Gaten Matarazzo on 'Stranger Things' Finale and Dustin's Ending

The 'Stranger Things' series finale premiered on Netflix and in select theaters on December 31, 2025. The finale reportedly generated over $25 million at the box office. Gaten Matarazzo, who portrays Dustin Henderson, recently discussed the show's conclusion and his character's journey.

Matarazzo highlighted the emotional weight of the final episodes, specifically the ambiguity of Eleven's outcome and the cast's reaction to the script. He noted that the finale felt like the perfect ending for the group's story. The actor also shared insights into filming the final scenes, which were marked by genuine tears and a sense of closure.

In the series finale, Dustin Henderson achieves a mostly happy ending. After helping save the world and destroying the Upside Down, he is crowned valedictorian of Hawkins High. During his graduation speech, Dustin pays tribute to the late Hellfire Club leader Eddie Munson by flipping off the principal and urging his classmates to reject conformity.

Matarazzo described the speech as a defining moment for the character. He noted that the first line of the script, "I just wanted a normal childhood," immediately struck an emotional chord with the cast and creators. The actor felt privileged to deliver one of the show's final monologues, which focused on the theme of changing for the better through trauma with friends.

Regarding the "Hellfire Lives!" slogan on Dustin's shirt, Matarazzo explained that it represents Dustin learning to deal with his grief healthily. He believes that dealing with loss at a young age equipped Dustin to help others through similar situations in the future.

The final scene filmed with the core cast was the Dungeons & Dragons campaign sequence where the friends discuss Mike's theory regarding Eleven's fate. Matarazzo described the scene as "weirdly meta," feeling like the actors themselves were saying goodbye to the audience rather than just their characters.

Matarazzo admitted that his personal feelings about the show ending heavily influenced his performance. During filming, he began sobbing uncontrollably while Sadie Sink was performing her coverage, even though he was not on camera.

He recalled the moment vividly: "I just started blubbering... I sounded like I was choking on a biscuit." Sink laughed at him during the take, which Matarazzo believes might be the version used in the final cut. By the time it was his turn for coverage, he was emotionally spent and had to start from scratch.

Matarazzo addressed several lingering questions about the characters' futures. He confirmed that the Upside Down is destroyed, meaning there is no physical connection to the Mind Flayer's dimension anymore. Regarding Will Byers, who was connected to the Hive Mind, Matarazzo believes it is a relief that he survived, though he remains curious about potential lingering connections.

As for Suzie, Dustin's long-distance girlfriend, Matarazzo theorized that the relationship likely ended during Dustin's yearlong grieving process. He suggested that Suzie may have broken up with him due to his behavior, noting that Dustin "wasn't very nice at that point in his life."

Looking ahead, Matarazzo confirmed he is not currently interested in a spinoff series, stating, "This really is the end of their story." However, he has a comedy film coming out in the spring that will debut at SXSW, and he expressed interest in returning to the theater.