The cultural phenomenon of Stranger Things Season 5 is ending under a cloud of massive controversy. Following the Christmas Day release of Season 5, Volume 2, a global movement dubbed “Cutgate” has erupted. Over 140,000 fans have signed a viral Change.org petition demanding that Netflix release supposed “deleted scenes” and unedited footage that they believe were scrubbed from the final cut.
The “Cutgate” Scandal: What Fans Claim is Missing
The uproar began after a leaked Google document—titled “The Great Camazotz Cut of 2025”—went viral. It alleges that Netflix executives tampered with the editing of Volume 2 to maintain a TV-14 rating and shorter runtimes, resulting in what fans call “poorly paced” and “hollow” storytelling.
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The most cited “missing” sequences include:
- The “Byler” Basement Scene: A rumored 5-minute heart-to-heart between Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Will (Noah Schnapp) that allegedly provided closure for their decade-long character arc.
- Will’s Vecna Visions: Extended, darker psychological sequences where Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) torments Will with “scary images” that were described in dialogue but never shown.
- The “Fake-Out” Death: A high-stakes action sequence in the Upside Down where Will appeared to perish, only to be saved in a parallel to Season 1.
- Will’s Sexual Trauma Exploration: Claims that a deeper, TV-MA-rated exploration of Will’s past trauma was toned down or removed entirely.
Release Schedule: The Final Global Rollout
Despite the petition, the series is barreling toward its ultimate conclusion on New Year’s Eve. Netflix has confirmed that the final chapter will be a feature-length cinematic experience.
| Volume | Release Date | Episodes | Status |
| Volume 1 | November 26, 2025 | 1–4 | Streaming Now |
| Volume 2 | December 25, 2025 | 5–7 | Streaming Now |
| Volume 3 (Finale) | December 31, 2025 | Chapter 8 | Streaming & In Theaters |
International Premiere Times:
- USA (PT/ET): Dec 31, 5:00 PM / 8:00 PM
- United Kingdom: Jan 1, 1:00 AM GMT
- India: Jan 1, 6:30 AM IST
- Australia: Jan 1, 12:00 PM AEDT
A Massive Theatrical Event
In a historic first, Netflix is releasing the series finale, titled “Chapter 8: The Rightside Up,” in over 500 movie theaters across the U.S. and Canada.
- Runtime: 2 hours and 8 minutes (The longest episode in show history).
- Experience: The Duffer Brothers have urged fans to see it on the big screen, describing it as “more character-focused and larger in scale” than any previous finale.
Industry Response and Net Worth
While Netflix and the Duffer Brothers haven’t officially commented on the “Cutgate” claims, actor Randy Havens (Mr. Clarke) took to Instagram to debunk the rumors, stating, “There is no Snyder Cut of the show… please don’t believe everything some random person tells you on the internet.”
Financially, Stranger Things remains Netflix’s biggest asset. Season 5 reportedly cost over $300 million to produce. The show’s leads, including Millie Bobby Brown, are earning upwards of $7 million to $9 million for the final season, significantly boosting their individual net worths as they transition into post-Hawkins careers.
