A sudden and surprising change toStrangerThings’television rating may hint that season 5 could push the series in a darker, more frightening direction. The Netflix sci-fi hit explores a group of teens in the quiet town of Hawkins in the 1980s, who are suddenly caught up in a world of superpowers, monsters, alternate dimensions, and government conspiracy. Following a bleak and pyrrhic finale in season 4,Stranger Thingsseason 5will bring the series to a close and is expected to air in 2025.
As season 5 continues filming, a new update to the show’s page onNetflixhas hinted at darker days ahead.
While seasons 1-4 received a TV-14 rating,the page now holds a TV-MA rating. This could hint towards darker, scarier scenes with higher stakes in season 5, as the rating is reserved for productions with graphic violence or a heavier use of explicit language.
What Could Stranger Things' Higher Rating Mean For Season 5?
No One Is Safe In Season 5
StrangerThingshas never shied away from leaning into its horror inspirations, including casting stars from beloved sci-fi and horror properties to bloodier and brutal moments where characters are left bleeding and torn apart by the horrors of the Upside Down. Each installment has slowly escalated, withseason 4 depicting the shocking massacre at Hawkins' laband Vecna’s (Jamie Campbell Bower) brutal methods of claiming his victim’s lives.
Stranger Things: Every Horror Villain That Inspired Vecna
Stranger Things season 4’s villain Vecna was influenced by elements of Freddy Krueger, Pinhead, Pennywise, and a few far less likely inspirations.
While these moments pushed what could be depicted, season 5’s potential higher rating could suggest that beloved main characters may be facing situations where they are at best incredibly distressed or, at worst, potentially lost to gruesome and graphic fates. WithStrangerThingsseason 5 set to bring the series to a close,no character is safe, and many viewers may be left fearing for the final episodes.
It’s worth noting thatTV-MA is the television equivalent of an R-rated movie, meaning that viewers must be at least 17 years old to watch the show. Although this mature rating sounds risky since it reduces its target audience, it’s unlikely to have a major impact because most people who have watched the series are likely older adults now. On top of the characters aging, it makes sense why the Netflix series may end with more mature and violent content, as it poses little challenge to its viewership.
Our Thoughts On Stranger Things' Rating Change
An Update Could Mean New Content On The Horizon
The more mature rating will leave audiences worried about what is to come.Stranger Thingsseason 4 endedwithMax (Sadie Sink) being left clinging to life, so the series has already shown that the show isn’t afraid to place any main character in the firing line. Furthermore, with rumors and hints of a terrifying kidnapping, the cast is already set to be on edge throughout much of the series.
With the season having surpassed 200 days of filming, a new preview forStranger Thingsseason 5 could be released, giving a better glimpse at the potentially darker tone.
However, with a mature rating now being added, others may also wonder whether an announcement or reveal is incoming that could offer a hint at what is to come in the final season. With the season having surpassed 200 days of filming, a new preview forStranger Thingsseason 5 could be released, giving a better glimpse at the potentially darker tone.
Stranger Things
Cast
Stranger Things is a Netflix series set in the 1980s, where the mysterious disappearance of a young boy leads a small town to uncover secret experiments and supernatural forces. A significant focus is on a peculiar girl who may hold the key to the unfolding mystery.
