← Back to articles

Stranger Things Season 5 Breaks Records and Dominates Media and Theater

December 31, 2025

With the highly anticipated finale of Stranger Things about to premiere, the series has already shattered multiple records both on Netflix and Broadway.

Stranger Things launched nearly a decade ago and quickly achieved Vecna’s dream of worldwide dominance. Over five seasons, the show has grown exponentially in size, scope, and popularity, transforming its cast into global superstars and building a vast media and merchandise empire.

Record-Breaking Release and Screenings

The finale isn't just available on Netflix today; it's also screening in cinemas, with over 1 million tickets sold so far. This comes after the success of Volumes 1 and 2 of Season 5, which continue to break streaming records alongside Seasons 1 through 4.

Netflix's Most-Watched Christmas Day

During the holiday season, Volume 2 of Stranger Things 5 propelled the series to the top of Netflix’s charts, amassing an incredible 34.5 million views. This achievement made December 25, 2025, the most-watched Christmas Day in Netflix history.

Additionally, older seasons saw a resurgence in popularity, remaining in the Top 10 for a record-breaking fifth week:

| Season | Rank | Views | |---------|-------|--------------| | 1 | 5 | 4.8 million | | 4 | 6 | 4.1 million | | 3 | 8 | 3.6 million | | 2 | 9 | 3.6 million |

Top 10 Netflix Titles (December 25, 2025):

  1. Stranger Things 5 – 34.5 million
  2. Emily in Paris Season 5 – 13.3 million
  3. Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable… – 9.2 million
  4. Man Vs Baby: Season 1 – 7.9 million
  5. Stranger Things 1 – 4.8 million
  6. Stranger Things 4 – 4.1 million
  7. Sean Combs: The Reckoning: Season 1 – 3.7 million
  8. Stranger Things 3 – 3.6 million
  9. Stranger Things 2 – 3.6 million
  10. Fireplace for Your Home: Crackling Birchwood Fireplace – 3.2 million

Broadway Success: Stranger Things: The First Shadow

The Broadway adaptation, which delves into Henry Creel’s backstory, experienced remarkable demand during the holiday period. It broke the house record at the Marquis Theatre in New York, grossing over $2.5 million across nine performances.

Ticket sales for both the Broadway and West End productions hit their highest levels since opening, reflecting the series' expanding influence across multiple entertainment platforms.

For more behind-the-scenes and related content, explore the Stranger Things Season 5 soundtrack, and check out our rankings of the best Stranger Things characters and best episodes.