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Confused about ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5’s unusual release schedule? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered

Here’s when each ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 episode will drop so you don’t miss a thing

The stage is ready for an epic showdown between Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) and the heroes of Hawkins as Netflix gets ready for the much anticipated 'Stranger Things' Season 5. Fans were hoping to finally get answers to all the show’s mysteries, but Netflix is releasing the final season in parts instead. If you’re wondering when the last chapter will actually drop, here’s a simple breakdown of the release schedule.

'Stranger Things' Season 5 Volume 1 releases on Wednesday, November 26 at 8 pm ET and includes four episodes, titled 'The Crawl,' 'The Vanishing of…,' 'The Turnbow Trap,' and 'Sorcerer.' While the full title ofeEpisode 2 hasn't been confirmed, fans believe it will be 'The Vanishing of Holly Wheeler,' especially since Holly has been recast and teased to have a bigger role. Creator duo Matt and Ross Duffer revealed runtimes for Volume 1, totaling about four and a half hours, with episode 1 being 1 hour and 8 minutes, episode 2 having the runtime of 54 minutes, episode 3 spanning 1 hour and 6 minutes, and episode 4 being the longest at 1 hour and 23 minutes, as per CBR.

'Stranger Things' Season 5 Volume 2 will release on Thursday, December 25 at 8 pm ET and includes three episodes, 'Shock Jock,' 'Escape from Camazotz,' and 'The Bridge.' While the exact runtimes haven't been confirmed, they're expected to be similar to earlier episodes. The final episode of 'Stranger Things' Season 5, 'The Rightside Up,' premieres on Wednesday, December 31 at 8 pm ET. As the last chapter in the Hawkins story, the finale will release simultaneously worldwide and will also screen in more than 350 theaters across the US and Canada at the same time. 

Rumors also suggested the Duffer Brothers proposed a weekly release for 'Stranger Things' Season 5, but the duo later confirmed this was never true. Instead, the three-part release plan was set from the start and shaped how the story was written. Unlike Season 4's pandemic-driven split, season 5 was intentionally structured so volume 1 functions as its own "mega-movie," while volumes 2 and 3 form the second half. 

Notably, ahead of its much-anticipated release, Netflix has released the final trailer for 'Stranger Things' Season 5 Volume 1, as per Wion. The original group, Will (Noah Schnapp), Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), are seen planning to stop Vecna's apocalyptic threat as all four Upside Down gates remain open and chaos takes over Hawkins, prompting military involvement. Meanwhile, Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) trains with Jim Hopper (David Harbour), pushing her powers to the limit with the goal of seeing "Vecna's heart on a platter." The trailer also shows Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) rushing toward a closing gateway and Will still psychically tied to the Upside Down.