Netflix’s Stranger Things Season 5 finale earned over $25 million from theatre showings, but the streaming giant won’t receive a penny.
The finale was screened in more than 620 locations over New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. AMC Theatres alone generated $15 million from 753,000 attendees, each buying a $20 concession voucher for food and drinks.
Why Netflix gets no box office money:
- Traditional tickets could not be sold due to guild clearance rules.
- Instead, theatres used a concession voucher system for reserved seats.
- Theatres keep all revenue from concessions, leaving Netflix with none.
Despite this, the event was a huge success for fan engagement:
- 1.1 million vouchers were sold for the finale.
- AMC added thousands of extra showings to meet high demand.
- Netflix achieved its best Christmas viewership ever thanks to Stranger Things 5.
Netflix’s co-CEO, Ted Sarandos, said the company will continue focusing on entertainment globally. AMC CEO Adam Aron noted that Netflix’s recent Warner Bros. acquisition may lead to more traditional theatre releases in the future.
Fans were still thrilled to watch the finale in theatres, creating a unique experience even without Netflix profiting directly.
