany, Italy, Spain)
- Eastern Europe & South Africa (EET/SAST): 3:00 AM (Finland, Greece, Johannesburg)
- Saudi Arabia & Iraq (AST): 4:00 AM
Asia & Oceania (Jan. 1, 2026)
- India (IST): 6:30 AM
- Indonesia & Thailand (WIB/ICT): 8:00 AM
- China, Singapore, & Philippines (CST/SGT/PHST): 9:00 AM
- Japan & South Korea (JST/KST): 10:00 AM
- Australia (AEDT): 12:00 PM (Sydney, Melbourne)
- New Zealand (NZDT): 2:00 PM (Auckland)
A Cinematic Send-off: Stranger Things in Theaters
For those who want to experience the finale on the biggest screen possible, Netflix has partnered with major chains like AMC, Regal, and Cinemark.
- The Scale: The finale is screening in over 620 theaters across the U.S. and Canada.
- The Hype: Co-creator Ross Duffer recently revealed that over 1 million fans have already reserved their tickets for these special screenings.
- How to Go: You can find participating locations and buy tickets for the Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 screenings at ST5Finale.com.
The theatrical screenings begin at 8:00 PM ET today, perfectly timed for a feature-length experience that clocks in at 2 hours and 8 minutes.
“What a way to close out a ten-year journey—together.” — Ross Duffer
How to Watch
The wait is almost over. You can stream “The Rightside Up” exclusively on Netflix or check ST5Finale.com for a theater near you. Grab your tissues and some Eggos—it’s going to be an emotional ride.
