The fifth and final season of the Netflix series Stranger Things seems set to establish a new production record. According to Puck News, it is reportedly being allocated between 50 and 60 million dollars per episode.

This would bring the total budget to an amount between 400 and 480 million dollars for eight episodes, potentially making it the most expensive season of a TV series ever.

Comparison With Other Productions

Season four of Stranger Things cost an estimated 30 million dollars per episode, while the first season began at a much more modest 6 million dollars per episode. Thus, the budget has increased tenfold.

Other expensive series include Amazon's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power with an average budget of 58 million dollars per episode and Citadel with 50 million dollars. In those cases, it partially involved rights costs or expensive reshoots, which does not seem to be the case with Stranger Things.

Longer Episodes And Release Dates

According to Puck News, the reason for the high budget lies in the length of the episodes. Each of the eight episodes is expected to have a runtime of between 90 and 120 minutes, which essentially means they are akin to eight feature films.

Netflix opts for a phased release. The first four episodes will be released on November 26, three episodes will follow on December 25, and the finale will go online on December 31.

Netflix is diving back into the world of board games. The streaming service is developing a new competition series based on the iconic murder mystery game Cluedo (known as Clue in the U.S.), which also inspired the classic 1985 film. The project promises a mix of excitement, strategy, and deception, putting contestants in the role of real-life detectives.

In the new series, contestants will compete in a variety of physical and mental challenges. By solving puzzles, they'll gather clues that lead them to a life-sized version of the iconic game board. Their goal: to discover who committed the murder, with what weapon, and in which room. Those who guess correctly add money to the prize pot, while those who guess incorrectly are eliminated. Iconic characters like Colonel Mustard, Miss Scarlett, and Professor Plum will, of course, make an appearance.

Cluedo As A Viewing Experience

The series is produced by Hasbro Entertainment, The Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC), and B17 Entertainment, all part of Sony Pictures Television. Producers Gabriel Marano, Eli Holzman, and Aaron Saidman aim to transform the classic game into a modern viewing experience. Netflix executive Jeff Gaspin commented: cEveryone knows the feeling of sitting around the table and trying to figure out who did it. We're bringing that nostalgia to life on screen.d

With Cluedo, Netflix builds on the success of previous game shows that combine tension and psychology. It aligns with other series like The Mole and Squid Game: The Challenge, which focus on strategy and deception, as well as the upcoming series based on Monopoly.

Coming Soon To Netflix Netherlands

Filming for Cluedo is set to begin in early 2026, with a worldwide release planned for later that year. The board game classic is being reimagined as a television spectacle, where the question "who done it?" will once again captivate millions of viewers.

One Of Netflix's Best Adaptations Finally Reveals Highly Anticipated First Footage

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Late last month, Netflix released the first teaser for its promising film The Elixir. Now, the official trailer has dropped, and honestly, it looks fantastic!

The film comes from Indonesian director Kimo Stamboel (Headshot), who is known primarily for his horror films, and The Elixir is no exception.

What To Expect

The Elixir is a zombie film with a unique twist. The story follows a family on vacation where the father tries a mysterious hair growth remedy. Instead of a new head of hair, the herbal medicine transforms him into a zombie.

The rest of the family barely escapes, only to discover that a massive zombie outbreak is sweeping across Java. Together, they must fight to survive the disaster.

Trailer

Fortunately, the wait isn't long. The film will be available on the streaming giant starting October 23rd. Until then, you can check out the new trailer below.

One Of Netflix's First Films In 2026 Already Gets A Teaser Trailer

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Yesterday, another major film dropped on Netflix: The Woman in Cabin 10, starring Keira Knightley, Guy Pearce, Art Malik, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, and Kaya Scodelario. Critical reception, however, has been extremely poor.

The film follows journalist Laura Blacklock, who believes she witnessed someone being thrown overboard during a luxury cruise. The crew denies it, insisting all passengers are accounted for. As her own credibility comes under fire, she continues to search for answers. The Tomatometer currently stands at a concerning 22 percent.

Red Herrings

Courtney Howard (Variety) takes issue with how the film constructs its mystery. According to her, it's less of a whodunit and more of a clumsy game of deception: "The mystery is less about who is involved - alert viewers will quickly catch on to the wrongdoers - and more about the puzzling effort the creators make to plant forced 'red herrings'."

Chris Barsanti (Slant Magazine) focuses on the pacing. He finds the storytelling energetic but feels the climax arrives too quickly: "The film doesn't waste time, but it also rushes to its climax too fast." Barsanti appreciated the pace but noted that the tension isn't sustained long enough.

Hammer Grace

Nick Schager (The Daily Beast) delivers a harsh verdict on its effectiveness as a thriller. He asserts that the film fails to deliver on the promises of its genre: "A thriller in name only; it has the grace and cunning of a hammer to the head."



In a more positive take, Tania Hussain (Collider) praises the execution and the lead role: "Clever, stylish, and suspenseful; it largely works thanks to Knightley's performance. The plot is predictable: no genre revolution, but still quite solid."

First Reviews Of Sci-Fi Spectacle 'Tron: Ares': Hit Or Miss?

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The long-awaited third installment in the Now You See Me series, titled Now You See Me: Now You Don't, builds upon the success of its predecessors. The earlier films introduced the "Four Horsemen," a group of illusionists who pull off spectacular heists. The new trailer perfectly captures this "illusionistic feel."

In this sequel, directed by Ruben Fleischer (Uncharted), the original cast returns, featuring Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco, and Isla Fisher. Along with a new generation of illusionists, they face off against a powerful adversary played by Rosamund Pike in a daring heist.

Illusionistic Poster

Now You See Me: Now You Don't is scheduled for a cinema release in mid-November. Below is the poster, though its design might make migraine sufferers look away quickly. Not exactly a pleasant choice.

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Stranger Things has become a global phenomenon due to its blend of 80s nostalgia, science fiction, and horror, but this year Netflix and the Duffer Brothers are concluding the series. However, they aren't going to sit still.

Since 2016, the Duffer Brothers, who delivered the thriller Hidden in 2015, have focused almost entirely on Stranger Things. In recent years, they have also been involved in series set to premiere after the final season of the sci-fi show. Both a sci-fi and a horror series.

Sci-Fi Series: The Boroughs

The Boroughs, already ordered by Netflix in 2023, is a sci-fi mystery set in a retirement community in New Mexico. When a teenager goes missing, a group of elderly residents discovers that an extraterrestrial being is stealing their time.

The lead roles have been confirmed for Bill Pullman, Geena Davis, Clarke Peters, and Alfred Molina and the first season will consist of eight episodes. Filming began in September 2024, and the global premiere is scheduled for 2026 on Netflix.

Tension In Something Very Bad

Something Very Bad is Going to Happen is a psychological horror series. The story follows an engaged couple during the week leading up to their ominous wedding, as tension builds through bizarre and terrifying events.

The lead roles of the couple are portrayed by Camila Morrone (Daisy Jones & The Six) and Adam DiMarco (The White Lotus). Other roles include Jennifer Jason Leigh, Ted Levine, and Gus Birney. Filming took place from January to April 2025, making a release on Netflix likely in 2026.

Future Of Stranger Things

Officially, there is still little clarity on how the Duffer Brothers intend to continue with Stranger Things. However, it is clear that the series has achieved significant status, and the chances are high that spin-offs, prequels, or sequels will appear. The animated series Stranger Things: Tales From '85 has already been confirmed.



First, there is still season 5 of Stranger Things. This season, consisting of eight episodes, will be released in three parts: the first two parts on November 26 and December 25, 2025, with the finale on December 31. The episodes are expected to have a runtime of a feature film.