Gaten Matarazzo on saying goodbye to Dustin, crying through the 'Stranger Things' finale, and why it felt like the only right ending

Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson in "Stranger Things" season five.

Courtesy of Netflix

• The "Stranger Things" series finale premiered on Netflix and in theaters on December 31, 2025.
• Gaten Matarazzo, who plays Dustin Henderson, spoke with Business Insider about the show's ending.
• Although it's hard to let Dustin go, he said, "This really is the end of their story."

Major spoilers ahead for "Stranger Things" season five.

Hellfire lives! That is, if Dustin Henderson ...