Latest update:03 January 2026 at 11:53 IST

Fans in a small Indian city, Belgaum, have built a giant Vecna ​​doll to celebrate the end of Stranger Things, with the global fanbase taking to the streets.

Stranger Things fever reaches its peak with the finale. (Image source: Instagram)

As the series finale of Stranger Things unfolds, the residents of Belgaum – a small city in the state of Karnataka – come together to build a towering statue of Vecna, the show’s menacing antagonist. The installation, which was dramatic in scale and disturbing in detail, brought traffic to a halt and attracted late-night crowds. Filmed with eerie lighting and sharp skeletal detail, the doll was an instant hit. The videos show crowded streets, cheering young people, phones held high, and the villain looming over it all.

Within hours, clips of the product reveal went viral on Instagram and

Built by fans, fueled by local passion

What makes this moment stand out is that the doll was not commissioned by a brand or streaming platform. It was built by locals, many of them young people who grew up with the show. To them, this wasn’t marketing. It was so random and pure and loud.

Stranger Things has enjoyed huge popularity in India since its first seasons, but the latest chapter has pushed this craze to another level. In Belgaum, the excitement translated into weeks of planning, late-night work and a common goal: justice for the character who defined the series’ dark turn. The result feels more like a festival installation than a fan tribute.

Finale Frenzy has gone global and theatrical

The Stranger Things finale has caused a global stir. Over the New Year holiday, the show was an unusual win for movie theaters as well. The final big-screen special generated an estimated $25-28 million in ticket sales, according to Variety.

Prices vary by chain. Some theaters have bundled tickets with concession vouchers, while others have turned to fan service. For example, Regal Cinemas priced tickets at $11, a nod to the movie Eleven starring Millie Bobby Brown. For a series born on streaming, the theatrical turnout was a reminder of how much the fanbase has grown.

Calmer farewell, louder reflexes

In India, the final episode was released on January 1, giving fans an emotional start to the year. A review by CNN-News18 Showsha described the ending as “more of a quiet sigh than a banger.”

The Duffer Brothers have confirmed a Stranger Things spin-off project in 2022. Reportedly, the director duo are likely to begin work on the project this month. But there is no official announcement yet.