Movie theatres worldwide have reported earnings between $25 million and $28 million from screening the finale of Netflix's 'Stranger Things', according to sources cited by Variety. The exact figure is difficult to determine due to varying ticket pricing, with AMC and Cinemark charging $20 for a concession voucher, while Regal Cinemas and others charged $11, a nod to the character Eleven.
Netflix declined to comment, but earlier this week the Duffer Brothers, the show's creators, announced on social media that 1.1 million vouchers had been sold. AMC alone generated $15 million from over 753,000 people who purchased food and beverage credits, accounting for slightly more than one-third of the total theatre count.
The strong box office performance is a boost for cinemas during a robust holiday season, following a disappointing year that saw domestic ticket sales reach approximately $8.9 billion, a 1.5% increase over 2024 but well below the pre-COVID benchmark of $11 billion. However, 2025 closed with successes such as 'Avatar: Fire and Ash', 'The Housemaid', and 'Marty Supreme'.
'Stranger Things', an homage to 1980s fantasy adventures like 'The Goonies' and 'E.T.', concluded its five-season run with a two-hour finale that premiered on New Year's Eve. Netflix has historically had a complicated relationship with exhibitors, who have refused to show some of the streamer's films due to non-traditional theatrical windows. Many cinemas are concerned about Netflix's potential acquisition of Warner Bros., fearing reduced time between theatrical and home entertainment releases.
However, AMC chief Adam Aron hinted at further collaboration, stating: 'At AMC, our company is excited about the prospect of taking more Netflix content to theatre-goers... It should come as no surprise then that our two companies already have actively commenced discussing what additional Netflix programming can be shown on AMC’s giant screens.'
