'Stranger Things 5' Volume 2 Triggers Netflix’s Biggest Holiday Surge

Netflix closed out Christmas week with a record-breaking streaming surge powered by the return of one of its biggest franchises.

The release of Volume 2 of "Stranger Things 5" didn’t just boost viewership; it reshaped the platform’s entire holiday performance.

New episodes, returning fans, and strategic timing combined to make this Netflix’s most successful Christmas viewing period ever.

'Stranger Things' Helps Netflix Sets A New Christmas Day Record

Netflix confirmed it achieved its highest Christmas Day viewership of all time, driven largely by the arrival of Volume 2 of "Stranger Things" Season 5.

According to Variety, while the streamer did not release an exact total for December 25, it acknowledged that the hit series became the most-watched title worldwide that day after the release of three new episodes.

Those episodes helped Season 5 reach 34.5 million views during the week of December 22–28.

That figure marked the season’s second-strongest week, trailing only its November debut, which delivered 59.6 million views and became Netflix’s biggest opening week ever for an English-language series.

The holiday boost also coincided with other major programming, including NFL games, but the sci-fi juggernaut clearly led the charge.

How Netflix Counts Views And Why It Matters

Viewership comparisons became more complex this time around due to how Netflix measures its weekly totals.

The streamer does not separate audience data by volume when publishing its Top 10 rankings.

While the November debut reflected viewing hours divided by the runtime of the first four episodes, the 34.5 million views reported this week were calculated using all seven available episodes.

Because of this, it’s impossible to determine whether Volume 1 or Volume 2 attracted more viewers at launch.

Still, the data confirms that interest remained remarkably high deep into the season, a rare achievement for a series already nearing its conclusion.

'Stranger Things' Builds Momentum Ahead Of Its Finale

There is still one episode remaining in "Stranger Things" Season 5, and Netflix has opted for an unconventional release strategy.

The series finale will premiere in movie theaters on New Year’s Eve while also debuting simultaneously on the streaming platform.

Once that episode drops on December 31, the season will officially begin its 91-day eligibility window for Netflix’s all-time most popular English-language TV list.

Given the performance so far, expectations are high that Season 5 will secure a spot among the streamer’s most-watched titles ever.

A Chart Dominated By Familiar Favorites

For the week, "Stranger Things" naturally claimed the top position on Netflix’s global TV chart.

It was followed by “The Great Flood,” which led the non-English-language movies category, while “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch” topped the English-language films list with 16.5 million views.

Elsewhere on the TV chart, Season 5 of “Emily in Paris” ranked No. 2 with 13.3 million views, followed by the Dave Chappelle special “The Unstoppable…” at No. 3 with 9.2 million views. “Man Vs. Baby” landed at No. 4 with 7.8 million views.

Older seasons of "Stranger Things" also saw a resurgence, occupying several additional chart spots.

Season 1 reached No. 5 with 4.8 million views, Season 4 followed at No. 6 with 4.1 million, and Seasons 3 and 2 tied at No. 8 and No. 9 with 3.6 million views each.

Even “Sean Combs: The Reckoning” and “Fireplace for Your Home: Crackling Birchwood Fireplace” found space on the list, underscoring how "Stranger Things" helped fuel a historic holiday week for Netflix.

Stranger Things Faces Review Bombing After Will’s Coming Out Episode

It’s completely unnecessary and forced on audiences who just want to enjoy some basic sci-fi

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 28, 2025

Amid the accolades, the release of Volume 2 of "Stranger Things 5" has also sparked an intense backlash, with the Netflix hit becoming the target of widespread review bombing.

After the December 25 drop, the season’s fan-driven Rotten Tomatoes score plunged from the 70s to 56%, a steep fall compared to earlier seasons that consistently scored in the high 80s and 90s.

Much of the reaction has focused on the penultimate episode, "The Bridge," which features Will Byers coming out to his friends as the group prepares to face Vecna.

Per Variety, the episode now holds the distinction of being the lowest-rated in the series on IMDb, with a score of 5.4 out of 10. More than 96,000 users rated the episode, far exceeding the engagement seen on other installments this season.

The backlash also spilled into wider cultural conversations, drawing commentary from figures who framed the response as part of a broader debate over representation in entertainment.

However, many viewers emphasized that their criticism was not about Will’s sexuality, which has been subtly established since the show’s earliest seasons.

Instead, frustrated fans cited clunky exposition, slow pacing, and uneven storytelling as their main complaints.

As the final episode approaches, the controversy highlights how even a global phenomenon like "Stranger Things" can find itself sharply divided in the final stretch of its run.