Stranger Things Finale Outgrosses Netflix’s Biggest Hit at the Box Office

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Netflix and movie theaters haven’t always gotten along, but things started to improve in 2025. Beyond the usual limited releases to qualify films like Frankenstein and Jay Kelly for awards, Netflix began working more closely with theaters. For example, Greta Gerwig’s new Chronicles of Narnia movie will be shown in IMAX theaters before becoming available on Netflix, and Kpop Demon Hunters surprisingly became Netflix’s first number one movie in theaters. The year ended strongly with a theatrical release of the Stranger Things finale over the New Year’s holiday, which proved to be very popular with audiences.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Stranger Things finale brought in an estimated $20 to $25 million during its limited two-day run in movie theaters. This is a better result than the $18 million earned by Kpop Demon Hunters over the summer. However, the $25 million figure represents money spent on concessions like popcorn and drinks, not traditional ticket purchases. This means Netflix doesn’t have to share the revenue with theaters – the theaters get to keep all of the concession money themselves.

Stranger Things’ Box Office Success Explained

What’s really remarkable about the strong turnout for the Stranger Things finale is that it happened at the same time the episode was released on Netflix. Even though fans could have watched it from home, many chose to see the final chapter on the big screen. This isn’t too surprising, considering Stranger Things always felt like a movie with its grand ideas and exciting action. Sharing that experience with a crowd also made the ending even more memorable.

The recent releases of the Stranger Things finale and Kpop Demon Hunters in theaters seemed like a test for Netflix, and the company is likely happy with how well they performed. The box office numbers show that these kinds of special events can be very profitable, and Netflix will likely explore similar opportunities in the future. It remains to be seen whether they’ll start doing this more often, or continue to choose projects carefully. Both Stranger Things and Kpop Demon Hunters are incredibly popular, making them relatively safe bets for a theatrical release, but not every title on Netflix will attract the same level of audience interest.

New Year’s weekend isn’t usually a blockbuster time for movie releases, with recent films like We Bury the Dead and The Dutchman performing modestly. This made it a good opportunity for a special event like the Stranger Things showcase. Netflix was also competing with popular holiday movies that were still in theaters, such as Zootopia 2 and Avatar: Fire and Ash, both of which had been very successful. Despite this strong competition, Stranger Things performed well, and may have even earned more over the two-day weekend than Avatar: Fire and Ash (which made $23.7 million during that same period).

2025 could be a turning point for both Netflix and movie theaters. With Netflix now owning Warner Bros., the two are expected to collaborate more closely. While some movie fans are worried about how this deal will affect traditional theater releases, the successful limited theatrical run of the Stranger Things finale is a positive sign. If Netflix continues to have success releasing films in theaters, it’s likely they’ll continue to do so.

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2026-01-02 19:13