SummarySet in the 1980s Indiana, a young boy named Will (Noah Schnapp) disappears into thin air and the search for him that includes Will's best friend Mike (Finn Wolfhard), leads to top secret experiments and a strange little girl (Millie Brown) in the woods.
Created By:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
❮ Stranger Things
Season 5
5 Seasons
Season Premiere:
Nov 26, 2025
Metascore
Generally Favorable
71
User score
Mixed or Average
5.4
My Score
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Season Episodes
Top Cast
Metascore
Generally Favorable
75% Positive
24 Reviews
24 Reviews
25% Mixed
8 Reviews
8 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
Nov 26, 2025
91
Though it sometimes clings a little too tightly to sensibilities of seasons past, "Stranger Things" Season 5A is a rewarding, tightly paced showing that's worth the extra-long wait.
Nov 26, 2025
80
Stranger Thing Season 5 Part 1— streaming now — is full of gaudy special effects, nonsensical lore, and insane plot devices, and yet you will still somehow fall under the show’s spell. That’s because it was never the spectacle or super-sized episode run times that won audiences over. No, the best part of Stranger Things is still, as it’s always been, the sheer humanity of its characters and the incandescent talent of its young cast.
User score
Mixed or Average
47% Positive
258 Ratings
258 Ratings
17% Mixed
92 Ratings
92 Ratings
36% Negative
196 Ratings
196 Ratings
Mar 15, 2026
10
Best season ever Very emotional pay off to character
Great pay of to character
Fun to watch
Mar 7, 2026
10
I have been using Metacritic for longer than I can remember and was never motivated to register until now just so I can post this review on Stranger Things Season 5. After just concluding Season 5 I can confidently say that this show and this final season are amoung my favorite shows and favorite final seasons of all time. Over 5 seasons I truly came to know, like, and care for every character of this show. Season 5 and in particular the last episode of the season really wrapped the story up in a action-packed yet heartfelt, complete and satisfying conclusion. Every main characters story arc was fully concluded more completely then any movie or show that I can ever recall seeing. It had me laughing, crying and cheering in equal measure. A show that can successfully evoke that rangle of emotion out of me deserves a full 10 stars in my book. I registered and wrote this review because I feel I owe it to the fans of the first four seasons who may be thinking about skipping season 5 because of the bad user reviews. My own brother bad talked season 5 so much that I almost skipped it myself. I am not sure why this show did not score higher by so many people. Sometimes I feel this can happen because of herd mentality where it almost becomes cool to go with the crowd and hate on something that in reality deserves praise. If you watched the first four seasons, and have grown to like the story and love the characters, then do not rob yourself of the experience that Season 5 delivers. If you have never watched Stranger Things at all....then what are you waiting for!?
Nov 26, 2025
80
Their original kids’ circumstances haven’t changed all that much, but their outlooks have, making for unpredictable twists in their powers, strengths and alliances.
Nov 26, 2025
75
It’s genuine and human and real, and millions of people are going to watch it and that’s quite cool. It’s moments like that which make it easy to forgive those plotting issues.
Dec 1, 2025
68
“Stranger Things” lacks the wide-eyed, Spielbergian wonder of its early seasons. But even in its bloated, current form, there are still some charming character moments, bits of good humor and judicious use of ‘80s pop tunes (Tiffany’s “I Think We’re Alone Now” gets a spooky workout).
Nov 26, 2025
60
While some of the decisions and storytelling methods might be divisive, there's still time for Stranger Things to stick the landing.
Nov 26, 2025
40
But it’s not just Hawkins that feels cut off from the world. It’s Stranger Things itself, a show now sealed in an airless, impenetrable bubble of stagnant characters and snarled lore.
Jan 8, 2026
10
What an incredible show! I had such low expectations given how terrible Hollywood has treated the characters and stories we love. But my God, the Duffer Brothers totally stuck the landing. Give them Star Wats, give the Star Trek, give them every series we love and let them fix it! This entire Stranger Things season was actually awesome, it’s not as good as 1 or season 3, but omg it really was an incredible ride, I teared up all throughout and the last scenes were so emotionally powerful! We got to journey with these amazingly written characters and stories. They respected all the characters we love! The action and CGI were top notch, there is literally nothing else you could ask for! Definitely watch the show if you like the series! What a fun ride! Can’t wait for more!
Jan 22, 2026
3
This has to be one of the worst final seasons of any show I've ever watched. Gaping plotholes, underwhelming final battle, terrible acting, long speeches delivered in crucial time sensitive situations. The Duffer Brothers just threw spaghetti on the wall and it did not stick.....waste of time and ruined what was once a gripping, well written show
Jan 12, 2026
3
The first bulk released of this season was decent. A good build up to a final close of the show.
But once the 2nd and Finale came out, it was completely down hill.
Every 15 min, even during life threatening situation, there is two of the casts suddenly having a heartfelt one-on-one to each other. I got so fed up with them in the end that i scrubbed trough it. It was so cringe and beyond dumb. And was that Will coming out of the closet as gay? I dunno.. I skipped the whole tearjerk.
The actors are also considerably b-class and seem bored and has been so since season 3. They even seem to be fed up with the "I Got it" highlights which is at the most cringiest due to poor writing.
Even Millie who killed it the first season absolutely ****. Only David Harbor and Joe Keery has been consistent from beginning to end.
I can add that the duo-dynamic tension driven quarrel between Steve and Dustin keeps the show better, but to no avail. It can't save it.
Just lazy trash writing, littered with woke crap here and there and generally a poor ending.
The Magic is long gone..
