Scalpers are selling Stranger Things Season 5 finale cinema tickets at 275% increase
NetflixCinema tickets for the Stranger Things Season 5 finale aren’t even fully sold out yet, and already scalpers are getting in on the action, with some selling them at 275% above their original price.
The Duffer brothers and Netflix originally stated that the Season 5 finale – the last ever episode of Stranger Things – would only drop on streaming. However, this all changed in October, when the creators announced it will, in fact, air in select theaters.
Episode 8, ‘The Rightside Up’, will screen in over 500 cinemas across the US and Canada, at various times starting 5pm PT on December 31, 2025 (when it also drops on Netflix) and January 1, 2026.
There was slight confusion over the sale of these tickets (more on this shortly), with theaters only offering concession vouchers to reserve seats. If your local has sold out, you might still be able to bag a seat – but it will cost you.
Stranger Things Season 5 finale cinema tickets are being resold
eBayIt’s been less than 24 hours since the tickets became available to reserve, and already buyers are reselling their seats on eBay, with one listing selling two tickets for $150.
Given it’s a Cinemark venue, which is selling concession vouchers for $20, that’s a 275% increase. If you’re interested and have the cash to spare, the tickets are for the Cinemark The Woodlands and XD in Texas.
But if you have a look around, some are reselling their tickets at a far lower price (it all depends on where you are located and how many you need). For instance, one eBay listing is $80 for four tickets – meaning no price increase – but it’s for AMC 34th St in New York.
Over on Facebook, there are others reselling their seats at market price, so it’s worth keeping an eye on social media if your local theater has sold out.
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Given there are still spots available, we can expect to see more listings in the coming days, but at least the issue isn’t as big as, say, the Sydney Sweeney bath water saga.
For the most part, Stranger Things fans are frustrated at the cinemas themselves. That’s because chains like Regal said the tickets would go on sale on December 2 at 8am PT / 11am ET, and so many waited patiently for that time to arrive.
But hours before this, concession vouchers were available to buy on various sites including Regal. Normally, these are just pre-paid coupons that can be redeemed at a movie theater’s concession stand for food and drinks.
However, at 8am PT, it was revealed that fans can only reserve seats, and the only way to do that is by purchasing one of these concession vouchers. The confusion led to some backlash, with one writing on Reddit, “Cinemark and Regal completely lied about when finale tickets go on sale.
“I had an alarm set and everything for 7:50am to get tickets for the finale but I just had a hunch not to go to sleep until I got the tickets. But, basically Cinemark and Regal started selling finale tickets early last night and now nearly every showing is sold out and people are pissed.
“I’m lucky I was up when I did and was able to at least get the 3rd row in my theater but that’s so messed up to everyone who was under the impression they were gonna go on sale at 8am PT and waited but then you just drop the tickets when you feel like it.
“I’m so upset I could’ve got way better seats. These things cannot happen, do better Cinemark and Regal smh.”
Another said, “I finally got a ticket to an 8:15 showing after much aggravation and confusion. I saw a post Monday that said tickets would go on sale Tuesday, no time given. Then I read elsewhere that some theaters had tickets on sale Monday night.
“Fandango still does not show it in my area. Regal app had them, went early Tuesday, selected my seat, then it asked about a concession voucher. I didn’t want that but it wouldn’t let me move ahead to get my ticket.
“Found out two hours later, you have to select concessions voucher to get your ticket because Regal can’t charge their prices for a Netflix show. That would have been good information to let the general public know and also have them go on sale when they told us, not the day before.”
A third agreed, “Dude yes this. I could’ve got tickets last night but I thought the concession voucher was an optional thing to add, and that the tickets weren’t available yet.
Netflix“I saw some seats taken but I thought it was maybe employees with early access or loyalty club members or something. Ugh. Ended up getting some but I’ve been up for an hour stressing over it! The concession thing was weird as f**k.”
In the meantime, Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 is streaming on Netflix now, with Volume 2 dropping on Christmas Day.
You can also read about the viral parents’ warning against Stranger Things’ latest chapter, the Season 5 soundtrack, the best Stranger Things characters, and the best Stranger Things episodes.