Stranger Things 5: official episode runtimes revealed by Ross Duffer

For months, the internet has been buzzing with speculation about the extreme lengths of the final episodes of Netflix’s hit series, Stranger Things 5. Now, co-creator Ross Duffer has stepped in to set the record straight, officially revealing the runtimes for the first four episodes of the highly anticipated final season.

Taking to Instagram on Monday, October 13, Duffer shared a video showcasing the episodes in the post-production stage, complete with definitive runtimes and titles, adding a touch of playful skepticism with the caption: “ACTUAL runtimes.” The confirmed runtimes effectively shut down widespread rumors suggesting that every episode would clock in at over 90 minutes. While the episodes are substantial—maintaining the “mini-movie” feel introduced in Season 4—they are not the two-hour-plus marathons some fans expected.

Here are the official runtimes for the first four episodes of the season:

• Chapter One: The Crawl - 1 hour and 8 minutes
• Chapter Two: The Vanishing of ***** Wheeler - 54 minutes
• Chapter Three: The Turnbow Trap - 1 hour and 6 minutes
• Chapter Four: Sorcerer - 1 hour and 24 minutes

The episode lengths confirm that the pacing for Volume 1 will vary, with the second chapter being the shortest at 54 minutes, and Chapter Four: Sorcerer serving as the longest, feature-length mid-season installment.

Season 5 release is divided into three parts

The final season, which will have a total of eight episodes, is adopting a strategic, three-part release schedule over the holiday period, giving fans a reason to tune in across a full month:

• Volume 1 (Four Episodes): Begins streaming on November 26 (Thanksgiving holiday).
• Volume 2 (Three Episodes): Premieres on Christmas Day.
• The Finale (One Episode): Airs on New Year’s Eve.

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