Returning to the end of 2025, Stranger Things season five created a global frenzy, setting records that Netflix may never see broken again for the next hundred years. In its first 24 hours, the series not only topped the charts, but also toppled Netflix and took the top spot in 91 countries, a number that could continue to grow.
According to data from FlixPatrol, the fifth season of the Duffer brothers’ science fiction hit has jumped to the top of the television ratings with a huge lead over all competitors. The long-awaited final season reunites the beloved protagonists for a climactic clash against the monstrous enemies of the Upside Down, including the terrifying Vecna.
In a historic first for Netflix, all four previous seasons of Stranger things simultaneously entered the Top 10 most-watched series globally for the week of November 17 to 23, shortly before the debut of the fifth season. This marks the first time in Netflix history that multiple seasons of a franchise have occupied the Top 10 at the same time.
The demand was such that Netflix’s servers buckled under the stress. Moments after the first four episodes were published, over 14,000 user reports came in, citing platform issues. Within five minutes, Netflix restored the feature, but not before frustration overwhelmed eager fans who had waited years for the finale.
Season five has been dubbed the streaming giant’s “crown jewel,” a testament to the show’s cultural and commercial impact. Picking up after the revelation that the villain Vecna is actually Henry, aka Experiment 001, the new episodes see Eleven’s group fighting to save Hawkins from total annihilation.
The most important moments of the first four episodes left fans speechless:
Max returns, albeit in the subconscious realm of Vecna.
Kali (Experiment 008) makes a surprising reappearance.
And in a stunning sequence, Will awakens new powers and instantly destroys three Demogorgons.
The next three episodes of Stranger Things season five will premiere on December 25, with the finale arriving on December 31, making it an emotional, high-stakes farewell to Netflix’s most iconic original series.
