Netflix Outage Disrupts Thousands Ahead of Stranger Things Season 5 Premiere

Netflix experienced a significant service disruption on Wednesday, November 26. The outage prevented thousands of users from streaming content. This technical failure occurred just as the final season of the hit show Stranger Things began its rollout.

Cast members Noah Schnapp and Millie Bobby Brown attend the screening for the final season of the television series “Stranger Things”, at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London, Britain, November 13, 2025. REUTERS/Isabel Infantes

The timing created widespread frustration among subscribers eager to watch the new episodes. According to data from Downdetector, over 10,000 user problem reports were logged during the incident.

User Reports Highlight Widespread Streaming Issues

Downdetector’s outage map showed problems concentrated across North America and Europe. Fifty-one percent of the reports cited issues with video streaming. Another forty-one percent reported a complete loss of server connection.

The outage began around 5 p.m. Pacific Time. It lasted for several hours, disrupting evening viewing for a global audience. This is not the first time a major show release has strained the platform’s servers.

Historical Precedent and Broader Impact on Streaming Reliability

A similar incident occurred in July 2022. According to Variety, the service briefly went down when Stranger Things Season 4 released its final episodes. This pattern highlights the immense demand for the show’s content.

Such outages test user patience and raise questions about infrastructure resilience. For a platform built on instant access, even brief disruptions can have a significant impact on consumer trust and satisfaction.

The final season of Stranger Things is a major event for Netflix and its subscribers. This latest Netflix down incident underscores the technical challenges of delivering highly anticipated content to a global audience simultaneously.

Info at your fingertips

What caused the Netflix outage?

The exact cause of the November 26th outage has not been officially confirmed by Netflix. High user traffic from the new *Stranger Things* season release is considered a likely contributing factor.

How long was Netflix down?

The service disruption lasted for several hours. It began around 5 p.m. Pacific Time before services were gradually restored to affected users.

Which regions were affected by the outage?

User reports on Downdetector indicated the outage was widespread. Significant problems were reported across the United States, parts of Europe, and other international regions.

Has this happened with *Stranger Things* before?

Yes. A similar, though shorter, outage occurred in July 2022. That incident happened when the final two episodes of *Stranger Things* Season 4 were released on the platform.

When is the *Stranger Things* Season 5 finale?

The final season is being released in volumes. The last episode of the series is scheduled to premiere on New Year’s Eve, following a Christmas Day release for the second volume.