Stranger Things 5 Unveils Awards Campaigns for Golden Globes, SAG
Will ‘Stranger Things’ overcome more than the Upside Down?
Netflix has unveiled its awards strategy for the fifth and final season of “Stranger Things,” with the entire cast of the acting ensemble nominated for supporting categories at the Golden Globes, among other fall awards. Variety only learned.
The Golden Globes list includes all performers submitted for Best Performance by an Actor/Actress in a Supporting Role on Television in their respective gender categories. The series itself is once again listed for Best Television Series (Drama), while the ensemble will compete at the SAG Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series and the show’s stunt team will also be entered.
These entries apply to the fall awards season only. Netflix’s official Emmy campaign strategy for 2026 has yet to be determined. Specifically for the Golden Globes, voters will only watch the first four episodes of the final season.
For the SAG Awards, which notably make no distinction between lead and supporting performers in television series, all actors compete in the same race: David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp and Jamie Campbell Bower are positioned for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series, while Winona Ryder, Millie Bobby Brown, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer and Maya Hawke compete for the female equivalent.
News of the entries follows the show’s highly successful world premiere Thursday night at the TCL Chinese Theater in Los Angeles, held on Stranger Things Day (November 6). The event featured season opener “The Crawl” along with 10 minutes of the second episode, seamlessly edited together, giving audiences their first glimpse of the series’ epic conclusion.
Netflix’s all-support strategy for the Globes is a notable departure from traditional awards positioning, in which series typically appoint clear leading actors. Ryder had been included in the main category for the past two seasons. The decision highlights the ensemble nature of the show and could be beneficial in a competitive fall season.
The move also leads to speculation about whether “Stranger Things” could peak at the TV awards show, similar to other beloved franchises that peaked in their final outings. “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” took home the Oscars with 11 wins, while recent television giants “Schitt’s Creek” and “Game of Thrones” dominated their latest Emmy cycles.
“Stranger Things” enters its farewell season with a formidable awards list: 57 Primetime Emmy nominations (12 wins), four Golden Globe nominations and a 2017 SAG Award win for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series. The cast has been jointly nominated three times in that category. Brown is the most nominated cast member overall, while she, Harbor and Ryder each received individual SAG recognition. Brown and Harbor have each earned two Emmy nominations, while Harbor and Ryder have also received Golden Globe nods.
The fifth season will roll out in three parts: four episodes on November 26, three on Christmas Day, and the series finale on New Year’s Eve, with each release scheduled for 5pm PST. The staggered release strategy will help “Stranger Things” maintain cultural dominance during the holiday season, potentially building momentum for Emmy campaigns.
