The Upside Down is coming to the big screen.

The series finale of "Stranger Things" will be released in select movie theaters in conjunction with its debut on Netflix, the streamer announced on Oct. 23.

The screenings will take place in over 350 theaters in the U.S. and Canada beginning at 5 p.m. PT on Dec. 31, the same time the episode drops on Netflix. The screenings will run through Jan. 1.

Series creators Matt and Ross Duffer said they are "beyond excited that fans will have the chance to experience the final episode of 'Stranger Things' in theaters," noting this is "something we've dreamed about for years."

The final season of "Stranger Things," one of the biggest shows in Netflix's history, will begin rolling out in November after a more than three-year wait. The episodes will be released in three volumes around three different holidays.

The first batch consists of four episodes and debuts on Nov. 26, the day before Thanksgiving. Three more episodes will then debut on Christmas Day. The final episode, titled "The Rightside Up," will then arrive by itself on New Year's Eve. All three volumes will be released at 5 p.m. PT.

News of the theatrical release comes after a Variety article published on Oct. 15 said the Duffers were hopeful that the "Stranger Things" finale could be released in theaters. "People don't get to experience how much time and effort is spent on sound and picture, and they're seeing it at reduced quality," Matt Duffer told the outlet. "More than that, it's about experiencing it at the same time with fans."

Netflix chief creative officer Bela Bajaria, though, appeared to shoot the idea down, telling Variety, "A lot of people — a lot, a lot, a lot of people — have watched 'Stranger Things' on Netflix. It has not suffered from lack of conversation or community or sharing or fandom. I think releasing it on Netflix is giving the fans what they want."

For years, Netflix has generally been reluctant to give its content exclusive, wide theatrical releases, causing tension in Hollywood and among filmmakers who value the big-screen experience. The streamer's original movies have typically received only token releases in a limited number of theaters in order to qualify for awards consideration.

In January, Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos stressed during a company call that its "core strategy is to give our members exclusive first round movies on Netflix," though he added that it will "routinely release movies in theaters a couple of weeks before to qualify for awards, to meet festival requirements and to prime the publicity pump a bit," according to Deadline.

In 2026, though, Netflix will give a "Chronicles of Narnia" film from director Greta Gerwig a major IMAX release, which will be exclusive for two weeks. And in August, Netflix's singalong rerelease of "KPop Demon Hunters" was a hit at the box office, in what The Hollywood Reporter described as the streamer's "first theatrical win." The singalong is set to return to theaters for Halloween weekend.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Stranger Things' series finale heads to movie theaters

Reporting by Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY / USA TODAY

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect