Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2: Duffer Reveals the One Twist That Will Leave You in Tears
Production is officially wrapped on Stranger Things Season 5, and co-creator Ross Duffer says Volume 2’s Episode 6, Escape, is so emotional it made the team cry—teased in his December 11 Instagram preview of the three episodes.
Stranger Things is coming in hot for the holidays. Ross Duffer just wrapped Season 5 and hopped on Instagram to preview the final stretch, and yeah, he says one of the new episodes made them cry. Also: production is officially in the can, the last batch before the finale hits on Christmas Day, and the actual series finale is getting a theatrical rollout on New Year’s Eve. Deep breath.
Volume 2 lands Christmas Day (and yes, they finished filming)
On December 11, Ross Duffer said production on Season 5 is done and teed up what’s coming in Volume 2. The three new episodes (Episodes 5-7) drop December 25, 2025. He also teased that runtimes will be announced soon and joked that it’s going to be a long wait between the holiday release and the finale.
"It’s gonna be a long six-day wait for the finale..."
The three-episode drop: what to expect
Episode 5: Shock Jock
This one picks up literally right after Volume 1’s closer, Sorcerer. Frank Darabont is back in the director’s chair, but Ross says it’s a hard swerve into horror compared to his earlier Season 5 outing, Turnbow Trap.
"Frank Darabont is back, but he flexes very different muscles on this one than he did on 'Turnbow Trap' - it’s far darker and far scarier."
Quick refresher from Volume 1: in Turnbow Trap, the gang pulled a morally questionable move and dosed Derek Turnbow and his family to bait a Demogorgon. The goal was to tag it with a tracker to find Vecna’s new lair. Shockingly, that plan goes sideways. Also important: Will’s powers started to stir.
Episode 6: Escape from Camazotz
Directed by executive producer Shawn Levy, and apparently a heart-wrecker. Ross says this is the biggest of the three and the performances wreck them every time they screen it.
"It’s the biggest episode of the three - and the performances make us cry every time we watch it."
Episode 7: The Bridge...
Co-directed by the Duffer Brothers and Shawn Levy. They’re keeping plot details close to the vest, but Ross called it one of the most emotional chapters of the season outside of the finale. Translation: get tissues.
Finale update: runtime, theaters, and timing
Netflix has locked the series finale details. Episode 8, The Rightside Up, runs 2 hours and 5 minutes and premieres simultaneously on Netflix and in select North American theaters on New Year’s Eve at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT (per Entertainment Weekly). More than 500 theaters will play it in a limited engagement from December 31 through January 1, and Netflix set up ST5Finale.com so you can check participating locations. If that timing sounds specific, that’s the point: by New Year’s Day, the finale will be playing in theaters and streaming at home.
"Getting to see it on the big screen, with incredible sound, picture, and a room full of fans, feels like the perfect - dare we say b*tchin' - way to celebrate the end of this adventure."
Big picture: tone check
Volume 1 (released November 26, 2025) already leaned into character work, especially for Will Byers. Based on Ross’s preview, Volume 2 goes darker and creepier, with a heavy emotional swing in Episodes 6 and 7. You’ve got six days from the Christmas drop to compose yourself before the final two-hour goodbye.
Quick facts you might be looking for
- Show: Stranger Things | Creators: The Duffer Brothers | Network: Netflix | Seasons: 5
- Main cast: Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Maya Hawke, Joe Keery
- Volume 1: Released November 26, 2025 (four episodes)
- Volume 2: Episodes 5-7 arrive December 25, 2025 (directors include Frank Darabont; Shawn Levy; Duffers + Levy on Episode 7)
- Finale: Episode 8, The Rightside Up - 2h05m, premieres December 31 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on Netflix and in select theaters; limited theatrical engagement runs Dec 31-Jan 1; check locations at ST5Finale.com
- Scores right now: IMDb 8.6/10, Rotten Tomatoes 90%
So, what’s your move: binge Volume 2 on the couch, catch the finale with a crowd, or both?