Netflix just aired a holiday ad so packed with spoilers that fans are calling it one of the worst promotional blunders in recent memory. The spot ran during Christmas Day NFL coverage and revealed key plot points from its entire 2025 release slate. It’s already drawing heavy backlash across social media.
The streaming giant has run festive ads before, but this one crossed a critical line. Instead of teasing shows with vague clips, it showcased specific moments that gave away major twists.
According to multiple threads on Reddit (1,2,3) and posts from users like @MaffManJones on X, the ad spoiled the ending of Stranger Things Season 5, including character deaths and the fate of key heroes. One big thread discussing this has picked up over 3.5K upvotes and a few hundred comments.
It also revealed the shocking finale of Squid Game Season 3, something user @RRHKyle pointed out, noting that they were “kinda pissed,” since they hadn’t watched it yet.
Viewers reported the 30-second ad cut between scenes from upcoming films and series without warning. One moment showed a beloved character’s betrayal in Bridgerton Season 4. Another gave away the winner of the next The Crown season’s political drama. The ad even hinted at the 2025 Super Bowl twist for a popular action series. Fans who tuned in during the game felt blindsided.
One frustrated view said, “Netflix is one of the dumbest as far as valuing their content goes.” The ad interrupted what many called an already ad-heavy broadcast, making the spoilers feel even more intrusive.
The whole creative concept is “spoilers as a year-end flex,” which might play fine on YouTube, where viewers can choose to click, but it lands very differently when it interrupts a mainstream, lean-back sports audience. I mean, that same ad has been on YouTube for days, but no one complained. I’ve embedded the ad below, but again — SPOILER ALERT! Don’t click play if you don’t want to see spoilers.
We’ll be tracking if Netflix addresses the backlash soon. For now, it’s a harsh lesson in how not to promote content. Regardless, if you haven’t caught up on your favorite shows, you might want to keep the remote close during the next big game.
Dwayne Cubbins
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I cover fast-moving stories across apps, online platforms, and everyday tech — phones, wearables, consoles, and whatever else people are fighting with this week. Bugs, rollouts, scams, policy enforcement, and the occasional internet-culture rabbit hole are all fair game. My goal is simple — make confusing tech news readable. When I'm not working, I'm working out or chilling with my dog. Got a tip? You can find me on X @dcubbins.
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