From Record-Breaking Highs to a 60% Slide: Stranger Things Season 5 Stumbles in Week Two

Stranger Things 5 blew the doors off in its first week on Netflix, then face-planted in week two. That sounds worse than it is. Here is what actually happened and why it makes sense for how people binge this show.

The numbers, plain and simple

• Premiere week views: 59.6 million (Netflix figures highlighted by What's on Netflix)
• Week two (Dec 1–7): 23.6 million
• Still to come: Volume 2 on Dec 25, final episode on Dec 31
• Debut milestone: Biggest premiere week ever for an English-language series
• Context check: Korean thriller Squid Game season 3 hit 60.1 million views in its first three days earlier this year
• Past benchmark: Season 4 finished with 140.7 million total views

So, did the show crater?

Not really. This is classic Netflix front-loading. Everyone who was desperate to watch the new drop burned through Volume 1 immediately, then tapped the brakes to wait for the holiday releases. When you stagger a final season like this, you get a big spike out of the gate, a dip while people regroup, then another surge when the next chunk lands. The week-two tumble looks dramatic on paper; in practice, it is just how this rollout is designed to behave.

Can season 5 beat season 4 overall?

Season 4 wrapped with 140.7 million views. Season 5 started hotter than any English-language show ever, so it has a shot, but that total will come down to how many people circle back for Volume 2 on Dec 25 and the finale on Dec 31. The holiday timing is smart: momentum plus free time equals a likely rebound.

My quick review vibe

I gave Part 1 four stars. It is big, loud, surprisingly emotional, and it ends exactly the way a Netflix December drop should: begging you to set a reminder for Christmas.

"After a three-year wait, Volume 1 of the fifth and final season of Stranger Things doesn't disappoint, with blockbuster set-pieces, riveting twists, heartbreaking performances, and a cliffhanger that will make you wish it was Christmas Day already. Roll on Volume 2."

What to watch for next

Volume 2 lands Dec 25, then the finale hits Dec 31. If you need the full release plan or want a refresher on how Part 1 ended, I have both covered. For now, expect the viewing chart to dip until the 25th, then roar back as everyone finishes the season over the holidays.