'Stranger Things' Season 5 final episode: Global release schedule, runtime and recap ahead of series finale

Netflix is set to release the final episode of its flagship series, ending the show after nearly a decade

Stranger Things is set to conclude as Netflix releases the final episode of its fifth and final season, bringing the long-running series to a close after nearly a decade.

Following the release of Volume 1 and Volume 2, which delivered seven episodes in total, the story will culminate in a feature-length finale that promises to resolve the conflict surrounding Vecna, the Upside Down and the newly revealed Abyss.

Netflix has confirmed that the final episode, titled “The Rightside Up”, will run for 2 hours and 8 minutes. The extended runtime makes it the longest episode of the series and positions it as a closing chapter intended to tie together the show’s central storylines.

The finale will be released globally at the same moment, with availability varying by time zone. Below is the confirmed release schedule in local times:

• United States: December 31, 8 pm ET / 5 pm PT

• Brazil: December 31, 9 pm

• United Kingdom: January 1, 1 am GMT

• France: January 1, 2 am CET

• Germany: January 1, 2am CET

• Italy: January 1, 2 am CET

• Spain: January 1, 2 am CET

• South Africa: January 1, 3 am

• Pakistan: January 1, 6 am

• India: January 1, 6:30 am

• South Korea: January 1, 10 am

• Japan: January 1, 10 am

• Australia: January 1, 11 am AEST / 12 pm AEDT

The finale follows directly on from episode seven, “The Bridge”, which revealed that the Upside Down has been acting as a gateway to another realm known as the Abyss. Vecna’s plan intensified after using children from Hawkins as vessels, including Holly Wheeler, raising the stakes for the group.

The remaining characters are expected to return to the Upside Down via the radio tower, with Will’s connection to the hivemind once again playing a crucial role. Eleven is also shown grappling with the possibility of sacrificing herself to finally stop Vecna and prevent further exploitation of her powers.

As the countdown reaches its final hours, the finale is set to deliver a definitive conclusion to one of Netflix’s most influential series.