Stranger Things season 5's 12-month shoot yielded 650-plus hours of footage for its eight 'blockbuster movie' episodes, the popular Netflix show's creators say

'It's our biggest and most ambitious season yet'

News By Tom Power published 30 January 2025

The Duffer brothers filmed over 650 hours of footage for Stranger Things 5 (Image credit: Netflix)

• Stranger Things' creators reveal how many hours of footage they filmed for season 5
• The Duffer brothers shot over 650 hours of material for the hit Netflix show's final season
• The pair also debuted a new behind-the-scenes look at Next on Netflix 2025

Stranger Things season 5 is, unsurprisingly, shaping up to be the hit series' biggest entry yet – but I don't think any of us realized how much footage was shot.

The short answer? A lot. Like, a lot a lot. That's according to the massively successful Netflix show's creators Matt and Ross Duffer, who have revealed they filmed more than 650 hours of material for Stranger Things' final season.

The siblings, who are collectively known as the Duffer brothers (shocking, I know) confirmed as much at Next on Netflix 2025. Taking to the stage during the Los Angeles edition of this year's multinational event, the duo tentatively lifted the lid on season 5's development, which included the fascinating tidbit on the hundreds of hours of footage they collected during its 12-month shoot.

"We spent a full year filming this season," Ross Duffer said. "By the end, we’d captured over 650 hours of footage. So, needless to say, this is our biggest and most ambitious season yet."

Echoing Stranger Things star Maya Hawke's previous comments that season 5 will be "basically, eight movies", the Duffers also teased that the sci-fi horror series' final chapter may emotionally devastate us when Stranger Things season 5 launches later this year.

"We think it's our most personal story," Matt Duffer added. "It was super intense and emotional to film – for us and for our actors. We’ve been making this show together for almost 10 years. There was a lot of crying. There was SO much crying. The show means so much to all of us, and everyone put their hearts and souls into it. And we hope – and believe – that passion will translate to the screen."

What new footage was revealed as part of Stranger Things 5's exclusive Next on Netflix teaser?

Potential spoilers follow for Stranger Things season 5.

Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox

Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.

Contact me with news and offers from other Future brandsReceive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors