Stranger Things fans were left raging after Netflix issued an update on the hit series’ newest instalment that’s sure to disappoint fans in the UK.
The sci-fi series returned to screens earlier this month for its fifth and final series, which is being released across three drops to the streaming site.
And after a painstaking three-year wait between seasons, with the last episodes released in 2022, fans have been quick to tune into the first four episodes.
So far, viewers have been reintroduced to main character Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown, and her band of friends, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin and Max.
The action has also seen the return of show villain Vecna, played by Jamie Campbell Bower, and the Upside Down – the dark dimension where he resides.
The fourth episode, which was uploaded last week in the first drop for the streaming site, ended on a cliffhanger, with Noah Schnapp‘s Will at the heart of the story.
Stranger Things fans were left raging after Netflix issued an update on the hit series’ newest instalment that’s sure to disappoint fans in the UK (pictured: Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven)
The sci-fi series returned to screens earlier this month for its fifth and final series, which is being released across three drops to the streaming site (pictured: Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Joe Keery, Charlie Heaton and Gaten Matarazzo)
Now, fans will have to wait until December 26 to find out what unfolds in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, next – with the grand finale following on January 1, 2026.
While many had been hoping to head to the cinema for one of the official screenings of the final episodes, fans in the UK were left distraught to find out that it wouldn’t be possible.
After marking the date in their diaries, the official Stranger Things social media account confirmed the special screenings would only be available in the US and Canada.
The official account penned: ‘The plan? secure your seat TOMORROW for the fan screenings of the epic series conclusion of Stranger Things. *in US and Canada only.’
Responding to the news in the comments of the post, fans expressed their disappointment and outrage, as they hit out at Netflix for being ‘cowardly’.
One penned: ‘What a terrible day to be in England,’ as another chimed in: ‘Ugh, it’s cool they’re doing an epic screening but… US & Canada only? Seriously?’
A third added: ‘This show is bigger than one continent, that’s just a fact. Couldn’t they do a simultaneous, free global stream for fans outside North America?’
While a fourth agreed: ‘Make it worldwide you cowards, do you not think Europe wants this too?”, as someone else wrote: ‘Someone book me a flight right now.’
Fans will have to wait until December 26 to find out what unfolds in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, next – with the grand finale following on January 1, 2026 (pictured: Noah Schnapp as Will Byers)
Fans took to the comments section of the post to complain
‘Stranger Things is number 1 in the UK as I type why would you not put in in cinemas here?’ another viewer questioned.
It comes after Stranger Things fans were left furious after Netflix crashed following the release of the first four episodes of the hit series to their site.
Fans were shocked to find that they were unable to access the episodes with a ‘something went wrong’ message popping up on screens instead.
The temporary crash reportedly lasted for around three minutes, with fans of the hit series flocking over to X to voice their concern.
The full notification read: ‘Something went wrong. Sorry, we’re having trouble with your request. You’ll find lots to explore on the home page.’
Some fans were sent into a meltdown with one penning on X, ‘NETFLIX CRASHED HAHAHAHAHAHAHA #StrangerThings5.’
Another wrote, ‘Did Netflix servers just crash? Stranger Things is going to break the whole internet tonight,’ while one added, ‘OH MY GOD NETFLIX PLS FIX YOURSELF I WANNA WATCH.’
‘Billion dollar company can’t even keep the servers from crashing,’ a fan typed, and one shared, ‘I feel like you guys should’ve known Netflix was gonna crash.’
It comes after Stranger Things fans were left furious after Netflix CRASHED following the release of the first four episodes of the hit series to their site
The series, which stars Winona Ryder (pictured) first hit screens in 2016
Stranger Things – a Netflix series created by The Duffer Brothers – first aired on the streaming site back in 2016.
The show garnered critical acclaim and popularity among viewers, which has since been followed by four additional seasons.
The fourth season premiered back in 2022 and three years later, fans have been gifted the first volume of the fifth and final season consisting of four episodes.
Three more episodes are slated to drop next month on Christmas Day with the finale being released on New Year’s Eve.
The star-studded cast includes Millie Bobby Brown, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Kerry and Maya Hawke.
But it is not the first time that Stranger Things fans have crashed the streaming site.
Back in July 2022 when season four, part two of the hit show dropped on Netflix – a similar crash occurred only minutes after the episodes became available.
And when the first part was also released, over 13,000 Netflix users reported outage.
The finale episode of Stranger Things will air on January 1 in the UK
Stranger Things fans left fuming as Netflix CRASHES after fifth and final season premieres
During a recent interview with Backstage, both Millie Bobby Brown and Noah Schnapp talked about the show coming to an end and the final day on set.
‘I think it’s really hitting now, honestly, just like doing the press tour,’ Brown expressed.
‘It’s very hard to think about doing this for one last time with your friends and reflecting on your childhood so intimately. Some of this feels like therapy in a way.’
Schnapp recalled going back to L.A. to audition for another project and while inside is hotel room, the actor thought to himself, ‘Oh, my God, I don’t want to work on anything else.
‘I just want to do Stranger Things forever. I was just so devastated, like I’ll never get that back, that experience on set. Then the next day I was fine.’
Brown chimed in to add, ‘It’s like a breakup. It’s like the girls get over it quicker. But I honestly feel like it was one day of just crying, then I was like, OK, so what’s next? Like, no, I gotta keep going.’
Stranger Things series five episodes 1-4 are available to stream now on Netflix.
