Release calendarTop 250 moviesMost popular moviesBrowse movies by genreTop box officeShowtimes & ticketsMovie newsIndia movie spotlight
    What's on TV & streamingTop 250 TV showsMost popular TV showsBrowse TV shows by genreTV news
    What to watchLatest trailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb SpotlightFamily entertainment guideIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsEmmysToronto Int'l Film FestivalHispanic Heritage MonthIMDb Stars to WatchSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll events
    Born todayMost popular celebsCelebrity news
    Help centerContributor zonePolls
For industry professionals
  • Language
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Watchlist
Sign in
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
Use app
Stranger Things
S3.E8
All episodesAll
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Chapter Eight: The Battle of Starcourt

  • Episode aired Jul 4, 2019
  • TV-14
  • 1h 16m
IMDb RATING
9.2/10
34K
YOUR RATING
Dacre Montgomery in Stranger Things (2016)
Stranger Things: Chapter Eight: The Battle Of Starcourt
Play trailer1:52
2 Videos
99+ Photos
DramaFantasyHorrorMysterySci-FiThriller

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.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.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
    • Paul Dichter
  • Stars
    • Winona Ryder
    • David Harbour
    • Finn Wolfhard
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    9.2/10
    34K
    YOUR RATING
    • Directors
      • Matt Duffer
      • Ross Duffer
    • Writers
      • Matt Duffer
      • Ross Duffer
      • Paul Dichter
    • Stars
      • Winona Ryder
      • David Harbour
      • Finn Wolfhard
    • 308User reviews
    • 11Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • Videos2

    Questions We Have About "Stranger Things" Season 4
    Clip 3:35
    Questions We Have About "Stranger Things" Season 4
    Stranger Things: Chapter Eight: The Battle Of Starcourt
    Trailer 1:52
    Stranger Things: Chapter Eight: The Battle Of Starcourt
    Stranger Things: Chapter Eight: The Battle Of Starcourt
    Trailer 1:52
    Stranger Things: Chapter Eight: The Battle Of Starcourt

    Photos254

    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    View Poster
    + 251
    View Poster

    Top cast53

    Edit
    Winona Ryder
    Winona Ryder
    • Joyce Byers
    David Harbour
    David Harbour
    • Jim Hopper
    Finn Wolfhard
    Finn Wolfhard
    • Mike Wheeler
    Millie Bobby Brown
    Millie Bobby Brown
    • Eleven…
    Gaten Matarazzo
    Gaten Matarazzo
    • Dustin Henderson
    Caleb McLaughlin
    Caleb McLaughlin
    • Lucas Sinclair
    Noah Schnapp
    Noah Schnapp
    • Will Byers
    Sadie Sink
    Sadie Sink
    • Max Mayfield
    Natalia Dyer
    Natalia Dyer
    • Nancy Wheeler
    Charlie Heaton
    Charlie Heaton
    • Jonathan Byers
    Joe Keery
    Joe Keery
    • Steve Harrington
    Dacre Montgomery
    Dacre Montgomery
    • Billy Hargrove
    Maya Hawke
    Maya Hawke
    • Robin Buckley
    Priah Ferguson
    Priah Ferguson
    • Erica Sinclair
    Cara Buono
    Cara Buono
    • Karen Wheeler
    Cary Elwes
    Cary Elwes
    • Mayor Larry Kline
    Brett Gelman
    Brett Gelman
    • Murray Bauman
    Andrey Ivchenko
    Andrey Ivchenko
    • Grigori
    • Directors
      • Matt Duffer
      • Ross Duffer
    • Writers
      • Matt Duffer
      • Ross Duffer
      • Paul Dichter
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews308

    9.234.3K
    1
    2
    3
    4
    5
    6
    7
    8
    9
    10

    Featured reviews

    10TheLittleSongbird

    Spectacular battle

    On the whole, Season 3 was a big disappointment. Whereas Seasons 1 and 2 had almost all their episodes being good to brilliant (with only one misstep in Season 2), pretty much half of Season 3 was less than decent (with the premiere being particularly disappointing) with only two episodes being outstanding and another two being good but not great. On the whole, the suspense and tension weren't as strong, the advancement of plotting and characters only came in spurts and some of the writing was surprisingly juvenile.

    Part of me was actually expecting quite a lot from "Chapter Eight: The Battle of Starcourt", despite the season not being up to top standard. Primarily because the previous two seasons had absolutely brilliant season finales. "Chapter Eight: The Battle of Starcourt" is every bit as brilliant thankfully and is at its best spectacular. It is one of only two outstanding episodes from Season 3, the other being "Chapter Four: The Sauna Test", and gets my vote as the best episode of the season. Everything that a season finale should be and it improves pretty much on everything that was disappointing about most of the season.

    Had no issues with almost any element here, other than the slightly out of place musical number that should have been featured in another part of the episode or excised. That though was not enough to mar the episode, not when the execution of everything was as good as it was.

    The visuals are of outstanding quality. Very stylish and atmospheric, with some truly beautiful images that one can't believe such high quality comes from a Netflix show. Not to mention the highly impressive special effects that put a good deal of big budget films in recent years to shame. The music has a wonderful 80s nostalgic vibe while also being quite haunting, enhancing the atmosphere beautifully. The performances are excellent across the board, absolutely no sore spot in this aspect.

