Netflix Forced ‘Stranger Things’ Team to Cut Graphic $40,000 Scene — Here’s Why
Netflix forced the Stranger Things creators to remove two graphic scenes — including a $40,000 melting-shot — ahead of the Season 5 premiere. Here’s what was cut and what to expect in the final season.
The Duffer brothers attend a Netflix event as they reveal that two graphic scenes from Stranger Things were cut to maintain the show’s age rating.
Netflix’s biggest sci-fi hit Stranger Things is no stranger to creepy visual effects and terrifying Upside Down monsters — but even the streaming giant has limits. According to the Duffer brothers, Netflix forced the removal of two intense scenes, including a costly $40,000 melting-shot sequence, to ensure the series stayed within its age-restriction rating.
Netflix Intervention to Maintain Age Rating
Despite the show's dark tone and horror influences, Stranger Things carries a 15+ rating. In a recent interview, co-creator Ross Duffer revealed that Netflix stepped in during post-production to block certain extreme visuals from airing.
One scrapped scene from Season 3 reportedly showed a local journalist’s face melting — a shot Netflix deemed too graphic.
“His nose melts into his face — and Netflix said, ‘Absolutely not!’” Ross said.
Matt Duffer jokingly added, “Too bad — it was a $40,000 shot!”
Another scene removed involved a close-up of a fatal gunshot from Season 1.
Violence Increasing as Characters Grow Older
The Duffers explained that the horror element was always intended to evolve as the characters — and the audience — matured.
“When the series began, the cast was playing 12-year-olds. Now the tone has shifted because they’ve grown up — and so has the story,” Ross said.
Still, Matt assured fans that Season 5’s overall tone is less violent than Season 4, which heavily borrowed from A Nightmare on Elm Street. Vecna’s character was modeled after Freddy Krueger, and horror legend Robert Englund even made a cameo.
Season 5 to Feature the Most Violent Death Yet
While toned down in places, the creators teased one shocking twist: Season 5 includes the most violent death in the entire series.
Who it is remains a mystery — for now.
Final Season Release Details
The final season of Stranger Things will release in three parts:
Release Date
Volume 1 November 26, 2025
Volume 2 December 25, 2025
Final Episode December 31, 2025 (2-hour finale)
Netflix also released the first five minutes earlier today, revisiting the mystery surrounding Will Byers’ original disappearance.
