Stranger Things Episode Ratings Chart Reveals Shocking Truth
- 01. Stranger Things Episode Ratings Chart: Complete Rankings by Season
- 02. Complete Episode Ratings Chart (All 42 Episodes Ranked)
- 03. Season-by-Season Average Ratings Comparison
- 04. Top 10 Must-Watch Episodes by Rating
- 05. Lowest-Rated Episodes to Skip or Approach with Caution
- 06. Key Statistics About Stranger Things Ratings
- 07. Episode Runtime Trends Across Seasons
- 08. Why Season 1 Remains the Gold Standard
- 09. Frequently Asked Questions About Stranger Things Ratings
Stranger Things Episode Ratings Chart: Complete Rankings by Season
The highest-rated Stranger Things episode is Season 4, Chapter 7: "The Massacre at Hawkins Lab" with an IMDb rating of 9.6/10 from over 2.5 million total votes across the series. Season 1 remains the best-rated season overall with a 97% Tomatometer and 96% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, while the complete series holds an 8.6/10 IMDb average.
Complete Episode Ratings Chart (All 42 Episodes Ranked)
| Rank | Episode Title | Season | IMDb Rating | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Massacre at Hawkins Lab | Season 4, Ch. 7 | 9.6/10 | 98 min |
| 2 | Dear Billy | Season 4, Ch. 4 | 9.5/10 | 78 min |
| 3 | The Upside Down | Season 1, Ch. 8 | 9.3/10 | 54 min |
| 4 | The Gate | Season 2, Ch. 9 | 9.3/10 | 62 min |
| 5 | The Battle of Starcourt | Season 3, Ch. 8 | 9.2/10 | 76 min |
| 6 | The Mind Flayer | Season 2, Ch. 8 | 9.2/10 | 47 min |
| 7 | The Piggyback | Season 4, Ch. 9 | 9.2/10 | 139 min |
| 8 | The Spy | Season 2, Ch. 6 | 9.1/10 | 51 min |
| 9 | The Bathtub | Season 1, Ch. 7 | 9.0/10 | 41 min |
| 10 | The Sauna Test | Season 3, Ch. 4 | 8.9/10 | 52 min |
| 11 | The Body | Season 1, Ch. 4 | 8.9/10 | 49 min |
| 12 | Holly, Jolly | Season 1, Ch. 3 | 8.8/10 | 51 min |
| 13 | The Monster | Season 1, Ch. 6 | 8.8/10 | 46 min |
| 14 | Dig Dug | Season 2, Ch. 5 | 8.8/10 | 58 min |
| 15 | Papa | Season 4, Ch. 8 | 8.8/10 | 85 min |
| 16 | The Flea and the Acrobat | Season 1, Ch. 5 | 8.7/10 | 52 min |
| 17 | The Bite | Season 3, Ch. 7 | 8.7/10 | 55 min |
| 18 | E Pluribus Unum | Season 3, Ch. 6 | 8.6/10 | 59 min |
| 19 | Will the Wise | Season 2, Ch. 4 | 8.6/10 | 46 min |
| 20 | The Dive | Season 4, Ch. 6 | 8.6/10 | 75 min |
This comprehensive episode ranking uses IMDb user ratings with ties broken by vote count, covering all 42 episodes across five seasons from 2016-2025.
Season-by-Season Average Ratings Comparison
Each season's critical reception varies significantly, with Season 1 achieving unmatched excellence and Season 5 showing the steepest decline among final episodes.
| Season | Release Year | Episodes | IMDb Avg | Rotten Tomatoes (Critics/Audience) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season 1 | 2016 | 8 | 8.8/10 | 97% / 96% |
| Season 2 | 2017 | 9 | 8.7/10 | 94% / 90% |
| Season 3 | 2019 | 8 | 8.5/10 | 89% / 86% |
| Season 4 | 2022 | 9 | 8.7/10 | 90% / 89% |
| Season 5 | 2025 | 8 | 7.9/10 | 83% / 56% |
Season 4's revival in critical acclaim came after Season 3's perceived dip, driven by Vecna's introduction and Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" resurgence that earned the artist $2.3 million.
