Stranger Things has officially turned the streaming world upside down. The return of Netflix’s flagship sci-fi series has surged to the top of the Samba TV Weekly Wrap rankings, claiming three positions in the Top 10 thanks to a massive wave of viewer anticipation over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend.
Following a three-year wait, the first four episodes of Season 5 premiered with record momentum, drawing 3.2 million U.S. households to the first episode alone. According to Samba TV, 39% of households who started Season 5 binged every available episode within 48 hours, highlighting just how eager fans were for the final chapter of the Hawkins saga.
Fans Revisit the Upside Down
The excitement wasn’t limited to the new season. Season 4 landed at No. 6, as viewers revisited the series in preparation for the final installment. Even Season 1 made the list at No. 10, showing a surge in new watchers and longtime fans starting from the beginning.
The multi-season domination demonstrates the cultural staying power of the series, which has reshaped Netflix’s global streaming landscape since its debut in 2016.
Competitors Struggle to Keep Up
With Stranger Things sweeping the charts, few shows managed to compete. Paramount+ secured the only non-Netflix placements in the Top 10, with:
Landman at No. 2, after ending Netflix’s 12-week chart streak
Tulsa King in fifth place following its Season 3 finale
Mayor of Kingstown ranking ninth
Netflix still held the bulk of the chart with titles such as:
The Beast in Me (No. 3), continuing strong momentum in its third week
Champagne Problems (No. 7), a holiday romance set in a French vineyard
A Man on the Inside (No. 8), starring Ted Danson in Season 2 of the PI comedy-drama
Holiday Specials Lead Linear TV Ratings
While Stranger Things ruled streaming, Thanksgiving programming dominated traditional television. The 99th Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade topped the linear chart, followed by The National Dog Show and a holiday episode of Dancing with the Stars.
CBS’ Everybody Loves Raymond 30th Anniversary Reunion Special drew nostalgic ratings, while ABC’s Truth and Lies: Who Killed JFK? provided a splash of controversy-driven holiday entertainment.
A Streaming Finish Worthy of the Final Season
As Stranger Things moves toward its conclusion, early streaming success signals one of the strongest finales in modern television. With millions of viewers jumping back into Hawkins, Season 5 appears positioned to break records throughout December.
