Thomas Butt is a senior writer. An avid film connoisseur, Thomas actively logs his film consumption on Letterboxd and vows to connect with many more cinephiles through the platform. He is immensely passionate about the work of Martin Scorsese, John Ford, and Albert Brooks. His work can be read on Collider and Taste of Cinema. He also writes for his own blog, The Empty Theater, on Substack. He is also a big fan of courtroom dramas and DVD commentary tracks. For Thomas, movie theaters are a second home. A native of Wakefield, MA, he is often found scrolling through the scheduled programming on Turner Classic Movies and making more room for his physical media collection. Thomas habitually increases his watchlist and jumps down a YouTube rabbit hole of archived interviews with directors and actors. He is inspired to write about film to uphold the medium’s artistic value and to express his undying love for the art form. Thomas looks to cinema as an outlet to better understand the world, human emotions, and himself.
The end of Stranger Things not only marks the conclusion of one of the most iconic television shows of the last decade, but it also signals the end of an era for its distributor and studio, Netflix. The streamer has been undergoing rapid changes in its business and creative direction, and now that the highly-anticipated final season of the sci-fi series from Matt and Ross Duffer has ended, it will only expedite these alterations for the company, which has delved further into live events, podcasts, and other forms of media. If Netflix wants to keep riding the wave of popularity that reached new heights with Stranger Things, quality over quantity will be the necessary path.
‘Stranger Things’ Finale Marks the End of an Era for Netflix
Netflix is typically averse to wide theatrical releases for its movies, but Stranger Things was just too seismic and commercially viable to pass up the opportunity to turn this television series into one of 2025’s biggest cinematic events. Season 5 went out with a bang, with almost every episode running over an hour. The finale, “Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up,” clocked in at a whopping two hours and eight minutes, and a limited theatrical release for fans to cherish the show’s last dance together at sold-out screenings.
The fanfare given to Stranger Things’ final season, which did not see all its episodes dropped on one day, is appropriate for a show that defined an entire streaming service. Decades later, we’ll still remember Stranger Things as Netflix’s calling card. For one, it’s becoming increasingly harder to remember contemporary shows due to the expansive volume Netflix has cultivated. With the novelty of a streamer producing original shows gone and the crowded nature of the platform, it’s difficult for even the most acclaimed shows like The Crown, Beef, and The Diplomat to stand as an autonomous work rather than just more Netflix fodder.
Related ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Finale Review: Netflix’s Biggest Show Ever Saves the Season’s Best Episode for the Very End
The Duffer Brothers sure know how to close out a campaign.
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The ending to any beloved series is always bittersweet, and the euphoria of an exciting climax involving the team’s defense of planet Earth against Vecna’s (Jamie Campbell Bower) quest for global destruction could get clouded by the melancholy of losing new episodes. For Netflix, its conclusion puts the streamer at a crossroads for the future. As of now, there is no Netflix original with the passion, universal appeal, and recognition of Stranger Things, even when considering current powerhouses like Squid Game, which has a relatively niche audience compared to its fellow Netflix original. In the last decade, where sequels, reboots, and IP extensions have taken over film and television, the Duffer Brothers’ five-season saga is perhaps the only original story that has entered the monoculture, although it does wear its obvious influences and homages on its sleeve.
Netflix Faces Stiff Competition From Streamers Like Apple TV and Prime Video
With subscription fees continuing to rise, the emergence of formidable competitors like Prime Video and Apple TV, and the conclusion of a headline series, Netflix could see significant subscriber cancellations in the near future. The proliferation of original shows is coming back to haunt the streamer in a post-Stranger Things world, where there is no clear selling point for non-subscribers. Many of its staunch practices, from dropping all episodes in a season simultaneously to restricting the theatrical window for its movies, have caused some ire in the pop culture world. Competitors have capitalized on Netflix’s mistakes wisely, with Apple TV rolling out the red carpet for its most buzzy shows and reducing the content field, and Prime Video, along with Amazon subsidiary MGM, showing a commitment to theatrical exhibition. In particular, Apple sells itself on the prestige of its critically acclaimed shows like Severance and Ted Lasso.
It might be impossible for Netflix to shake off its reputation of being an endless content factory that prefers quantity to quality. The makeup of its catalog hinders any effort for the next Stranger Things to naturally inspire a massive fanbase. The company’s foray into live events and podcasts signals that Netflix’s goals have changed, and because other streamers have topped them in the original programming department, it makes sense that the powers that be would double down on airing comedy shows, podcasts, awards ceremonies, and NFL games in an attempt to differentiate itself and reach as many people as possible.
Regardless, there’s still a clear window for Netflix to attract a mass audience for a show like Stranger Things — the key is that it just has to slow down. By limiting the number of original shows that get greenlit, you’re not only putting more care and attention into a few shows, but you’re also exhibiting care for artistically-minded content to your subscribers. Netflix is in the fortunate position of being able to afford to give autonomous visionaries like the Duffer Brothers carte blanche. When studios began viewing unconventional arthouse films as financial risks, Netflix was there as a home for filmmakers frustrated by Hollywood’s creative restrictions.
After ‘Stranger Things’ Series Finale, Netflix Needs To Evolve and Adapt
An immersive, gripping show that dominates water cooler conversations is the ultimate antidote to bad press. During the run-up to the Stranger Things finale, it’s easy to forget about Netflix’s complicated standing with the public, given the tentative merger with Warner Bros., which threatens to damage the theatrical industry and tarnish the historical legacy of the film studio. From a viewer’s perspective, Netflix has lost its luster as the preeminent streaming service, primarily due to the risks and innovations carried out by its competition. It needs to adapt its business strategy, as resting on the laurels of the brand name doesn’t have the same effect.
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With the Duffers heading to Paramount, they’ll be moving on from Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), the Upside Down, and the whole band of characters from Hawkins, Indiana. However, an unknown spin-off is in the works at Netflix without the showrunners’ guidance. In all likelihood, audiences won’t be as fond of any Stranger Things IP without its ingenious creators, and it would signal that Netflix is still chasing its own shadow rather than trying to evolve. It’s time for a new era for Netflix, something that will benefit the company and audiences alike.
Stranger Things Like TV-14 Drama Mystery Horror Science Fiction Release Date 2016 – 2025-00-00 Network Netflix Showrunner Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer 7 Images Close Cast See All Millie Bobby Brown Jane ‘Eleven’ Hopper Finn Wolfhard Mike Wheeler Where to watch Close WHERE TO WATCH Streaming
When a young boy vanishes, a small town uncovers a mystery involving secret experiments, terrifying supernatural forces and one strange little girl.
Writers Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock Creator(s) Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer Powered by Expand Collapse
