Credit: NetflixIt’s been almost three months since Stranger Things concluded its nearly decade-long run on Netflix with its fifth and final season. But while the epic finale provided countless edge-of-your-seat moments, there’s no denying that it also caused a huge stir within the fandom.
Season 5 Controversies Explained
The finale, “Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up,” was branded “fake” by fans, who became convinced that Netflix would drop another episode in the days that followed. That never happened, but it didn’t stop the wild theory dubbed “Conformity Gate” from going viral.
Many fans even launched an online petition demanding an extended cut of Season 5 from Netflix. While a behind-the-scenes documentary titled One Last Adventure, which aired after the series ended, revealed that hundreds of hours of raw footage had been filmed, there are no plans for any new cuts of the season to be released.
New Stranger Things Content
The conversation surrounding the divisive finale might have abated, but the franchise continues to push forward with new content.
In January, the asymmetrical multiplayer game Dead by Daylight released its second Stranger Things expansion, and it was also recently confirmed that the Broadway play Stranger Things: The First Shadow has been filmed for Netflix.
There are also two spinoff shows in the works. One is an untitled live-action project that is said to focus on the mysterious “briefcase rock” revealed in the Season 5 finale. The other is the 3D animated Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, which takes place between seasons 2 and 3 of the flagship series and centers on Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, and Max.
Watch the official trailer for the upcoming series below:
Related: ‘Stranger Things’ Confirms That Major Character Survived Season 5 Finale — Here’s How
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85
“In the winter of 1985, snow blankets the town and the horrors of the Upside Down are finally fading. Our heroes Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, and Max have settled back into a normal life of D&D, snowball fights, and quiet days,” the official logline reads.
“But beneath the ice, something terrifying has awakened. Could it be from the Upside Down? From the depths of Hawkins Lab? Or from somewhere else entirely? Our heroes must race to solve this mystery and save Hawkins in this new story set in the Stranger Things universe.”
While the series focuses on several returning characters, the actors from its live-action counterpart, such as Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour, aren’t returning.
The new voice cast includes Jeremy Jordan as Steve Harrington, Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max Mayfield, Luca Diaz as Mike Wheeler, Elisha “EJ” Williams as Lucas Sinclair, Braxton Quinney as Dustin Henderson, Benjamin Plessala as Will Byers, and Brett Gipson as Jim Hopper.
The series also stars Odessa A’zion as a new character named Nikki Baxter, and Lou Diamond Phillips and Janeane Garofalo in undisclosed roles.
Stranger Things Is Heading to Theaters
Tales From ’85 will premiere on Netflix on April 23; however, it has now been confirmed that the first two episodes will be screened in select theaters on April 18, five days before the series launches globally.
“The screenings, in partnership with AMC Theatres, will take place in 34 theaters across the U.S. at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m. local time,” Variety writes, adding, “Fans can also catch viewings at the Paris Theater in New York, as well as Netflix House Philadelphia. An exclusive collectible will be available to U.S. attendees while supplies last.”
This isn’t the Netflix series’ first time in theaters. Season 5 premiered at the TCL Chinese Theater on November 6, 2025 (Stranger Things Day), and the Season 5 finale was dual released on the streamer and in over 600 theaters across the U.S. and Canada on December 31, 2025, continuing through January 1, 2026.
Whether Tales From ’85 can capture the same global success as the flagship series remains to be seen. Fans continued to voice their concerns over the new show breaking canon, as it takes place between seasons and tells stories never referenced by any of the characters from Season 3 onwards. Either way, with several new Stranger Things projects on the horizon, it’s clear Netflix has no intention of sealing the gateway to the Upside Down.
Tickets for Tales From ’85 will go on sale Wednesday at 8 a.m. PT. Visit AMCTheatres.com for the full list of cities and theater locations.
Stranger Things Seasons 1–5 and More Now Streaming
Stranger Things Seasons 1–5 and One Last Adventure are now streaming on Netflix.
Season 5 stars Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair), Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), Noah Schnapp (Will Byers), Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers), David Harbour (Jim Hopper), Joe Keery (Steve Harrington), Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler), Maya Hawke (Robin Buckley), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers), Brett Gelman (Murray Bauman), Nell Fisher (Holly Wheeler), Priah Ferguson (Erica Sinclair), Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield), Jamie Campbell Bower (Vecna/Henry Creel), Cara Buono (Karen Wheeler), and Linda Hamilton (Dr. Kay).
Will you be watching Tales From ’85 in theaters? Let us know in the comments!