After nearly a decade, Netflix has brought the curtain down on one of its most defining series. The final episode of Stranger Things season five arrived on the streaming platform in the early hours of New Year's Day, 2026, marking the end of the 1980s-set sci-fi phenomenon.
An Epic Conclusion Without a Post-Credits Tease
Fans who stayed up to watch the two-hour-plus finale were treated to the climactic battle against Vecna and the resolution of the Upside Down threat. However, many were left wondering if the series, often compared to the Marvel Cinematic Universe for its fan service, would include a post-credits scene to hint at future spin-offs. The answer is definitive: the Stranger Things season five finale does not feature a traditional post-credits scene.
Instead, the epic confrontation concludes around the episode's midpoint, making way for an extensive epilogue. This segment includes a significant 18-month time jump, showing the fates of the core Hawkins gang as they return to school and the military departs. Viewers catch up with Lucas, Max, Will, Dustin, Mike, Robin, Steve, Jonathan, Nancy, Hopper, and Joyce, witnessing their lives after the chaos.
A Poignant and Hand-Drawn Credits Sequence
Rather than a tease for what's next, the show's creators, the Duffer Brothers, opted for a nostalgic tribute. After the final story moment—showing Will watching his younger sister become the new Dungeon Master—a special credits sequence begins.
This sequence features a series of hand-drawn cartoon images, styled like pages from a Dungeons & Dragons campaign book. It revisits iconic moments from the entire series, including:
- Eleven, Dustin, Lucas, and Mike in a group hug.
- Joyce Byers communicating with Will through the Christmas lights.
- Maps of key locations and character profiles, listing Will as a 'magic user'.
The Perfect Musical Send-Off with David Bowie
Accompanying this visual montage is David Bowie's original version of 'Heroes'. The song choice is deeply poignant, as Peter Gabriel's cover famously scored the emotional season one scene where Will was believed dead. Actor Joe Keery, who plays Steve Harrington, convinced the creators to use Bowie's original track for the finale.
Co-creator Ross Duffer explained the decision, stating, "Once Joe said that, we immediately knew that was the right song to end the show on because it is, in some ways, an anthem for Stranger Things. To use the original Bowie version just felt right and fitting for the conclusion."
The final season was released in three parts, with part one landing in November 2025 and the second part following after Christmas, leading to the New Year's Day finale. Stranger Things is now available to stream in its entirety on Netflix.
