Stranger Things finale rakes in over $25 million at the box office.

While some gamers were at home diving into the latest episodes of their favorite shows, dedicated fans flocked to theaters to catch the finale of a beloved series. The last chapter of a major streaming hit had a limited theatrical run on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, where audiences reacted with gasps and cheers as iconic characters faced off against formidable foes. Although there were no actual tickets for sale, theaters found a clever workaround that still managed to rake in a decent amount of cash for the show’s cinematic debut.

Reports indicated that the finale generated over $25 million from concession sales, with numerous locations offering vouchers that allowed fans to reserve their seats. For instance, one chain charged $20 for these vouchers, which guaranteed a spot for the event. This arrangement was necessary because the streaming service hadn’t set up deals for box-office residuals with the cast, meaning traditional ticket sales weren’t an option. However, theaters were more than happy to serve up mountains of popcorn and enough soda to keep even the most intense gamers hydrated.

What’s particularly noteworthy is how well it performed against a blockbuster that had been dominating the box office. The streaming event outpaced another major release, which brought in $23.7 million during the same timeframe. Despite these impressive figures, it seems unlikely that this special event will shift the streaming giant’s approach to future releases.

Following this successful foray into theaters, along with another hit series, the streaming service remains committed to its established release strategies. However, there are still questions about how it will manage projects from a major studio after a recent acquisition that cost a staggering $82.7 billion. The CEO reassured fans that theatrical releases from the studio would continue, emphasizing that the acquisition was not intended to undermine that value.