Top 10 Must-Watch Episodes by Rating
- The Massacre at Hawkins Lab (9.6) - Season 4 reveals Vecna's true identity as Henry Creel/One
- Dear Billy (9.5) - Max's life-or-death battle against Vecna using Kate Bush's song
- The Upside Down (9.3) - Season 1 finale where Eleven destroys the Demogorgon
- The Gate (9.3) - Season 2 finale with Eleven levitating for the first time
- The Battle of Starcourt (9.2) - Season 3 finale with Billy's sacrificial death
- The Mind Flayer (9.2) - Bob's death and the Mind Flayer's reveal
- The Piggyback (9.2) - 2.5-hour Season 4 finale, longest episode ever
- The Spy (9.1) - Will used as bait; Nancy and Jonathan first together
- The Bathtub (9.0) - Eleven locates Will using sensory deprivation tank
- The Sauna Test (8.9) - Testing Billy's Mind Flayer possession
These elite-rated episodes represent the show's narrative peaks, with finale episodes dominating the top rankings.
Lowest-Rated Episodes to Skip or Approach with Caution
- The Lost Sister (6.1/10) - Season 2, Episode 7: Only standalone episode; Eleven leaves with Kali; heavily criticized for isolation from main story
- Suzie, Do You Copy? (7.8/10) - Season 3 premiere: Introduces Robin and Starcourt Mall but slower paced
- The Mall Rats (7.9/10) - Season 3, Episode 2: Billy's possession progresses; Steve/Robin decode Russian message
- Vecna's Curse (8.1/10) - Season 4 premiere: Eddie witnesses Chrissy's death; Satanic panic begins
- The Hellfire Club (8.1/10) - Season 4, Episode 1: Cast spread across California/Hawkins/Russia
"The Lost Sister" remains the only episode named "worst episode ever" by CBR and faced backlash for其特征叙事偏离.
Key Statistics About Stranger Things Ratings
The series has accumulated 2,569,174 total IMDb votes with an average of 61,171 votes per episode and overall 8.4/10 rating. Stranger Things ranks #32 most popular TV show with a Buzz Score of 10.4, peaking at #9 all-time during June-July 2022.
Season 4's cultural impact was unprecedented, driving massive rediscovery of 1980s music and Dungeons & Dragons popularity worldwide. The show spent 111 days in Netflix top 10 over the past year, including 24 days at #1.
Episode Runtime Trends Across Seasons
Episode lengths increased dramatically in later seasons, with Season 4 featuring multiple 75+ minute episodes including the 139-minute finale.
- Season 1 average: 49 minutes per episode
- Season 2 average: 51 minutes per episode
- Season 3 average: 55 minutes per episode
- Season 4 average: 86 minutes per episode (including two-hour finale)
- Season 5 average: 62 minutes per episode
The extended runtime format in Season 4 allowed deeper character development but contributed to production delays.
Why Season 1 Remains the Gold Standard
Season 1's 97% Tomatometer score remains unmatched across all five seasons, with critics praising its tight 8-episode structure and nostalgic authenticity. The alphabet wall with Christmas lights became an iconic image, while Barb's death sparked the viral "Justice for Barb" campaign.
Duffer Brothers cited Steven Spielberg's "E.T." and Stephen King's "The Body" as primary inspirations for Season 1's emotional core.
Frequently Asked Questions About Stranger Things Ratings
Helpful tips and tricks for Stranger Things Episode Ratings Chart Reveals Shocking Truth
What is the highest-rated Stranger Things episode?
The highest-rated episode is "The Massacre at Hawkins Lab" (Season 4, Chapter 7) with a 9.6/10 IMDb rating, revealing Vecna's origin as Henry Creel.
Which Stranger Things season has the best ratings?
Season 1 has the best overall ratings with 97% on Rotten Tomatoes (critics) and 96% (audience), plus an 8.8/10 average IMDb score.
What is the lowest-rated Stranger Things episode?
"The Lost Sister" (Season 2, Episode 7) is the lowest-rated at 6.1/10 on IMDb, criticized for being a standalone episode disconnected from the main story.
How many episodes are in Stranger Things total?
Stranger Things has 42 total episodes across 5 seasons: 8 in Season 1, 9 in Season 2, 8 in Season 3, 9 in Season 4, and 8 in Season 5.
What is the average IMDb rating for Stranger Things?
The series holds an 8.6/10 IMDb rating from 1.6 million votes, with an overall average of 8.4/10 across all 42 episodes.
Why did Season 5 have lower ratings than previous seasons?
Season 5 dropped to 83% Tomatometer and 56% audience score, likely due to final season fatigue and heightened expectations after Season 4's critical resurgence.
Which episode features Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill"?
"Dear Billy" (Season 4, Chapter 4) features the song during Max's battle with Vecna, earning Kate Bush $2.3 million and causing a global music resurgence.
What is the longest Stranger Things episode?
"The Piggyback" (Season 4, Chapter 9) is the longest at 139 minutes (2 hours 30 minutes), serving as the Season 4 finale.
