The Duffer Brothers’ Rotten Tomatoes Streak Officially Ends With Their New Netflix Sci-Fi Show

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The Duffer Brothers, known for their consistently high ratings on Rotten Tomatoes, have seen that streak broken with the release of their new science-fiction series on Netflix.

Matt and Ross Duffer created and oversaw the production of the hugely popular Netflix series Stranger Things. Although the first four seasons were a hit with viewers, the fifth season received a lot of criticism. On Rotten Tomatoes, it earned a 52% audience score – the lowest of any season and the only one considered negatively reviewed.

Following a series of lower ratings on Rotten Tomatoes after the release of Stranger Things season 5, the Duffer brothers have rebounded with their new show, The Boroughs. It earned an 85% audience score (‘Popcornmeter’), ending a run of less favorable reviews. Previously, Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen received a 61% audience score, and Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 scored 52%. Here’s a look at the ratings for all shows created by the Duffer brothers since Stranger Things season 5.

Duffer Brothers’ Show/Season Tomatometer Score Popcornmeter Score
Stranger Things season 5 82% 52%
Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen 86% 61%
Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 season 1 63% 52%
The Boroughs 95% 85%

The Duffers produced Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, and The Boroughs, but didn’t create or run those shows. After Stranger Things season 5, their projects received poor reviews, often failing to reach a 60% approval rating on review sites. However, The Boroughs has changed that trend.

Audience reviews on Rotten Tomatoes praised the show for its strong acting, captivating sci-fi mysteries, and a vibe similar to both Stranger Things and classic Spielberg films. Many reviewers also appreciated seeing older characters portrayed in a fresh, non-stereotypical way, and expressed interest in a potential second season.

The Duffer Brothers’ latest show has received high praise from critics, earning a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes – significantly higher than the audience score. Jordan Williams of ScreenRant described the show, The Boroughs, as “charming and entertaining,” adding that viewers will likely want to spend more time with the characters.

The story features a group of unexpected heroes played by Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Denis O’Hare, Alfred Woodard, Clarke Peters, and Bill Pullman. They are residents of a retirement community run by CEO Blaine Shaw (Seth Numrich), and they must face both supernatural threats and a larger conspiracy that puts everyone’s lives in danger.

In a recent interview with ScreenRant, actor Davis acknowledged the similarities between his show, The Boroughs, and Stranger Things. He explained that the comparison makes sense, as both shows feature a group of unlikely heroes who team up to protect others. Even the creators of Stranger Things, the Duffer Brothers, agreed, joking that The Boroughs uses golf carts instead of bicycles for their adventures. Davis thought this was a fitting observation.

The Duffer brothers are continuing to expand the world of Stranger Things. Season 2 of Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 has been greenlit and will be released in late 2026. They’re also developing a live-action Stranger Things spin-off, though details about the story are currently secret. Most of their future projects, however, will be produced through a new four-year agreement with Paramount Pictures for both films and TV series.

While The Boroughs hasn’t been officially picked up for a second season, the show’s ending suggests more story could be told. According to co-creator and showrunner Jeffrey Addiss, he and Will Matthews have already planned out what would happen next if the show continues, as they told ScreenRant.

All episodes of The Boroughs are now streaming on Netflix.

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2026-05-23 20:59