🚨 BREAKING: ZACK SNYDER FANS ARE FURIOUS – Accuse Stranger Things Finale of Straight-Up STEALING Iconic Man of Steel Scene! 😤🔥

You thought the Stranger Things finale drama was over? THINK AGAIN. Die-hard Snyderverse loyalists are exploding on social media, claiming the Duffer Brothers ripped off one of Zack Snyder’s most emotional DCEU moments – Jonathan Kent’s heartbreaking tornado sacrifice in Man of Steel!

Side-by-side comparisons are going viral: A key character vanishing into a massive explosion/portal disaster to save the group… sound familiar? Fans are screaming “plagiarism!” and “lazy copycat,” saying the Duffers couldn’t come up with an original heroic sacrifice.

But is it blatant theft, loving homage, or just coincidence? The backlash is INTENSE – with some vowing to boycott future Stranger Things spinoffs.

Click now to see the shocking side-by-side clips and decide for yourself… You won’t unsee it! 🤯👇

Just days after the New Year’s Eve premiere of the Stranger Things Season 5 finale, a fresh wave of controversy has erupted online — this time involving fans of director Zack Snyder accusing the Netflix series of copying a pivotal scene from his 2013 film Man of Steel.

The backlash centers on a climactic moment in the finale episode, “The Rightside Up,” where a major character appears to sacrifice themselves by staying behind in the collapsing Upside Down portal amid a massive detonation, allowing the rest of the group to escape. Visuals show the character disappearing into swirling debris and chaos just before the explosion seals the gateway.

Snyder enthusiasts quickly drew parallels to a memorable sequence in Man of Steel, where Jonathan Kent (Kevin Costner) sacrifices himself during a tornado to protect young Clark Kent’s secret identity, standing defiantly as the storm engulfs him while urging his son to safety.

Side-by-side video comparisons flooded platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok starting January 2, 2026, with hashtags like #StrangerThingsRipOff and #SnyderStolen trending briefly among comic book movie circles. One viral post from a prominent Snyder fan account garnered over 500,000 views, captioning the clips: “Duffer Brothers really thought we wouldn’t notice this blatant steal from Man of Steel? Disrespectful.”

“Once you see it, you can’t unsee it,” one fan commented. “The framing, the slow buildup, the hero waving goodbye before vanishing into the disaster — it’s shot-for-shot vibes.” Others called it “unforgivingly derivative,” accusing creators Matt and Ross Duffer of lacking originality in the series’ swan song.

The controversy adds to an already heated post-finale discourse. Stranger Things Season 5 wrapped up the nine-year saga with massive viewership — Netflix reported it as one of the platform’s biggest launches ever — but reactions have been polarized. Critics praised the emotional closures and ensemble unity, while some viewers lamented a perceived lack of stakes, minimal character deaths, and unresolved threads.

This Snyder-specific accusation, however, stems from a dedicated faction known for fiercely defending the director’s vision, particularly after the fan-driven campaign that led to the 2021 release of Zack Snyder’s Justice League. Sources close to the debate note that Snyder fans have a history of spotting stylistic influences — or alleged thefts — in other blockbusters.

Neither the Duffer Brothers nor Netflix has directly addressed the claims. In pre-finale interviews, the Duffers have openly discussed their influences, citing classics from Stephen King, Steven Spielberg, and John Carpenter, but Snyder’s work has rarely been mentioned. One fan pointed to a Season 5 early episode featuring a slow-motion jump as potential evidence of broader Snyder admiration, though that’s unconfirmed.

Defenders of Stranger Things argue the trope of self-sacrifice in apocalyptic scenarios is commonplace in genre storytelling. Similar moments appear in films like Armageddon, Deep Impact, and even Avengers: Endgame. “It’s a heroic archetype, not a rip-off,” one counter-post read. “Sacrificing for the greater good while others escape destruction? That’s been around since biblical times.”

Still, the visual similarities have proven striking to many. In Man of Steel, Kent stands on a highway overpass, motioning for Clark to flee as the tornado bears down. In the Stranger Things finale, the character lingers at the portal’s edge, gesturing reassurance amid swirling Upside Down vines and explosive energy before being consumed.

Comic Book Resources was among the first outlets to highlight the uproar on January 3, noting: “Admittedly, it’s difficult to unsee the comparison once it’s been put in front of you.” International sites, including Brazil’s Observatório do Cinema, echoed the sentiment, sharing clip comparisons and polling readers.

The timing amplifies the drama. Stranger Things has faced unrelated scrutiny post-finale, including review-bombing accusations over character arcs (particularly Will Byers’) and debunked rumors of a “secret extended cut” akin to the Snyder Cut. Actor Randy Havens (Mr. Clarke) publicly dismissed those theories, stating there’s “no secret Snyder cut of the show.”

Broader fan wars have spilled over, with some Snyder supporters tying it to ongoing debates about creative ownership in Hollywood. “If fans can fight for the Snyder Cut, we can call out when his ideas get borrowed without credit,” one post argued.

Meanwhile, Stranger Things loyalists have pushed back aggressively. “The show has always worn its influences on its sleeve — E.T., Goonies, Nightmare on Elm Street,” a Reddit thread countered. “Singling out one scene as theft ignores how homage works in pop culture.”

As of January 4, the debate shows no signs of cooling. Netflix declined comment on the accusations, focusing instead on celebrating the series’ legacy. The Duffers, in a recent Variety interview, addressed general finale feedback but sidestepped specific comparisons.

Zack Snyder himself has remained silent on the matter via his social channels, where he typically engages with fans about his projects like the upcoming Rebel Moon sequels.

The incident underscores the passionate — and often tribal — nature of modern fandoms. What one group sees as inspiration, another views as imitation. For Stranger Things, concluding a cultural juggernaut was bound to invite scrutiny; throwing in a dash of superhero movie drama only fuels the fire.

All five seasons of Stranger Things are available to stream on Netflix. The series, which began in 2016 as a nostalgic love letter to 1980s genre fare, ends with Hawkins’ survivors moving forward, portals closed, and lingering questions about the Upside Down’s true nature.

Whether the Snyder comparison holds water or fades into meme territory remains to be seen — but for now, it’s the latest twist keeping the conversation alive.