Fans who secured tickets for the theatrical screening of the Stranger Things finale are considered fortunate, as resale tickets on social media platforms are being offered at prices significantly higher than the original cost. The series finale is set to premiere on Netflix at 8 p.m. ET on New Year’s Eve, alongside select theatre releases in Canada and the United States.
Tickets for the event were initially sold for $11 each, with a concession stand voucher also provided due to constraints related to talent residuals. According to Cineplex, the main host of the Canadian screenings, tickets for the nationwide events sold out almost immediately. While a few seats are still available in certain theatres, the majority have been claimed.
Landmark Cinemas is also screening the finale, with seats across the country either sold out or close to selling out. As a result, fans like Omar Hassanali from Mississauga, Ont., are turning to platforms like Facebook Marketplace in search of tickets. Hassanali, aiming to secure six tickets for his family, expressed disappointment at the high resale prices, ranging from $25 to $200 per ticket.
While reselling tickets for music and sports events is common, Vass Bednar, managing director of the Canadian SHIELD Institute, noted that such activity is less prevalent for theatre events. The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) has faced similar resale issues, with tickets for popular films being resold at exorbitant prices, sparking backlash from fans.
Cineplex has implemented measures to combat ticket reselling, such as limits on the number of tickets an individual can purchase. However, Bednar suggested that more extreme measures, like digitally tethering tickets to buyers, could be considered. Governments in other countries have proposed laws to restrict ticket resale above face value, though concerns remain about potential negative impacts on regular ticket buyers.
After an extensive search, Hassanali managed to secure face-value tickets for a Jan. 1 screening with his family. For those still seeking tickets, a limited number will be available exclusively at the theatre, and various bars and restaurants are hosting watch parties for the finale across Canada.