First 5 Minutes of ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Released for Preview
The first five minutes of Stranger Things season 5 give fans a chilling return to the very beginning. During the Stranger Things 5 virtual watch party, viewers were taken back to 1983, the year Hawkins was shaken by the mysterious disappearance of Will Byers (Noah Schnapp).
The premiere episode, titled “The Crawl,” opens deep inside the Upside Down. Will is alone and frightened when a Demogorgon appears, chasing him through the forest and dragging him into Vecna’s lair. Jamie Campbell Bower’s Vecna emerges from the shadows, saying, “At long last, we can begin. You and I, we’re going to do such beautiful things together.” It’s a dark, tense start that sets the tone for the final season.
After this flashback, Vecna is absent, but the danger remains. Hawkins is placed under military quarantine, adding tension for the heroes as they try to prepare for the looming threat.
November 12, 1983. Watch the first 5 minutes of Stranger Things 5 now. pic.twitter.com/ZAxGaJc1Vv
— sƃuᴉɥʇ ɹǝƃuɐɹʇs (@Stranger_Things) November 7, 2025
According to the official synopsis, “As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time.”
The Duffer brothers, co-creators of the series, have said this season wastes no time on small moments. Ross Duffer told Tudum, “We usually set up their normal life and how they’re going about school, and then we introduce the supernatural element. But in this case, this season is sprinting from the start.”
Matt Duffer added, “Nothing in Hawkins is normal anymore… their movement is restricted, and there are Big Brother cameras everywhere. So not only are they active — their everyday, normal lives are anything but.”
Fans can also expect more insight into the Upside Down. The Duffer brothers have drawn from a 25-page mythology document created back in season 1. Ross Duffer explained, “The last remaining questions that are answered in that document, we’ve punted a couple of those to have some big reveals in Season 5. And that’s really going to affect what Season 5 is about.”
Overall, the opening of season 5 promises high stakes, scares, and answers for longtime fans. It’s clear the show is sprinting toward a dramatic and intense conclusion.
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