Stranger Things fans have received the ultimate gift this holiday season, as Netflix will release the second volume of the show’s massive final season tomorrow, on Christmas Day. This release strategy gives audiences just enough time to finish their meals before returning to the dark and dangerous world of the Upside Down. The second volume of Stranger Things 5 consists of three episodes designed to lay the groundwork for the series finale, which is set to premiere in theaters and on the streaming service simultaneously on New Year’s Eve. The final battle against the villainous Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) is finally here, and the stakes have never been higher. Still, regardless of which characters survive the upcoming confrontation or how the story ultimately concludes, the fifth season of Stranger Things is already a massive hit.
Netflix has officially revealed that Volume 1 of Stranger Things Season 5 has surpassed 100 million views. We did the math, and according to data reported by the streamer covering the first four weeks since the premiere, the latest batch of episodes has accumulated exactly 102,600,000 views. This staggering figure places the series on a trajectory to potentially shatter the platform’s all-time records. For context, Stranger Things Season 4 accumulated roughly 140 million views over a much longer 91-day period. Volume 1 of the final season has approached that number in less than a month, with only half the season available so far.
It Is Easy to Understand the Hype for Stranger Things
Image courtesy of Netflix
It is impossible to overstate just how critical Stranger Things has been to the global dominance of Netflix. The series arguably powered the company into the media juggernaut it is today by offering a perfect storm of heartfelt drama, distinct visual flair, and heavy doses of 1980s nostalgia. Since its quiet debut in 2016, the show has evolved from a small homage to Steven Spielberg and Stephen King into a massive franchise that anchors the streamer’s entire business model. That’s because the mix of Amblin-esque adventure and genuine horror elements created a four-quadrant hit that appealed to every demographic.
Over the course of nearly a decade, audiences have watched the core group of kids from Hawkins grow up in real time. This long-term investment in the characters adds an emotional weight to the final season of Stranger Things that very few other television shows can match. Plus, as the world became more complex and the mythology of the Upside Down deepened with the introduction of the Mind Flayer and Vecna, watching new episodes as soon as possible is the only way to avoid spoilers. Finally, the fifth season of Stranger Things marks the end of an era for streaming television. Consequently, everybody is eager to know how the Duffer Brothers will wrap up the saga, and that curiosity is driving massive engagement.
Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 2 releases on Netflix on December 25th. The series finale will follow on December 31st.
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