    Character development is illuminating and investable in one of the few episodes of the season to advance any of the characters in progression. Hopper is at his most interesting all season here and is closer to the older Hopper than the less appealing one he was this season. Writing has lost none of its brains and heart, while there is an ominous creepiness there is some genuinely funny and gentle humour, an affectionate nostalgia and poignancy without any cheese or melodrama. The story is darkly suspenseful with plenty going on (without being too crowded).

    With the ending being very exciting and emotionally powerful. The tragic elements here are very shocking and also heart-breaking, not feeling like a cheap way of getting rid of a maligned character or feeling abrupt and indicative of an actor being fired mid season as has happened with some shows. There is plenty of depth and complexity in the mystery.

    Spectacular season finale and it was a shame that most of the previous episodes of the season were not indicative of how good 'Stranger Things' was at its best. 10/10.
    9jowsazevedo

    9.7//Best episode of the series(until now)

    This is the best episode to end. A great final battle, tense moments, a emotional package and a never ending story to end this great season then ends a big part of this incredible show.
    10crazychainsaw

    amazing episode

    Just like a lot of people, I wasn't the biggest fan of season 3. However, this finale I enjoyed a lot actually. Great acting, very entertaining episode, and the effects looked great.
    10aidantaylor787

    Mind = blown

    The acting, cinematography and music in this season is phenomenal. The emotion is breathtaking, and the ending (and cliffhanger) was absolutely perfect. I watched this in less than a day and I have no regrets. I don't think I can wait 2 years for season 4!!
    10kkenterprisehowrah

    Waiting for the Next season

    Very very emotional. And heart touching. One of the best series still now. Amazing story. Very sad for hopper. Hopper should come back.

    Best Emmys Moments

    Best Emmys Moments
    Discover nominees and winners, red carpet looks, and more from the Emmys!

    Related interests

    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Elijah Wood in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001)
    Fantasy
    Mia Farrow in Rosemary's Baby (1968)
    Horror
    Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway in Chinatown (1974)
    Mystery
    James Earl Jones and David Prowse in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
    Sci-Fi
    Cho Yeo-jeong in Parasite (2019)
    Thriller

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      After the airing of this episode, singer Limahl found out that his song "The Neverending Story" (sung in the episode by Gaten Matarazzo and Gabriella Pizzolo) had been streamed more than a million times on Spotify, an increase of 825%.
    • Goofs
      Suzie claims Planck's constant is 6.62607004, but that measurement is from 2014.
    • Quotes

      Jim Hopper: [reading] There's something I've been wanting to talk to you both about - and I know this is a difficult conversation. But I care about you both very much. And I know you care about each other very much and that's why it's important that we set these boundaries moving forward so we can build an environment, where we ALL feel comfortable, trusted and open to sharing our feelings. Feelings. Jesus.

      [walks to the table and starts writing]

      Jim Hopper: The truth is, for so long, I'd forgotten what those even were. I've been stuck in one place - in a cave, you might say. A deep dark cave. And then, I left some Eggos out in the woods and you came into my life and... for the first time in a long time, I started to feel things again. I started to feel happy. But lately, I guess I've been feeling... distant from you. Like you're pulling away from me or something. I miss playing board games every night, making triple-decker Eggo extravaganzas at sunrise, watching westerns together before we doze off. But I know you're getting older, growing, changing. And I guess... if i'm being really honest, that's what scares me. I don't want things to change. So I think maybe that's why I came here, to try to maybe... stop that change. To turn back the clock. To make things go back to how they were. But I know that's naive. It's just... not how life works. It's moving. Always moving whether you like it or not. And yeah, sometimes it's painful. Sometimes it's sad and sometimes it's surprising. Happy. So you know what? Keep on growing up, kid. Don't let me stop you. Make mistakes, learn from 'em, and when life hurts you - because it will - remember the hurt. The hurt is good. It means you're out of that cave. But, please, if you don't mind, for the sake of your poor old dad, keep the door open three inches.

    • Crazy credits
      The mid-credits scene takes place in a Russian facility and sees Russian soldiers take a prisoner into the feeding cage of the Demogorgon.
    • Connections
      Featured in WatchMojo: Top 10 Most Re-Watched TV Scenes of All Time (2019)
    • Soundtracks
      Goldrush
      (uncredited)

      Written by Boris Blank and Dieter Meier

      Performed by Yello

    Top picks

    Sign in to rate and Watchlist for personalized recommendations
    Sign in

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • July 4, 2019 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Filming locations
      • Atlanta, Georgia, USA(Hawkins, Indiana)
    • Production companies
      • 21 Laps Entertainment
      • Monkey Massacre
      • Georgia Film, Music & Digital Entertainment Office
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 16m(76 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby Digital
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.00 : 1

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
    Follow IMDb on social
    Get the IMDb App
    For Android and iOS
    Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • License IMDb Data
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Your Ads Privacy Choices
    IMDb, an Amazon company

    © 1990-2025 by IMDb.com, Inc.