Stranger Things season 5 episode 7 hits record-low IMDb rating, fans call the final season the weakest yet as backlash grows

The episode 7 of Stranger Things season 5, titled Chapter Seven: The Bridge, has made an unexpected mark in the show’s nearly decade-long run. Released on December 25, 2025 as part of the Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 rollout, the penultimate installment has quickly drawn massive attention not for its plot twists but for its audience ratings on IMDb. While previous new episodes generally held strong scores throughout the season, this chapter has now registered among the lowest ratings in series history, with scores reported dipping into the mid-5 to low-6 range on IMDb based on tens of thousands of votes from global viewers.



For the unversed, Stranger Things opted for a block release strategy in its final season, dropping the first four episodes on Nov. 26, 2025, and then three more on Dec. 25, all building up to the final feature-length episode set to premiere on New Year’s Eve. Audience reactions to the conclusion of Hawkins’ supernatural story have been more mixed than Netflix might have hoped, and Episode 7’s plunge in popularity now shows up clearly in aggregated viewer feedback.



While IMDb scores continue to shift as more viewers weigh in, Chapter Seven: The Bridge has already been flagged as the lowest-rated episode in Stranger Things history, overtaking even the much-criticised Season 2 installment The Lost Sister. As of now, the episode holds a 5.5/10 rating on IMDb based on more than 65,000 user votes, marking a steep fall from the series’ earlier highs, which routinely sat in the 8- and 9-point range.



That decline comes despite the fact that the episode still delivers key narrative developments: the Hawkins crew prepares for their final confrontation with Vecna, emotional character beats unfold with returning favorites like Max, and crucial setups are laid for the long-awaited finale. But the disconnect between expectations and reception has left many viewers frustrated.



Many critics and fans have been vocal about what they see as the biggest flaws in Season 5 so far. A big point of contention is pacing: episode 7 in particular is criticized for spending too much time on exposition and dialogue rather than building suspense or delivering the kind of climactic payoff long-time viewers hoped for. Some online commenters noted scenes that felt drawn out or underwhelming given the stakes, while others felt certain character moments — such as relationship arcs or emotional reveals — weren’t handled as effectively as they could have been.





All eyes are now on the final episode of Stranger Things Season 5. The series finale, titled, Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up, is scheduled to premiere on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, on Netflix at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, with a theatrical release in select cities running concurrently. The finale is notably longer than typical episodes, clocking in at over two hours as it wraps up the decade-long saga of Hawkins and the Upside Down.



Whether this final chapter will redeem the mixed reactions to Episode 7 remains to be seen, but anticipation, and intense debate among fans continues to build as the countdown to New Year’s Eve streaming begins.