As of October 8, 2026, Rotten Tomatoes lists Stranger Things Season 5 at 83% on the Tomatometer, based on 170 critic reviews. That is the lowest Tomatometer score among the five seasons of the original series. The separate Popcornmeter audience score is 52%, based on 10,000+ ratings.
Season 5’s score compared with earlier seasons
Rotten Tomatoes’ current series page lists these Tomatometer scores for the original Stranger Things seasons. The figures are live and may change as the site’s review data changes.
| Original series season | Current Tomatometer score |
|---|---|
| Season 1 | 97% |
| Season 2 | 94% |
| Season 3 | 89% |
| Season 4 | 89% |
| Season 5 | 83% |
Source: Rotten Tomatoes’ current Stranger Things series page, checked October 8, 2026.
What the Tomatometer and Popcornmeter measure here
The 83% Tomatometer is the critics’ score, drawn from 170 reviews on Season 5’s Rotten Tomatoes page. The 52% Popcornmeter is the audience score, drawn from 10,000+ ratings. They are separate measures: the audience figure should not be described as critics’ reception, nor should the Tomatometer be presented as the audience rating. Both counts and percentages reflect the page as checked on October 8, 2026.
#1 Best Overall
Rotten Tomatoes’ current critics consensus says: “Stranger Things plays its cards just right in Season 5, solidifying its pop culture classic status with genuinely captivating genre fare.” That is the site’s editorial summary, not a quote from one named critic.
Why early reviews may look different
Rotten Tomatoes published its Season 5 first-reviews article on November 26, 2025, when only the first four episodes had been released. It described the initial reviews as “very positive.” That was an early snapshot of reactions to Volume 1, not the final season’s current Tomatometer score; it does not explain why the eventual season-wide figure is lower.
Rank #2
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In that article, Nick Schager of The Daily Beast wrote: “For a series that’s been MIA since 2022, it hasn’t lost a step in terms of vibrant personality and PG-13 horror spectacle.” The comment concerned the initial release window and should be read in that context.
Season 5 release and story context
Netflix identifies Season 5 as the fifth and final season. Its official synopsis places the story in fall 1987: Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, the group is searching for Vecna, and the town is under military quarantine as the government pursues Eleven. See the Netflix Media Center series page.
The season arrived in three volumes: four episodes on November 26, 2025; three on December 25; and the finale on December 31. Netflix announced a 5 p.m. Pacific release time for each volume, and Rotten Tomatoes’ episode list displays those three dates.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What “new series low” means
The comparison is specifically between the Tomatometer scores for the five seasons of the original Stranger Things series. It does not establish that Season 5 is the lowest-rated entry across every production or spin-off in the wider franchise. The score is also a current snapshot rather than a permanent historical record: Rotten Tomatoes may add reviews or ratings over time.
Quick Recap
Best Value
Rank #4
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