Dive back into Hawkins! Watch the first two episodes of the new animated series Stranger Things: Tales from '85 in theaters this April before it hits Netflix.
- March 18, 2026
AceShowbiz - Following the conclusion of the main series in December, Netflix is expanding the Stranger Things universe with its first animated spinoff, Stranger Things: Tales from '85. Announced in April 2025, this new series is set to premiere on Netflix on April 23, 2026. However, fans will have the unique opportunity to watch the first two episodes in theaters prior to the streaming debut.
According to the official Stranger Things Instagram, the initial two episodes of Tales from '85 will be screened on April 18 at 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. These episodes, with a combined runtime of 55 minutes, will be shown exclusively in select AMC theaters. Tickets for this limited theatrical event will become available on March 18 at 8:00 a.m.
The series is developed and showrun by Eric Robles and is set chronologically between seasons 2 and 3 of Stranger Things. It follows the core group—Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Max—as they confront new threats emerging from the Upside Down and investigate a mysterious paranormal event plaguing Hawkins.
Stranger Things: Tales from '85 is executive-produced by Matt and Ross Duffer, the creators of the original series. The Duffers sought to capture the essence of a classic 1980s Saturday morning cartoon, blending nostalgic animation style with the signature suspense and supernatural elements fans expect.
The voice cast features Brett Gipson as Jim Hopper, Luca Diaz as Mike Wheeler, Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven, Braxton Quinney as Dustin Henderson, Elisha Williams as Lucas Sinclair, Ben Plessala as Will Byers, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max Mayfield, Jeremy Jordan as Steve Harrington, and Odessa A’zion, known for her role in Marty Supreme, as new character Nikki Baxter.
The theatrical release is considerably smaller in scale compared to the original series finale’s cinema event. While the finale played in around 600 theaters nationwide—including roughly 200 AMC locations—and earned an estimated $20 to $25 million at the box office, the Tales from '85 preview will be limited to 34 AMC theaters across 20 states.
This strategy offers fans a special early glimpse of the animated series and maintains the franchise’s tradition of unique theatrical experiences. The limited run in select locations is likely designed to build anticipation ahead of the wider Netflix release later in April.
With its blend of retro animation and beloved characters, Stranger Things: Tales from '85 promises to add a fresh dimension to the established storyline while keeping faithful to the spirit of the 1980s that defines the franchise. Fans eager to revisit Hawkins and explore new mysteries will soon have multiple ways to engage with this expanding universe.
