At Netflix TUDUM's event on November 6, 2025, fans got an exclusive preview of the opening scene of Stranger Things Season 5. The livestream began at 5:00 PM PT from the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, unveiling the final season's debut sequence after a two-hour wait.
The chilling introduction promises unprecedented intensity and brutality. The scene focuses on a young Will Byers shortly after his 1983 kidnapping by the Demogorgon.
Will, aged 12, lies unconscious in the Upside Down forest, softly singing “Should I Stay Or Should I Go” in his sleep. Suddenly, he wakes, panic-stricken, hearing the Demogorgon approaching.
The Demogorgon drags him to a sinister location where Vecna appears, terrifying as ever. Tentacles grip Will and slam him against a wall, intensifying the scene's horror.
"We finally get to see what happened to him moments after he was kidnapped by the Demogorgon in 1983."
"The spine-chilling video made it clear that it will surpass everyone’s expectations in terms of brutality."
This riveting prologue sets the tone for a gripping and dark season ahead.
Author's summary: The intense first moments of Stranger Things Season 5 reveal Will Byers’ terrifying encounter with the Demogorgon and Vecna in 1983, promising the darkest season yet.