Sedona Sweginnis | Newsroom Manager & Head Editor
January 9, 2026
After nearly nine years, the beloved Stranger Things series came to a close on December 31, 2025. Since the first episode aired on July 15, 2016, millions of fans from around the world have been entranced by the masterfully written and produced series, causing the Netflix original to become one of the most successful series in the past decade.
An incredible success, Stranger Things has made over $1 billion in streaming revenue since 2020 alone, well on its way to one of the top grossing TV shows of all time. Now that the entire series is available to stream, the show is predicted to soar to $5 billion in the relatively near future. Furthermore, screening the series finale, “The Rightside Up,” in theaters on New Year’s Eve alone brought in $25 million. In addition to its direct streaming revenue from its over 1.2 billion total views, Stranger Things is attributed with attracting over 2 million more Netflix subscribers from around the world since 2020. Amidst this vast success, the Duffer brothers have announced plans for a spin-off relating to the incident in the cave with Henry, later Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), when he first got his powers.
Such immense prosperity inspires a deeper dive into the driving force behind such an acclaimed series. Brothers and writers of the show, Matt and Ross Duffer’s incredible creativity and storytelling, as well as the breathtaking special effects, are only a few of the many bricks in this show’s palace of success. The extraordinary on-screen chemistry between young prodigies who got their big break nine years ago on this very set, such as Millie Bobby Brown, and established cinema sensations, such as Winona Ryder, makes the show engaging and allows the audience to feel as if they really know and grew up alongside the characters. Watching the characters face challenges together and grow closer throughout the series gives a tangible portrayal of genuine friendship, both on and off stage.
Paired well with the talented acting, the Duffer brothers skillfully developed a unique story that bridges between numerous genres, creating a show that appeals to an unparalleled audience of various ages, preferences, and backgrounds. The effective balance of heartfelt connections, coming-of-age narratives, thrilling horror, intriguing drama, and epic sci-fi battles creates a unique blend for success that anyone can enjoy.
Furthermore, the delicate discussion of numerous universal themes and relatable portrayal of human struggles give the show additional depth and appeal that further contribute to its success. A dedicated Stranger Things fan since the beginning, sophomore Danny Yazbek, expressed that a major driving force behind the widespread success of the series is that “it sums up life.” Despite the fantastical aspects of the show, the overall themes, challenges, and emotions that the characters experience skillfully address those of everyday life, allowing the show to offer comforting and relatable content.
Although the majority of the show has incredibly high ratings, some controversy arose over the series finale. While many fans were happy to see all the beloved characters alive and well at the conclusion of the series after five seasons of countless near-death experiences, many fans, including SCHS freshman Trenton Rea were disappointed by the “too-perfect” ending.
Rea expressed his view that “they did not wrap up a 9 year show well,” believing that the final battle against Vecna was too short, and that there were too many unanswered questions. Similarly, as Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) was the only main character to appear to die, although her true fate was left open-ended, many fans, including Rea, protested that the finale conformed to a traditional “happily ever after.” This in tandem with perceived Easter-eggs led fans, who were reluctant to let go of the cherished series, created the “Conformity Gate” theory, which gained significant traction on social media. This theory proposed that the series finale “The Rightside Up” was not the real ending and that a secret ninth episode, the real finale, would release on January 7, 2026.
Without the release of another episode, “Conformity Gate” was debunked. In the end, the Duffer brothers wrapped up their masterpiece with an unexpected, but welcome, happy ending. The writers explained that they knew from season one that they would end the show how it started, with the friends playing Dungeons & Dragons in the basement. Although there are some unanswered questions, these appear to be intentional so that the audience can use their own imagination to contribute to the ending.
Overall, after nine years, Stranger Things has come to a close, but the immense success of the series has only just begun. The engaging and relatable story that has something for everyone will undoubtedly remain a staple show for many years to come.
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