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The Best Episodes of Stranger Things

Every episode of Stranger Things ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of Stranger Things!

Best episode
S4E7 Chapter Seven: The Massacre at Hawkins Lab
9.684,497 votes
Worst episode
S5E7 Chapter Seven: The Bridge
5.6194,351 votes
Top season
Season 1
8.8avg
Binge time
1d 21h
42 episodes
BestEpisodes
WorstEpisodes
BestSeasons
AllEpisodes

Seasons5

All12345

Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
    Click to reveal
    Stranger Things Season 4 Episode 7 - Chapter Seven: The Massacre at Hawkins Lab
    9.6/10(84497 votes)

    S4:E7

    As Hopper braces to battle a monster, Dustin dissects Vecna's motives — and decodes a message from beyond. El finds strength in a distant memory.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
    Writers:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

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  2. Stranger Things Season 4 Episode 4 - Chapter Four: Dear Billy
    9.5/10(75070 votes)

    S4:E4

    Max is in grave danger... and running out of time. A patient at Pennhurst asylum has visitors. Elsewhere, in Russia, Hopper is hard at work.

    Director:Shawn Levy
    Writer:Paul Dichter

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  3. Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 4 - Chapter Four: Sorcerer
    9.3/10(125887 votes)

    S5:E4

    The military tightens its grip on the town. Mike, Lucas and Robin orchestrate a daring escape. El comes face-to-face with the enemy.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
    Writer:Paul Dichter

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  4. Stranger Things Season 3 Episode 8 - Chapter Eight: The Battle of Starcourt
    9.3/10(59498 votes)

    S3:E8

    Terror reigns in the food court when the Mind Flayer comes to collect. But down below, in the dark, the future of the world is at stake.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
    Writers:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

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  5. Stranger Things Season 1 Episode 8 - Chapter Eight: The Upside Down
    9.3/10(56678 votes)

    S1:E8

    Dr. Brenner holds Hopper and Joyce for questioning while the boys wait with Eleven in the gym. Back at Will's, Nancy and Jonathan prepare for battle.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
    Writer:Unknown

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  6. Stranger Things Season 2 Episode 9 - Chapter Nine: The Gate
    9.3/10(52260 votes)

    S2:E9

    Eleven makes plans to finish what she started while the survivors turn up the heat on the monstrous force that's holding Will hostage.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
    Writers:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of Stranger Things

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  7. Stranger Things Season 4 Episode 9 - Chapter Nine: The Piggyback
    9.2/10(65739 votes)

    S4:E9

    With selfless hearts and a clash of metal, heroes fight from every corner of the battlefield to save Hawkins — and the world itself.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
    Writers:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

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  8. Stranger Things Season 2 Episode 8 - Chapter Eight: The Mind Flayer
    9.2/10(49072 votes)

    S2:E8

    An unlikely hero steps forward when a deadly development puts the Hawkins Lab on lockdown, trapping Will and several others inside.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
    Writers:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

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  9. Stranger Things Season 1 Episode 7 - Chapter Seven: The Bathtub
    9.1/10(49412 votes)

    S1:E7

    Eleven struggles to reach Will, while Lucas warns that "the bad men are coming." Nancy and Jonathan show the police what Jonathan caught on camera.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
    Writer:Justin Doble

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  10. Stranger Things Season 2 Episode 6 - Chapter Six: The Spy
    9.1/10(46326 votes)

    S2:E6

    Will's connection to a shadowy evil grows stronger, but no one's quite sure how to stop it. Elsewhere, Dustin and Steve forge an unlikely bond.

    Director:Andrew Stanton
    Writer:Kate Trefry

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  11. Stranger Things Season 1 Episode 4 - Chapter Four: The Body
    8.9/10(49655 votes)

    S1:E4

    Refusing to believe Will is dead, Joyce tries to connect with her son. The boys give Eleven a makeover. Nancy and Jonathan form an unlikely alliance.

    Director:Shawn Levy
    Writers:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

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  12. Stranger Things Season 3 Episode 4 - Chapter Four: The Sauna Test
    8.9/10(45675 votes)

    S3:E4

    A code red brings the gang back together to face a frighteningly familiar evil. Karen urges Nancy to keep digging, and Robin finds a useful map.

    Director:Shawn Levy
    Writer:Kate Trefry

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  13. Stranger Things Season 1 Episode 3 - Chapter Three: Holly, Jolly
    8.8/10(50258 votes)

    S1:E3

    An increasingly concerned Nancy looks for Barb and finds out what Jonathan's been up to. Joyce is convinced Will is trying to talk to her.

