GenZ, millennials cheer to a Stranger Things themed New Year, brands hop on to the party

This New Year, people were not just wishing each other a happy 2026 and making resolutions—they were also streaming the finale episode of Stranger Things on Netflix, which was in its fifth season. As soon as the episode aired, some began comparing it to Game of Thrones, while others hailed it as a historical moment in pop culture, akin to Harry Potter.

Social media was quickly abuzz with reactions and discussions.However, Netflix’s strategy of splitting the fifth and final season into three drops kept social media buzzing throughout 2025. Data from influencer marketing agency Qoruz shows that around 13,000 influencers—with at least 1,000 followers on public accounts—posted over 29,000 Instagram updates, garnering nearly 152 million views.Chatter peaked in November with the first four episodes, surged over the December festive weekend, and built to the finale’s 6:30 a.m.

IST release on 1 January. Set in the 1980s, this decade-spanning series follows young friends as they confront supernatural forces and secret government experiments.

It blends coming-of-age drama, fantasy, horror, and sci-fi, cementing its status as a millennial favourite.“This was a genius marketing strategy that didn’t keep the audience waiting for weekly episodes like in older times, but also skipped letting viewers binge the full season at once and forget it fast. Viewers got enough meat after three years to satisfy their cravings for a new season, but it didn’t satiate the hunger all at once; instead, it was stretched out over two months.

This kept them hooked for the next drops. At the same time, the social media hype gave non-viewers, especially Gen Z, Fomo (fear of missing out), and in the gaps, they got enough time to binge earlier parts and join