STRANGER THINGS: SEASON 5. Noah Schnapp as Will Byers behind the scenes of Stranger Things: Season 5. Cr. Niko Tavernise/Netflix © 2024
Netflix is taking fans behind the scenes of the biggest show in the world following season 5 wrapping up over the festive period. Here’s everything you need to know about One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5.
The wait for the final season of Stranger Things has been agonizing, but Netflix has just announced a massive treat to tide us over. Today, the streamer unveiled One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5, a comprehensive documentary that promises an inside look at the “years of effort and craft” that went into the Duffer Brothers’ generation-defining conclusion. This marks the second major documentary on Netflix for Stranger Things, following the streamer’s release of one for the stageplay last year.
Helmed by director Martina Radwan, the documentary offers a rare glimpse into the production of a major Hollywood blockbuster, aiming to recapture the magic of old-school DVD extras. The doc comes from MakeMake Production and is produced by Angus Wall, Terry Leonard, and Kent Kubena.
Mark your calendars. One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 premieres globally on Monday, January 12th. It’ll be arriving at a normal time (12 am PST), not the primetime release that volumes 1 to 3 enjoyed.
Director Martina Radwan spent a full year embedded with the cast and crew. She describes the experience as a “front-row seat” to the end of an era.
“Spending a full year on set with them was a true privilege—and an absolute thrill. Being able to get close and watching them bring this beloved show to life in real time, was pure joy,” Radwan said. “From the cast to their long-time collaborators, everyone welcomed me with remarkable generosity, openly sharing their personal and collective experiences from a decade of creative filmmaking.”
Watch the Trailer
Netflix has released the official trailer for the documentary, showcasing the emotional and technical scale of the final season.
In a statement, the Duffer Brothers explained that this project was born out of a love for physical media and the legendary behind-the-scenes access provided by Peter Jackson’s Middle-earth sagas.
“Growing up in Durham, North Carolina, we dreamed of becoming filmmakers—but Hollywood felt impossibly far away. Everything changed when we watched the behind-the-scenes documentaries for The Lord of the Rings—on-the-ground films that showed the real nuts and bolts of how a massive production actually gets made. We saw how stressed Peter Jackson was and thought: yep, that’s the dream.”
They continued, noting that in the streaming age, this level of transparency is rare:
“With the decline of physical media, that kind of behind-the-scenes storytelling has largely disappeared. We wanted to bring it back. One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things Season 5—beautifully captured and directed by Martina Radwan—is our attempt to do just that. If you love Stranger Things, or if you’re simply curious how a major Hollywood production comes to life, this one’s for you.”
Radwan notes that the Duffer Brothers’ process “pushes boundaries and inspires everyone to be better.”
With the final season set to close out the saga of Hawkins, this documentary looks to be the perfect companion piece for fans who want to say a proper goodbye to the crew that made it all happen.
STRANGER THINGS: SEASON 5. Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield behind the scenes of Stranger Things: Season 5. Cr. Andrew Cooper/Netflix © 2024
STRANGER THINGS: SEASON 5. (L-R) Director/Writer/Producer Ross Duffer and Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna behind the scenes of Stranger Things: Season 5. Cr. Niko Tavernise/Netflix © 2024
STRANGER THINGS: SEASON 5. (L to R) Millie Bobby Brown, David Harbour, and Director Frank Darabont behind the scenes of Stranger Things: Season 5. Cr. Andrew Cooper/Netflix © 2024
Note: We had previously reached out to Netflix about a retrospective documentary in 2025, but they declined to comment.
Are you excited to watch One Last Adventure? Let us know in the comments below.