    Director:Shawn Levy
    Writers:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Jessica Mecklenburg

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  14. Stranger Things Season 1 Episode 6 - Chapter Six: The Monster
    8.8/10(47217 votes)

    S1:E6

    A frantic Jonathan looks for Nancy in the darkness, but Steve's looking for her, too. Hopper and Joyce uncover the truth about the lab's experiments.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
    Writers:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Jessie Nickson-Lopez

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  15. Stranger Things Season 4 Episode 8 - Chapter Eight: Papa
    8.7/10(47879 votes)

    S4:E8

    Nancy has sobering visions, and El passes an important test. Back in Hawkins, the gang gathers supplies and prepares for battle.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
    Writers:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

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  16. Stranger Things Season 3 Episode 7 - Chapter Seven: The Bite
    8.7/10(43594 votes)

    S3:E7

    With time running out -- and an assassin close behind -- Hopper's crew races back to Hawkins, where El and the kids are preparing for war.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
    Writers:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

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  17. Stranger Things Season 2 Episode 5 - Chapter Five: Dig Dug
    8.7/10(42661 votes)

    S2:E5

    Nancy and Jonathan swap conspiracy theories with a new ally as Eleven searches for someone from her past. “Bob the Brain” tackles a difficult problem.

    Director:Andrew Stanton
    Writer:Jessie Nickson-Lopez

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  18. Stranger Things Season 1 Episode 1 - Chapter One: The Vanishing of Will Byers
    8.6/10(61715 votes)

    S1:E1

    On his way home from a friend's house, young Will sees something terrifying. Nearby, a sinister secret lurks in the depths of a government lab.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
    Writers:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

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  19. Stranger Things Season 1 Episode 5 - Chapter Five: The Flea and the Acrobat
    8.6/10(47417 votes)

    S1:E5

    Hopper breaks into the lab while Nancy and Jonathan confront the force that took Will. The boys ask Mr. Clarke how to travel to another dimension.

    Directors:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
    Writers:Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Alison Tatlock

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  20. Stranger Things Season 4 Episode 6 - Chapter Six: The Dive
    8.5/10(44165 votes)

    S4:E6

    Behind the Iron Curtain, a risky rescue mission gets underway. The California crew seeks help from a hacker. Steve takes one for the team.

    Director:Nimród Antal
    Writer:Curtis Gwinn

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  21. Stranger Things Season 3 Episode 6 - Chapter Six: E Pluribus Unum
    8.5/10(42543 votes)

    S3:E6

    Dr. Alexei reveals what the Russians have been building, and Eleven sees where Billy has been. Dustin and Erica stage a daring rescue.

    Director:Uta Briesewitz
    Writer:Curtis Gwinn

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  22. Stranger Things Season 2 Episode 4 - Chapter Four: Will the Wise
    8.5/10(42454 votes)

    S2:E4

    An ailing Will opens up to Joyce -- with disturbing results. While Hopper digs for the truth, Eleven unearths a surprising discovery.

    Director:Shawn Levy
    Writer:Paul Dichter

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  23. Stranger Things Season 3 Episode 5 - Chapter Five: The Flayed
    8.5/10(42291 votes)

    S3:E5

    Strange surprises lurk inside an old farmhouse and deep beneath the Starcourt Mall. Meanwhile, the Mind Flayer is gathering strength.

    Director:Uta Briesewitz
    Writer:Paul Dichter

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  24. Stranger Things Season 2 Episode 3 - Chapter Three: The Pollywog
    8.4/10(42465 votes)

    S2:E3

    Dustin adopts a strange new pet, and Eleven grows increasingly impatient. A well-meaning Bob urges Will to stand up to his fears.

    Director:Shawn Levy
    Writer:Justin Doble

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  25. Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 3 - Chapter Three: The Turnbow Trap
    8.4/10(81923 votes)

    S5:E3

    Will gains unique insight into Vecna's next move, giving the crew an opportunity to set a trap. Holly explores her new surroundings.

    Director:Frank Darabont
    Writer:Caitlin Schneiderhan

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Best Episodes Summary

"Chapter Seven: The Massacre at Hawkins Lab" is the best rated episode of Stranger Things. It scored 9.6/10 from 84,497 votes. Written and directed by Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, it aired on May 27, 2022. This episode scored 0.1 points higher than the second highest rated, "Chapter Four: Dear Billy".

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