Stranger Things aired its final episode on New Year’s Eve, closing the story that had been running for the last 10 years on Netflix. However, fans are now convinced that the series finale isn’t real and that a new episode, the real ending, is coming out this week. Fans shared their wild theories online, explaining why the Duffer Brothers were possibly tricking them.

Fans were convinced that a ninth episode would be released on January 7, 2026, after Netflix shared a cryptic post on December 25, 2025, at eleven o’clock. The caption read, “Your Future is on its way. #WhatNext Jan 7, 2026.” There were visuals connecting to Stranger Things in the video, making some fans wonder why Netflix was promoting a show that ended on December 31.

Besides the cryptic post, neither Netflix nor the Duffers have acknowledged the popular “Conformity Gate” theories. While many fans believed in these theories, others pointed out how the streamer promoted the eighth episode as the official finale and secured more than 500 theater screens for it in North America.

Netflix will announce its slate for new movies and TV shows for 2026 on January 7. However, fans refused to believe that the date wasn’t just significant for the What’s Next announcement. One fan noted how Netflix had already released its official schedule for January.

What Is the Stranger Things ‘Conformity Gate’ Theory?

In the final episode of Stranger Things, Eleven and the Hawkins team are shown to have successfully defeated the Mind Flayer and Vecna. They set off a bomb near the exotic matter in the Upside Down, planning to destroy the bridge. However, when they arrive at Hawkins, they are captured by Dr. Kay and her soldiers.

She wants Eleven, but she had already escaped into the Upside Down and made a final sacrifice. Eighteen months later, fans get to see how Hawkins and the central protagonists are doing in life. Towards the end, Mike suggests a theory during a D&D game that explains how Eleven could still be alive.

However, this poignant climax did not satisfy many fans, who wanted more out of the show. Fans found many clues throughout the Season 5 episodes that hinted at the possibility of a different reality. According to the Conformity Gate theory, the epilogue isn’t real at all. Fans believed that Vecna was still alive and that he had orchestrated the entire happy illusion in the epilogue.

Much evidence for the theory has already appeared online, with fans doubting the finale’s perfect ending for Hawkins characters. Fans talked about the graduation scene at Hawkins High, where the students were seated in the same manner as Henry Creel. Fans also suggested that the hairstyles of the Wheeler family closely resembled those of Henry’s.

Fans also noted the blank yellow poster in the background and the multiple boxes of the WHATZIT board game spread throughout this epilogue. Fans even suggested that Mike was at the center of Henry’s illusion, sharing that he was the one distracting the group with his story, as he was the group’s storyteller.

Fans also noted how one shot from the final scene, showing their neatly arranged D&D books, read: “X A LIE.” Fans interpreted the message as ‘Dimension X is a lie.’ They also questioned why characters such as Vickie and Suzie were absent from this epilogue. Their theory was that Henry didn’t know them and hence couldn’t include them in his illusory world.

Others also claimed that a quick search on Netflix on “Fake ending” showed Stranger Things in the results. Some of the fan theories surrounding the conformity gate read:

One fan explained that Mike is in Vecna’s trance, adding that he was holding the entire Hawkins as prisoners. One fan shared on Reddit that Will Byers was listed as an ‘Illusionist’ in the finale credits. The theory suggested that Will was still acting as Vecna’s spy and helping him create this illusion.

Stranger Things Documentary Suggests Series Has Ended

Netflix has recently dropped the trailer for One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5. The documentary includes the making-of video and behind-the-scenes footage of the finale episode of the beloved series. While the conformity gate theory has gained significant traction, some fans believed that the documentary suggested that Stranger Things has come to an end.

The synopsis of the behind-the-scenes documentary stated that it “follows the cast, creators, and crew as they bring the final season to life — and say goodbye to the show that changed them forever.” The trailer promises to be an emotional one, suggesting the possibility that the emotional finale is final.

Duffer Brothers haven’t addressed the conformity gate theorists, even though they have responded to fan posts about the show’s alleged plot holes. They recently shared that they gave each character a thoroughly thought-out ending and added that the actors were satisfied with these endings. They shared:

More than I would say is typical, we really talked a lot with all the actors to make sure they were content with where their characters ended up. That was important to us.

Netflix is currently developing two spin-offs in this universe, including the animated series, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85. According to THR, the second spin-off, a live-action one with a new cast, will touch upon the mysterious rock that young Henry discovered. The January 7 announcement could also be related to either one of these shows.

But the fan theory is incredibly clever, and fans will have to wait until Wednesday to know whether Duffer Brothers tricked us with a fake ending.