Prince’s Estate Makes a Rare Exception For Netflix Finale

Even when he was alive, Prince was famously selective about how his music was used. In death, that approach has not softened. His estate remains extremely strict about licensing his songs for film, television, and commercials. That is why a rare appearance by not just one, but two of his most iconic tracks in a Netflix series finale caught fans completely off guard.

Stranger Things wrapped up its fifth and final season on New Year’s Eve with a two-hour finale that streamed on Netflix and screened in select theaters across the country. For a show that has become a cultural event, the ending was designed to feel like a moment, not just another episode.

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Set in the 1980s, music has always been more than background noise for Stranger Things. It is woven directly into the storytelling. Over the years, the show has turned classic songs into emotional moments, sometimes even giving decades-old tracks a second life.

Season 4 Set the Bar Sky High

Season 4 raised expectations to near impossible levels. Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” became a defining scene of the series, while Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill” experienced one of the most dramatic chart revivals in music history. Originally released in 1985 and peaking at number 30, the song surged to number three on the Billboard Hot 100 after its appearance on the show.

That success created a new problem for the final season. How do you top that?

The Long Shot That Actually Worked

The show’s creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, knew the finale needed emotional weight and cultural gravity. Their answer was Prince. Specifically, Purple Rain.

The idea came with plenty of skepticism. Prince’s estate is notorious for rejecting licensing requests, particularly for “Purple Rain,” a song that has rarely been used outside of the original film. Even so, the brothers took a chance.

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In the finale, Purple Rain becomes a key plot device, with two songs from the album appearing during critical moments. “When Doves Cry” made the cut, but the real shock was the use of “Purple Rain” itself.

The Duffers explained they were looking for albums that opened with celebration and closed with emotional gravity. As Ross Duffer put it, Prince “lined up perfectly” with what they needed.

A Rare Yes From Prince’s Estate

Ross Duffer noted that one of the most exciting aspects was that the song had simply not been used this way before. Prince’s estate, he said, does not generally allow “Purple Rain” to be licensed outside the film.

When the request went in, the brothers hoped for the best. When the answer came back approved, relief set in quickly. Matt Duffer summed it up simply. “Thank God they agreed.”

A Finale Packed With Musical Moments

The Prince tracks were not the only standout musical choices. The finale also featured songs from David Bowie, Cowboy Junkies, and Fleetwood Mac. One of the most crowd-pleasing moments came courtesy of an Iron Maiden classic, a nod to the show’s long-running love affair with metal and rock.

As a fan, I want to say a big thank you to The Duffer Brothers, along with the entire cast and crew of the show for a fantastic, fun, nostalgic ride, and can't wait to see what comes next.