Jake Connelly talks about his dream-come-true role on Stranger Things as Delightful Derek and shares stories from filming the show before taking Jimmy’s spot at the Tonight Show desk (The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon). YouTube Tips ⓘ
The last episode of Stranger Things, the feature-length finale titled “Stranger Things 5: The Finale” or “Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up,” was available for special release in theaters on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2025, and is available today, New Year’s Day, January 1, 2026 at select local theaters.
The special release is your chance to see local star Jake Connelly on the big screen, and enjoy the season finale. Jake Connelly, an Arlington Heights middle school student, plays Derek Turnbow “Delightful Derek” in Season 5, including the final episode. While he only appeared in Season 5, he has become a top star among the cast as he matured from bully to hero. He has a big part in the finale.
“Stranger Things 5: The Finale” was presented simultaneously with its Netflix release, allowing fans to experience the two-hour event together in cinemas. Screenings occurred in hundreds of theaters across the U.S. and Canada.
“Stranger Things 5: The Finale” is playing at several nearby AMC theaters, but not Randhurst.
Here’s the successful story for young student, Jake Connelly, with homebase in Arlington Heights and a star power trajectory into acting and worldwide Netflix streaming video exposure, and more.
Jake Connelly plays Derek Turnbow in the fifth and final season of the Netflix science fiction horror series Stranger Things. Jake was born in 2012, and was only 4 years-old when Season 1 of Stranger Things premiered. He first watched Stranger Things during Season 4, when he became a fan of the show. Now he’s a star on the show.
He told Jimmy Fallon and the audience on the Tonight Show that he watched Season 4 with his family every night, and he said, “when the audition came in, I could not believe it … it was the thing of dreams for me.” Fallon replied, “And today it’s the biggest show in the world.” Jake got the call for the audition in the Spring of 2023 when he was coming up out of sheltering in his family’s basement after a Tornado Warning. Then, after the audition, he was told, “Jake, you’re going to Hawkins.” Hawkins, Georgia is the filming location for Stranger Things Season 5. Now he’s a well known favorite of the show.
Before winter break, Jake Connelly missed the last week of school at middle school in Arlington Heights to appear on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. At school, he’s got people coming up to him for selfies and autographs, he told Fallon.
The Season Finale of the fifth and final season of Stranger Things is Wednesday, December 31, 2025 on Netflix, and at select theaters.
Participating AMC theaters in Illinois include …
AMC Champaign 13
AMC Cicero 14
AMC Crestwood 18
AMC DINE-IN Northbrook 14
AMC DINE-IN Yorktown 18
AMC Evanston 12
AMC Ford City 14
AMC Grand Prairie 18
AMC Naperville 16
AMC NEWCITY 14
AMC Oakbrook Center 12
AMC Quarry Cinemas 14
AMC River East 21
AMC Rockford 16
AMC Roosevelt Collection 16
AMC South Barrington 24
AMC Streets of Woodfield 20
AMC Village Crossing 18
Emmy-Winner Jake Hamilton talks with STRANGER THINGS star Jake Connelly on CHICAGO NOW’S Jake’s Takes (Jake Hamilton’s takes). YouTube Tips ⓘ
jakeconnellyofficial/instagram
Get updates from The Cardinal ALL NEWS FEEDS on Facebook. Just ‘LIKE’ the ‘Arlington Cardinal Page (become a fan of our page). The updates cover all posts and sub-category posts from The Cardinal — Arlingtoncardinal.com. You can also limit feeds to specific categories. See all of The Cardinal Facebook fan pages at Arlingtoncardinal.com/about/facebook …
Help fund The Cardinal Arlingtoncardinal.com/sponsor
