Stranger Things 5 Reviews Show Huge Split Between Critics & Fans Scores

The reviews for Stranger Things 5 are coming in, and opinions are split. This season marks the end of the popular sci-fi series, wrapping up the story of a small town in Indiana and its struggles with the terrifying alternate dimension called The Upside Down. Although the show has been a huge success for Netflix, the final season is getting a mixed reception so far.

I’ve been following the reaction to the first episodes of Stranger Things 5, and it’s interesting to see a bit of a disconnect. While critics seem to be enjoying it – it currently has an 84% score on Rotten Tomatoes – it’s the lowest score the show has ever received from critics. It sounds like fans at home might be feeling differently, and there’s a growing divide in how everyone’s reacting. It’s making me even more eager to see it and form my own opinion!

Viewers seem to really enjoy the recent episodes, giving them a 92% audience score. This is 8% higher than the critics’ score.

Looking at past seasons, the biggest difference between what critics and viewers thought of Stranger Things was in Season 2, where critics rated it four percent higher than the audience did. This is the first time a season of the show has actually been better received by audiences than by critics.

Here’s a rundown of all the seasons of Stranger Things released so far, along with their ratings from critics and audiences on Rotten Tomatoes.

  • Season 1 – Critics: 97% / Audience: 96%
  • Season 2 – Critics: 94% / Audience: 90%
  • Season 3 – Critics: 89% /  Audience: 86%
  • Season 4 – Critics: 89% / Audience: 89%
  • Season 5 (after four episodes) – Critics: 84% / 92%

The final season of Stranger Things will release its next three episodes on Netflix on December 25th. The last episodes, completing the series, will follow a week later on December 31st. This thrilling conclusion sees the people of Hawkins, Indiana, battling the villainous Vecna and the creatures from the terrifying Upside Down.

Why Are The Strange Things 5 Reviews Scores So Low?

The difference between what critics and fans are saying about Stranger Things 5 might seem strange if you’re a fan of the show.

Many critics feel the first four episodes of Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 try to do too much at once. Because these episodes needed to set up the rest of the final season, some viewers found them to be a bit crowded with information and events.

Just the first four episodes of the show threw a lot at Team Hawkins: a dangerous connection opened between their town and the terrifying Upside Down, a beloved character revealed a shocking side, and Vecna kidnapped several important characters. It’s been a whirlwind!

Now that the groundwork is established, let’s hope the final season of Stranger Things focuses more on action and storytelling that both critics and fans will enjoy.

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2025-11-27 23:35