Will Byers has unlocked his new powers, and he seems ready for his final epic encounter with Vecna. While Netflix has confirmed a theatrical release for the Stranger Things 5 finale in the US and Canada, a large section of Indian fans is demanding that the streaming giant bring the grand conclusion to the country’s cinema screens as well.
Stranger Things is not just a hit series in India anymore, it has become nothing short of a cultural phenomenon. With a reported budget that rivals Hollywood blockbusters, the fifth and final season is poised to be an event of true cinematic scale.
The two-hour-long finale for Season 5 will premiere simultaneously on the platform and in select theatres in the US and Canada on New Year’s Eve. For fans in those territories, the option to gather, share popcorn, and witness the culmination of the Hawkins saga on a massive screen is a perfect send-off.
But we can’t say the same about the Indian fanbase.
Despite the show’s enormous popularity in India, Netflix currently shows no interest in dropping the highly anticipated finale in the country’s theatres. As a result, a massive portion of the show’s fanbase in India has flooded social media with comments requesting the streamer to release the finale in Indian cinemas too.
Given how Season 5 Volume 1 ended, the scale of the upcoming volumes will surely be larger than ever before. The Duffer Brothers have always crafted the series with a theatrical sensibility. Watching the final, high-octane battle against the Upside Down and its creator, Vecna, on a phone or laptop feels like a disservice to the creators’ vision and the show’s massive scale.
Plus, India is a crucial growth market for Netflix, with the platform increasingly localising content to appeal to the audience. Extending the limited theatrical strategy to India would be a powerful gesture recognising the passion and size of the local fanbase. Moreover, we don’t have to remind anyone how prominent the series has become in the country.
By granting a theatrical release in India, even a limited one, Netflix could truly make Indian fans ecstatic, giving the finale the “event cinema” status it deserves. Stay tuned for more updates.