The fandom behind hit sci-fi sequence “Stranger Things” is a pressure to be reckoned with. Netflix mentioned Tuesday that the present’s roughly two-hour finale might be accessible for viewing in 150 extra theaters than beforehand introduced.
The final episode to the sci-fi present’s closing season might be launched on Netflix Dec. 31 and in additional than 500 theaters within the U.S. on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Beforehand, the streamer mentioned it will be in additional than 350 theaters.
Whereas Netflix has introduced present episodes to theaters up to now, it typically releases a lot of them on its streaming service. Chief Content material Officer Bela Bajaria mentioned in an interview final month that the choice to convey the “Stranger Things” finale to theaters got here after a dialog with the present’s creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, and “we thought it was a really fun way to eventize it.”
“You can watch it at home, you can go out to the theater and watch that last episode … it has amazing cinematic scale,” Bajaria mentioned.
The Duffer brothers instructed Netflix’s Tudum that bringing the finale to theaters is “something we’ve dreamed about for years.”
“Getting to see it on the big screen, with incredible sound, picture, and a room full of fans, feels like the perfect — dare we say bitchin’ — way to celebrate the end of this adventure,” they mentioned.
Already, enthusiasm for the present has been great. Analytics agency Samba TV estimated that 39% of U.S. households that had watched at the least one episode of “Stranger Things” season 5, had binged all 4 accessible episodes inside the first 48 hours. Netflix declined to touch upon Samba’s knowledge.
After the primary 4 episodes of season 5 had been launched final Wednesday at 5 p.m., Netflix on TV units had been down for a couple of minutes.
The following three episodes might be launched on Christmas Day, adopted by the finale on Dec. 31.
The present’s fourth season ranks because the third most-viewed English language sequence on the service in its first three months, producing 140.7 million views, in keeping with Netflix.
The present’s throwback to the 1980’s and its themes of friendship and journey struck a chord with international audiences. It has turn into some of the fashionable franchises inside Netflix and helped propel the streamer’s enterprise in stay occasions and branding alternatives.
On Tuesday, Netflix introduced many model partnerships and client merchandise with numerous retailers, together with a KFC Stranger Issues Burger and Stranger Wings within the U.Ok., a 2,593-piece Lego set and a Care Bears collaboration the place Grumpy Bear is dressed as a Demogorgon. Marian Lee, Netflix’s chief advertising and marketing officer, mentioned in an announcement that it was “the largest collection of products and experiences in ‘Stranger Things’ history and one of our biggest campaigns yet.” Netflix has at the least 100 client product collaborations worldwide associated to “Stranger Things’” closing season, in keeping with an individual aware of the matter who declined to be named.
“For nearly a decade, the Stranger Things franchise has made an undeniable cultural impact and leaves a lasting legacy,” Lee mentioned.
Along with “Stranger Things” merchandise, Netflix has hosted fan occasions across the present, together with a motorcycle trip in collaboration with non-profit CicLAvia on Melrose Avenue on Nov. 23, the place greater than 50,000 followers participated and had been inspired to decorate up in 80’s apparel or as “Stranger Things” characters.
