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The fandom behind hit sci-fi series \u201cStranger Things\u201d is a force to be reckoned with. Netflix said Tuesday that the show\u2019s roughly two-hour finale will be available for viewing in 150 more theaters than previously announced.<\/p>\n
The last episode to the sci-fi show\u2019s final season will be released on Netflix Dec. 31 and in more than 500 theaters<\/a> in the U.S. on Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Previously, the streamer said it would be in more than 350 theaters. <\/p>\n While Netflix has brought show episodes to theaters in the past, it generally releases many of them on its streaming service. Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria said in an interview last month that the decision to bring the \u201cStranger Things\u201d finale to theaters came after a conversation with the show\u2019s creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, and \u201cwe thought it was a really fun way to eventize it.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cYou can watch it at home, you can go out to the theater and watch that last episode … it has amazing cinematic scale,\u201d Bajaria said. <\/p>\n The Duffer brothers told Netflix\u2019s Tudum<\/a> that bringing the finale to theaters is \u201csomething we\u2019ve dreamed about for years.\u201d <\/p>\n \u201cGetting to see it on the big screen, with incredible sound, picture, and a room full of fans, feels like the perfect \u2014 dare we say bitchin\u2019 \u2014 way to celebrate the end of this adventure,\u201d they said. <\/p>\n Already, enthusiasm for the show has been tremendous. Analytics firm Samba TV estimated that 39% of U.S. households that had watched at least one episode of \u201cStranger Things\u201d season 5, had binged all four available episodes within the first 48 hours. Netflix declined to comment on Samba\u2019s data. <\/p>\n After the first four episodes of season 5 were released last Wednesday at 5 p.m., Netflix on TV devices were down for a few minutes. <\/p>\n The next three episodes will be released on Christmas Day, followed by the finale on Dec. 31. <\/p>\n The show\u2019s fourth season ranks as the third most-viewed English language series on the service in its first three months, generating 140.7 million views, according to Netflix. <\/p>\n The show\u2019s throwback to the 1980\u2019s and its themes of friendship and adventure struck a chord with global audiences. It has become one of the most popular franchises<\/a> within Netflix and helped propel the streamer\u2019s business in live events and branding opportunities. <\/p>\n