The runtimes of every new episode of Stranger Things season 4 have been revealed. Netflix's flagship original show returns on May 27th, with part 1 (the first five episodes) of the new season. Stranger Things season 4, part 2 (the last four episodes) debuting in July. The long-delayed return has been due to a number of factors, the COVID-19 pandemic chief among them, creating a three-year gap between Stranger Things season 3 and season 4.
Stranger Things is created by The Duffer Brothers and stars Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery, Cara Buono, Dacre Montgomery, and Maya Hawke. Also returning are Matthew Modine and Paul Reiser to their respective roles, with A Nightmare on Elm Street star and horror icon Robert Englund appearing as newcomer Victor Creel. Stranger Things season 4 has been described by The Duffer Brothers as "the beginning of the end" for the popular series, with season 5 having already been confirmed.
Fortunately, Stranger Things viewers won't have to worry too much about the impending end of the show, as season 4 has a massive runtime, collectively coming in at 12 hours and 51 minutes in total. Previous seasons have had episode lengths that run anywhere from 42 to 77 minutes, but Stranger Things season 4 will buck that trend in a big way. According to Stranger Things Spoilers, Stranger Things season 4 will range from 1 hour and 3 minutes to a whopping 2 hours and 30 minutes (for the season finale), which is longer than many movies. Take a look at the full episode length breakdown below:
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Previously, only three out of the nine episodes had confirmed runtimes, so this breakdown offers a more detailed overview of the season's structure. According to the Duffers, the reason for the Stranger Things season 4 split and long runtimes has a lot to do with the "unprecedented length," which includes "nine scripts, over 800 pages, almost two years of filming, thousands of visual effects shots." This has created a season that's twice the length of any previous season. Another potential reason for the split may have to do with Netflix's dropping stock prices and subscriber base, which has taken its worst hit ever this year. By breaking up its most popular show into two parts and promising massive runtimes, Netflix can likely keep subscribers on board, rather than jumping ship after binging the entire Stranger Things season 4.
Regardless of the reasoning behind the split and runtimes, fans are chomping at the bit to get their Stranger Things fix, which has been on hold for nearly three years. It's a long time to wait, and many fans may have grown away from the show. That said, if early reactions to Stranger Things season 4 hold true, it won't be long until they are brought back into the fold. What's more, Stranger Things season 4's now-confirmed unprecedented length means that the series plans to deliver in its next installment, teasing an action-packed adventure with plenty of time to explore the Netflix hit's new characters and dangerous new villain.
Source: Stranger Things Spoilers