Netflix drops 3 new episodes of 'Stranger Things' on Christmas

Fans of the hit Netflix series “Stranger Things” were upside down with excitement on Christmas Day as they waited to unwrap three brand-new episodes Thursday night

Fans of the hit Netflix series “Stranger Things” were upside down with excitement on Christmas Day as they waited to unwrap three brand-new episodes Thursday night.

Netflix is scheduled to release the second of a three-part drop for the show’s final season at 8 p.m. ET, nearly a month after leaving viewers with an epic cliffhanger. But fans will have to wait another week to the see the conclusion of the science-fiction saga, when the series finale is released on New Year’s Eve.

“Stranger Things” debuted on the streaming platform in 2016 and has grown to be one of the biggest shows for Netflix over the last decade. Across all five seasons, Netflix said, the show has amassed more than 1 billion streams.

It has become a massive cultural phenomenon, with the streaming giant launching pop-ups, immersive experiences and merchandise centered on the hit show.

The first four episodes of the final season gained nearly 60 million views in the first week, the streamer said. It was Netflix’s No. 1 show in the world and the largest premiere week for an English-language show in Netflix history.