Entertainment
Stranger Things series: Record viewing figures on Netflix and a historic finale
With its final episode airing on New Year's Eve, Stranger Things is set to end its era, leaving a legacy that extends far beyond the screen.
Nine years after its debut, it has become the most potent cultural phenomenon ever created by Netflix, redefining the concept of an event series in the age of global streaming.
The fifth and final season has already set new records. The first chapter (episodes 1-4), which was available from November 26, became the best debut week for an English-language series on Netflix. The second chapter will be released in Italy on December 26, and the final episode will be available on January 1 at 2:00 AM.
Over 1.2 billion views. record-breaking figure
Netflix announced that the series "Stranger Things" has amassed more than 1.2 billion views, calculated by dividing the total hours watched by the series' total length. This achievement places the series above all other series in Netflix history, surpassing even giants such as "Wednesday" and "Squidward Game."
The fourth season, which premiered in 2022, remains the second-most-watched English-language series in history, while the third season, more than six years after its release, only recently broke into the global top ten. This speaks to the show's extraordinary longevity, which continues to attract new generations of viewers season after season.
Season 5: Record-breaking debut and race for first place in the global rankings
In just 25 days, the first volume of season 5 has amassed 102.6 million views. If it had already been included in the final rankings, it would have ranked ninth among the most-watched series in Netflix history. Given that the platform updates its final rankings 91 days after the release of the last episodes, the season will continue to grow until spring 2026, with a high probability of taking first place in the overall rankings.
The first volume also became the most-watched series of the week in 90 of the 93 countries monitored, which prompted millions of users to rewatch previous seasons. This makes Stranger Things the first Netflix series to have all four seasons in the top 10 worldwide, an unprecedented feat.
The most iconic scenes and most-watched episodes in the show's history
The most-watched moments in the show's history are particularly prominent in the middle seasons. First up is Season 4, Episode 7, where Nancy falls under Vecna's control. Behind it is the beloved scene from the Season 3 finale, where Dustin and Susie sing The NeverEnding Story, which has become the show's signature song.
These scenes show how "Stranger Things" has successfully combined horror, emotion, and pop-music nostalgia to create moments that have become widely recognized beyond the story itself.
Stranger Things and music: historic hits rediscovered around the world
The show's cultural impact has also been reflected in the world of music. In season 4, Keith Bush's "Running Up That Hill" entered the US Top 10 for the first time in 38 years. Metallica's "Master of Puppets" made its first appearance in the UK Top 10 in 2022.
From Eggo to Dungeons & Dragons: A remarkable impact on consumption
The series "Stranger Things" has also influenced everyday consumption. In the US, Eggo, Eleven's favorite food, has experienced a real boom, with Kellogg's reporting a 14% increase in sales in the fourth quarter of 2017 and a 9.4% increase in the first months of 2018.
Notable results: jobs, publishing, and popular science
The series has also had a significant impact on the economy. Since 2016, the series has created more than 8,000 jobs in the United States. The franchise has also expanded beyond the screen, with more than 3.1 million books, comics, and publications related to the series sold.
Live events, film, and theater
As of 2022, Stranger Things: The Experience has sold 850,000 tickets in Los Angeles, New York, London, and Paris. In cities around the world connected to the events of season 5, more than 300,000 fans participated in 32 cities across 23 countries.
Talent factory: the stars of "Stranger Things."
"Stranger Things" has launched the careers of its young stars. Millie Bobby Brown has become a global star, while Sadie Sink, Joseph Quinn, Maya Hawke, Finn Wolfhard, and Joe Keery have built notable careers in film, music, and theater.
