Top 10 Stranger Things Theories About How It All Ends
#10: Hawkins Gets Nuked
It wouldn’t be an ‘80s-inspired finale without a nuke going off. When the Upside Down spreads beyond control, either the American or Soviet militaries might decide that the only solution is total annihilation. In this ending, Hawkins becomes ground zero for a nuclear strike that is meant to purge the Upside Down from the world once and for all. We’re not saying that the characters have to die. Maybe they escape just in time. But either way, Hawkins is wiped off the face of the Earth. This rather downbeat action would end the show on a tragic yet cinematic note - and it would be in perfect sync with the Cold War paranoia that has been simmering under the surface the entire time.
#9: The Upside Down Invades the Real World
Not to keep catastrophizing, but hey, we have to think of all the possibilities! In this ending, the Upside Down completely invades Hawkins and takes over the world, creating a planet where demogorgons roam freely, spores fill the skies, and reality itself twists into a nightmare. Humanity itself becomes trapped in a hybrid dimension - half suburbia, half apocalypse. This ending is even more tragic than the nuke one, the “bad ending” cranked up to 11. It would completely redefine the series, turning it from nostalgic, Spielbergian mystery into full-blown sci-fi dystopia, “Threads” style. It’s a chilling possibility that underscores the series’ core theme - when you literally open doors you don’t understand, you can’t always close them.
#8: The “It Was All a D&D Campaign” Ending
Cliché or brilliant? In this meta ending, the camera pans out to reveal the “real” versions of Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Will playing a “Dungeons & Dragons” campaign. We’re just saying, it’s telling that the show opened with the kids playing a game! What if the whole show was just a continuation of that? Or what if they’re older versions of the characters, playing one last campaign for old times’ sake? Every monster, every portal, every heartbreak - all just parts of their elaborate campaign. Once again, this ending would be very ‘80s. “Newhart,” “Dallas,” “St. Elsewhere.” All played the “it was all a dream” trope. But just saying, if they do this, we’d be as into it as Mike and Lucas were into Will’s campaign…
#7: The Other Kids Get Powers
What if, by the end of season five, Eleven isn’t the only one with special powers? Who knows, maybe exposure to the Upside Down could awaken some latent abilities in the rest of the gang. Or maybe Eleven can do some kind of psychic mobile hotspot and lend the kids some superpowers for a couple of seconds. Will is already showing some degree of “otherness,” as he has the ability to sense The Upside Down. And the groundwork for “Will the Wise” has long been laid down. Maybe he finally gets those green fireballs he’s been fantasizing about? The result? Maybe a superpowered Hawkins crew ready for the final showdown. It’s “Stranger Things” meets “X-Men,” balancing emotional growth with explosive spectacle.
#6: Eleven Powers Up
Eleven’s been leveling up since day one. In season 4, she was blowing away soldiers, taking down military helicopters, even bringing people back from the dead. But what if she transcends even that? We’re just saying, the possibilities are endless. What if by the end, both she and Vecna are flying high above the streets of Hawkins, Neo and Agent Smith style? At least some kind of level up is hinted at in the trailer, when Eleven bounds over a fence. It’s the ultimate power fantasy turned bittersweet, as the girl who was once controlled by science becomes something far beyond it, rewriting the very fabric of reality. The ultimate tool to save the world.
#5: Will Becomes the New Vecna
From the very beginning, Will Byers has been tied to the Upside Down - haunted, marked, and connected in ways even Eleven can’t fully understand. And maybe in this downbeat ending, that connection finally consumes him, both physically and mentally. After Vecna’s defeat, the psychic residue of the monster begins to fuse with Will’s mind, slowly transforming him into a new vessel for the Upside Down’s will. Torn between his humanity and the darkness inside, Will becomes the next Vecna, tragically taking up the mantle of the creature that once tormented him. The series could end with him watching his friends from the shadows, his voice echoing in the distance. It’s poetic, heartbreaking, and the ultimate full-circle twist for the boy who started it all.
#4: Max Becomes a Vessel for Eleven
Similar to how Will is a vessel for Vecna, maybe Max can now become a vessel for Eleven? In the season four finale, Eleven psychically enters Max’s mind, so we know it’s possible. And from what we currently understand, the Max we know is essentially dead, as her consciousness is nothing but an endless, black void. Maybe Eleven can harness this to some degree, accessing this “empty” part of her mind and turning her into a tool, or an extension of herself? Maybe, just maybe, season five ends with Eleven saving the day, albeit in a new Max shell.
#3: Eleven Sacrifices Herself
It’s the ending that fans dread - and the one that many expect. In the ultimate act of love and redemption, Eleven gives her life to close the rift and destroy the Upside Down for good. Her sacrifice would save Hawkins, but it would also break the hearts of everyone she’s touched, including the viewers. The emotional fallout would be immense - Mike would grieve, Hopper would be destroyed after losing another daughter, and the quiet, devastated town would finally be at peace. It would be tragic, but it would also complete Eleven’s journey from victim to savior and would mirror the end of season one, when Eleven sacrificed herself to save Mike.
#2: The Happy Ending
Of course, it’s very possible that no one dies! After years of terror, loss, and trauma, maybe the characters finally earn themselves a little peace. In this ending, the portal is sealed, the monsters are killed, and everyone lives happily ever after. Maybe Hopper and Joyce finally settle down, Eleven learns to live a normal life, Nancy and Jonathan begin fresh, and the gang goes their separate ways - older, wiser, and safe. Heck, maybe even Steve becomes a cop and starts working under Hopper, the perfect job that preserves his protective, big brother persona. It’s pure, heartfelt, bittersweet closure, ‘80s Spielberg style, and we would love to see it.
#1: Flash Forward to the 1990s
You know what would be absolutely awesome? Pull a “Harry Potter” and show a happy ending combined with a flash forward into the 1990s! It’d be another notch in the show’s nostalgic belt. The gang’s all grown up - some of them have started families, some are still living in Hawkins. They reunite in the 1990s, maybe for a D&D campaign or a school reunion or just some kind of nostalgic get-together in Hawkins. Ace of Base is playing on the radio, one of them is a flannel shirt and ripped jeans, someone brings up “Friends.” It would veer on cheesiness, but who cares? It’d still be a super warm way to end the series, and it would bring the ultimate closure.
What do you think of these potential endings? How do you think the show is going to end? Let us know in the comments below!
