Stranger Things season 4 will be split into two parts

By Blair Marnell Published February 17, 2022

Nearly three years after the debut of the third season of Stranger Things, season 4 is finally set to premiere this summer. However, the end of the road is in sight for the kids of Hawkins. Series co-creators Matt and Ross Duffer have announced that the show will conclude after season 5.

But before the grand finale arrives, season 4 will give fans twice the thrills of previous seasons. There will be nine episodes with a total run time that is twice as long as any of the first three seasons. That’s why the fourth season will be split into two parts. Stranger Things season 4, part 1 will premiere on May 27 and part 2 will arrive on July 1.

The Duffer brothers also shared an open letter that explained why the show is wrapping up its run.

“With nine scripts, over 800 pages, almost two years of filming, thousands of visual effects shots, and a runtime nearly twice the length of any previous season. Stranger Things 4 was the most challenging season yet, but also the most rewarding one. Everyone involved is incredibly proud of the results, and we can’t wait to share with you.”

A poster for Stranger Things season 4. — Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Duffer brothers also dropped some hints that the fifth and final season doesn’t necessarily mean that the franchise is coming to an end.

“There are still many exciting stories to tell within the world of Stranger Things; new mysteries, new adventures, new unexpected heroes. But first we hope that you stay with us as we finish this tale.”

The official synopsis for Stranger Things season 4 was also released by Netflix.

“It’s been six months since the Battle of Starcourt, which brought terror and destruction to Hawkins. Struggling with the aftermath, our group of friends are separated for the first time – and navigating the complexities of high school hasn’t made things any easier. In this most vulnerable time, a new and horrifying supernatural threat surfaces, presenting a gruesome mystery that, if solved, might finally put an end to the horrors of the Upside Down.”

Topics

Blair Marnell has been an entertainment journalist for over 15 years. His bylines have appeared in Wizard Magazine, Geek…

Entertainment

Before Dune: Part Two, Denis Villeneuve made 2 unnerving Jake Gyllenhaal thrillers

Jake Gyllenhaal pushes an identical Jake Gyllenhaal in a still from the movie Enemy

Sometimes, it’s difficult to account for the trajectory of a Hollywood career — to see the logic of a hitmaker’s ascendant path from small to enormous movies. What, for example, did studio executives detect in the quirky indie comedy Safety Not Guaranteed that convinced them, erroneously, that Colin Trevorrow was the right choice to take over the Jurassic Park franchise? Other times, the leap to the majors makes more sense. Just ask anyone who’s been keeping up with the filmography of Denis Villeneuve, who once made French-Canadian art movies but now sits at the helm of the biggest multiplex event of the year so far.

The rumbling bombast of Dune: Part Two did not come out of nowhere. Rather, it represents a steady upscaling of its visionary’s vision — not a left turn so much as the culmination of an approach that’s always leaned large. Watch an earlier Villeneuve movie, like his Oscar-nominated, homegrown war drama Incendies, and you can see telltale signs of an embryonic blockbuster sensibility, a muscular talent waiting to break into a new budget bracket and sprawl across the canvas of an IMAX screen. Dune is merely the fullest realization of what you could call his signature style: heavy with portent, perched on the ledge between action and horror, easy on the eyes, and serious as cancer.

Entertainment

Here’s why Dune: Part One is still better than Dune: Part Two

Two men stand next to each other in Dune.

After several years of hype and anticipation, Dune is back. Denis Villeneuve's mammoth adaptation of the Frank Herbert novel of the same name has gotten the sequel treatment, and Dune: Part 2 is receiving many of the same plaudits and praise that Part 1 received when it was released in 2021. It grossed over $80 million in its opening weekend, and is on the path to outdo its predecessor.

Now that we have two parts to compare, though, the natural question is which is better. While Part 2 is certainly more action forward, and a lot of the setup from Part 1 is paid off in the sequel, here are some reasons why Part 1 may still be the better movie.
Dune gave us our first look at Arrakis
Arrival To Arrakis | Dune (2021) [4K 60FPS]

Entertainment

Like Dune: Part Two? Then watch these 5 great sci-fi movies right now

Robert Pattinson and John David Washington stand on a roof and observe.

The first two months of 2024 have been slow at the box office. There have been far more misses than hits. It's a bad sign when Madame Web is the most memorable film of 2024, but for all the wrong reasons. These negative feelings are about to change with Dune: Part Two on March 1. The sequel to Denis Villeneuve's Dune continues the story of Paul Atreides (Timothée Chalamet) and his mission to unite the Fremen people of Arrakis in a war against the Harkonnens.

After watching Dune: Part Two, are you craving more sci-fi adventures? Below, we selected five great sci-fi films to explore after your trip to Arrakis. Our picks include a Christopher Nolan spy thriller, one of the greatest sequels ever, and an earlier film in Villeneuve's filmography.
Tenet (2020)