With Stranger Things Season 5 just months away, speculation around the final chapter of Netflix’s sci-fi juggernaut is reaching a fever pitch. Recently, a leak claimed the upcoming episodes would each run nearly two hours, with the series finale allegedly clocking in at a massive three hours. But co-creator Ross Duffer has stepped in to set the record straight—and fans might be relieved to hear what he had to say.
Ross Duffer Shuts Down Runtime Speculation
The rumored episode lengths, which circulated widely on social media, suggested that Stranger Things was leaning into a near-movie format for every episode. This wouldn’t have been entirely surprising—Season 4 featured longer episodes across the board, with the finale running over two hours. However, Ross Duffer took to his Instagram stories to directly address the leak, writing “lol not even close to accurate” under a screenshot of the alleged runtimes.
This simple but clear response debunks the idea that each installment of Season 5 will require viewers to carve out an entire evening. While Duffer didn’t offer specifics, his comment suggests that while Season 5 episodes may be longer than average TV episodes, they won’t consistently hit the feature-length mark.
What This Means for the Final Season
Season 5 marks the final act of Stranger Things, wrapping up nearly a decade’s worth of storylines, character arcs, and supernatural mysteries. The pressure to deliver a satisfying conclusion is immense—and naturally, some fans assumed longer runtimes would be necessary to tie everything together. Netflix’s choice to release the season in three volumes added fuel to that speculation, as did past comments from the Duffer Brothers suggesting a “Return of the King” style ending, complete with multiple character farewells.
Still, longer doesn’t always mean better. By keeping episodes at a manageable length, the show can maintain its rhythm, pacing, and episodic identity. A finale approaching three hours could risk blurring the lines between TV and film, making individual episodes feel bloated rather than focused.
Fans React: Relief and Realism
Among fans, the debunked runtimes sparked a mix of reactions. Some were disappointed, believing that a movie-style final season would add grandeur. Others expressed relief, happy to avoid overly long commitments, especially with the season’s episodes expected to drop on holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Importantly, many agree that Stranger Things thrives when it balances high-stakes storytelling with tight character focus—something that could be diluted by overly extended episodes. Season 4’s “Dear Billy” episode, for instance, earned acclaim not for its length but for its emotional depth and focused narrative.
A Season Still Full of High Stakes
Despite the clarified runtimes, Stranger Things Season 5 promises to deliver epic storytelling. Set in the fall of 1987, the final season sees Hawkins under military quarantine, Eleven in hiding, and the gang facing their biggest threat yet: the return of Vecna. With mysteries surrounding the frozen time in the Upside Down and the government’s dark past still unresolved, there’s plenty of material to unpack.
Filming for the season wrapped in late 2024, with a 2025 release confirmed by Netflix. New cast additions like Linda Hamilton, and returning favorites including Millie Bobby Brown, David Harbour, and Sadie Sink (as Max) will reunite for one last adventure.
Conclusion:
While Ross Duffer’s comment might have dashed dreams of movie-length episodes, it brings reassurance that the Duffer Brothers are focused on making Season 5 feel like a television event—one that honors the show’s roots and prioritizes strong storytelling over runtime spectacle. The countdown to the end of Stranger Things is on, and it looks like it will end not with endless minutes, but with meaningful ones.
