Stranger Things: The First Shadow Stage Production to Close in December 2026 and January 2027
Netflix's theatrical prequel to Stranger Things will close at London's Phoenix Theatre on December 27, 2026, and at Broadway's Marquis Theatre on January 3, 2027. The production ran for over three years in London and approximately 20 months on Broadway, selling nearly 1.6 million tickets across both venues and winning multiple major theater awards. The closure marks the end of Netflix's ambitious stage adaptation experiment, which faced declining box office performance in recent months despite critical acclaim for its technical effects.
Stranger Things: The First Shadow, Netflix's theatrical prequel to its hit streaming series, will conclude its runs in both London and New York this winter. The production opened in London's West End in December 2023 and on Broadway in April 2025, becoming Netflix's first major stage venture. Over its three-plus year run, the show sold approximately 1.6 million tickets and won four Tony Awards on Broadway and two Olivier Awards in London, with particular praise for its innovative special effects and technical design. However, recent box office data shows declining attendance, with the Broadway production playing at 60-74% capacity in recent weeks and grossing $859,339 in its final week. The show, directed by Oscar-nominated Stephen Daldry and written by Stranger Things writer Kate Trefry, served as a prequel exploring the origin story of villain Henry Creel (Vecna) set in 1959. Netflix has filmed the stage production for future streaming release, though no release date has been announced.
What's missing
Coverage does not adequately explain why a production with such high production values and award recognition failed to sustain stronger box office performance, nor does it discuss whether the filmed stage version's planned release might have cannibalized live theater attendance. Additionally, there is limited discussion of how this closure reflects on Netflix's broader strategy of expanding into live entertainment and theater.
How coverage differed
The Guardian emphasized the show's awards success and the surprise of the closure given the TV series' continued popularity, while Variety and The Hollywood Reporter provided more critical financial context, noting declining box office performance, high weekly running costs (estimated at $1 million per week), and the show's failure to match the streaming series' success in the U.S. market.
What different sources said
- The Hollywood ReporterCenter
‘Stranger Things’ to End Its Broadway and London Stage Runs
- VarietyCenter
Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’ Announces West End and Broadway Closing Dates
Stranger Things: The First Shadow announces final curtain in London and New York
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