Stranger Things Finale Brings Record-Breaking Viewership to Netflix
As crowds gather to witness the iconic New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square, a significant celebration appears to be unfolding at Netflix.
The debut of the series finale of Stranger Things on the streaming platform was met with widespread anticipation. However, many fans reported technical difficulties while trying to access the two-hour conclusion of the series created by the Duffer Brothers.
One user voiced their frustration on X, stating, “NETFLIX CRASHED PLS LET ME IN I DO NOT HAVE NEW YEARS PLANS.”
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Another viewer posted, “My Netflix has crashed twice already three mins into the stranger things finale.”
“WHAT DO U MEAN NETFLIX IS DOWN [NOW]?” questioned another user, who shared a supercut of the season.
NETFLIX CRASHED PLS LET ME IN I DO NOT HAVE NEW YEARS PLANS #StrangerThings pic.twitter.com/YA4QzBK0nO
— aly (@wonderknope) January 1, 2026
Since the release of Season 5, Vol. 2 on Christmas, Stranger Things has reclaimed the top spot on Netflix, boasting 34.5 million views. Overall, Season 5 has garnered 137.1 million views since Volume 1 debuted in November.
While some subscribers faced challenges with the app, fans had the option to catch the finale on the big screen, with showings available in over 350 theaters through New Year’s Day.







