New reports claim that all episodes of Stranger Things Season 5 will be between 90 minutes to 2 hours long 

Calling all Hawkins fans! There is word that Stranger Things Season 5 is going to do something big and challenge your binge-watching capacity in the process. It is rumored that each episode of Stranger Things last season might last 90 minutes to 2 hours. That is not regular TV time; it is almost like that of a movie.

According to a knowledgeable source from Puck News, the final-season episodes of Stranger Things are rumoured to have a much longer runtime than usual: 90 minutes to 2 hours. However, one thing is quite clear that Season 5 is going to be the big finale. There's potential to dig deeper for complex storylines, raise the stakes, and provide the fans with a due emotional reward in the end.

Why Stranger Things Season 5 episodes may last 90–120 Minutes?

It is rumored that every episode of Stranger Things Season 5 will be between 90 and 120 minutes long due to several reasons. To start with, Stranger Things Season 4 already featured longer episodes, most of which stretched over an hour, and the finale was particularly long. This allows the show's creators, the Duffer Brothers and Netflix, to extend the episode length if the narrative requires it.

The streaming sites do not adhere to the rigid TV schedules or even ad breaks, which means that the episodes can be much longer, almost like mini movies.

The other cause is the story itself. Stranger Things Season 5 is the final installment of the series and thus, the show has much to cover: major plot twists, emotional scenes, and massive set pieces. An episode of 40-50 minutes may not be sufficient time to do justice to the series.

However, one of the creators, Ross Duffer, has debunked rumours about extremely long runtimes (2 hours and 5 minutes to 3 hours) associated with Season 5. Moreover, Finn Wolfhard, in conversation with Collider, reiterating Ross Duffer, added that although a few episodes have a film-length runtime, there are episodes that last 40-45 minutes as well. Wolfhard referred to them as "micro-movies."

Furthermore, Maya Hawke has also stated in Podcrushed, hosted by Penn Badgley, Nava Kavelin, and Sophie Ansari, that Season 5 basically comprises "eight movies." So it is likely to have longer (than normal) episodes, but it may not always be of the same length. In either case, fans must prepare to experience a season that is more like a film than a television series.

What it could mean for how we watch (and feel) about Stranger Things Season 5

If Stranger Things Season 5 actually consists of 90 to 120-minute episodes, it will be both an exhilarating and challenging experience for the viewers. In the same report by Puck News, it was also revealed that the budget for each final season episode ranged $50 million to $60 million.

The binge could get more intense, and two episodes a night might feel like a full-length movie. The length of the episodes also increases demands: better storytelling, more emotions, and enhanced cinematic action. But that is to say, pacing is essential; there should not be long-standing filler or drags.

The upside? More emotional payoffs, more time to say goodbye, more time to explore the characters, and more time to feel a sense of closure.

If executed well, Stranger Things Season 5 will cast a lasting impression on fans’ minds.

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