Stranger Things Finale Lights Up Theaters

Theaters saw a big boost over New Year's. They made between $25 million and $28 million by showing the final episode of "Stranger Things. " This was a special event. Different theaters charged different prices. Some places, like AMC and Cinemark, sold tickets for $20. They included a snack voucher. Other theaters, like Regal, charged $11. This was a nod to Eleven, the character played by Millie Bobby Brown. Netflix did not comment right away. But earlier, the Duffer Brothers said 1. 1 million vouchers were sold. AMC made $15 million from over 753, 000 people. They bought food and drink credits. AMC had a big share of the total theater count.This is good news for theaters. They had a tough year. Domestic ticket sales were only $8. 9 billion. That's a small increase from 2024. But it's still far from the $11 billion before COVID. Still, 2025 had some wins. Movies like "Avatar: Fire and Ash, " "The Housemaid, " and "Marty Supreme" did well. "Stranger Things" is a hit. It's like '80s movies such as "The Goonies" and "E. T. " The show ended with a two-hour finale. It debuted on New Year's Eve. Netflix and theaters have a tricky relationship. Some theaters won't show Netflix movies. They don't follow the usual rules. Many worry about Netflix buying Warner Bros. They fear Netflix will change how movies are released. But AMC's CEO, Adam Aron, hinted at more Netflix shows in theaters. He said the relationship between AMC and Netflix has been smooth. They are already talking about more projects. This could mean more Netflix content on big screens.