Antony Starr in “The Boys” Season 5.
Prime Video/Jasper Savage
Eric Kripke’s superhero satire The Boys is ending its five-season run this week, beginning with an early look at the episode in theaters before it streams on Prime Video.
Created by Kripke and based on the comic book series by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson, The Boys follows a group of rebels — known as “The Boys” — who attempt to publicly expose and take down the manufactured superheroes (aka Supes) as the dark and demented agents of chaos they truly are.
The Supes are the creation of the Vought Corporation and its Compound V serum, which gives each person injected with a unique — and sometimes disgusting — superpower.
Note: Major spoilers from “The Boys” Season 5 will be discussed throughout the rest of this article.
Antony Starr in “The Boys” Season 5.
Prime Video/Jasper Savage
‘The Boys’ Season 5 Begins With Homelander’s New World Order
The fifth season of The Boys implents the plans teased at the conclusion of the Season 4 finale, where the newly installed puppet President Steven Calhoun (David Andrews) declares martial law in the U.S. and deputizes hundreds of Supes nationwide to carry out the orders of the unhinged Supe leader Homelander (Antony Starr).
In Homelander’s crosshairs are former Supe Starlight/Annie January (Erin Moriarty) and her rebellious followers, known as Starlighters, who are accused of being government traitors.
While Annie and The Boys’ leader Billy Butcher (Karl Urban) escaped the clutches of Homelander in the Season 4 finale, their allies Hughie (Jack Quaid), Mother’s Milk (Laz Alonso), Frenchie (Tomer Capone) are apprehended and thrown into the maniacal Supe’s “Freedom Camp,” while their ally, the superpowered Kimiko (Karen Fukuhara), is sent home to the Philippines.
Butcher locates Kimiko, however, and together with Starlight, Hughie and Mother’s Milk are rescued from imprisonment and hope to use a virus that will kill all Supes, even if it means sacrificing Starlight and Kimiko’s lives.
Tomer Capone, Karen Fukuhara, Laz Alonso, Erin Moriarty and Jack Quaid in “The Boys” Season 5.
Prime Video/Jasper Savage
The group is racing against the clock, though, because Homelander is trying to get his hands on V1 — the first version of Compound V — which will make him immortal and effectively undefeatable. Joining The Boys in their fight are two rebel Supes from the spinoff series Gen V: Marie Moreau (Jaz Sinclair) and Jordan Li (London Thor).
Also crossing over to The Boys’ side is Sister Sage (Susan Heyward), but Homelander’s father, Soldier Boy (Jensen Ackles), is still in his son’s corner, even though he has obvious disdain for his offspring.
The Boys Season 5 has been a bloodbath — which is to be expected given the excessive blood, guts and gore of the first four seasons — but in the first seven episodes there have also been some major casualties. on the Supe side, Homelander has executed A-Train (Jessie T. Usher) and Firecracker (Valorie Curry), while The Deep (Chace Crawford) has murdered Black Noir II (Nathan Mitchell).
The Boys also lost Frenchie in heartbreaking fashion in Episode 7, a clear signal that no members of the group are safe from death in series finale.
‘The Boys’ Series Finale Will First Be Released In Theaters Before Streaming On Prime Video
The Boys’ official X account announced on May 5 that the finale will first be available to watch in theaters on Tuesday, May 19, at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT in 4DX venues in several theatrical chains across the U.S. and Canada, including AMC Theatres, Regal Cinemas, B&B Theatres, Marcus Theatres, Cineplex, Cinema West, Cinepolis and Regency Theatres.
The 4DX format creates an interactive experience for audiences with motion-enabled chairs with vibrations and sensations, as well as simulated weather conditions, including lightning and rain.
Billy Butcher and Jensen Ackles in “The Boys” Season 5.
Prime Video/Jasper Savage
“For one night only, experience the epic series-defining showdown between Butcher and Homelander in 4DX, an explosive final chapter five seasons in the making,” the description of the 1 hour, 3 minute series finale on The Boys’ 4DX page reads. “With everything on the line, The Boys leave it all behind for one last diabolical stand.
“Feel every deafening blast and shocking twist as blood, guts and gore are amplified by this total sensory experience,” the teaser adds. “Some moments are too big to experience from your couch. This isn’t just the finale, it’s the bloody big screen.”
The Boys Series Finale Will Stream At Its Usual Time
New episodes of The Boys generally drop on Prime Video at 3 a.m. ET/12 a.m. PT on Prime Video on Wednesdays, and the series finale will premiere at the same time on May 20.
For viewers who don’t subscribe to Prime Video, the platform is available for consumers who have an Amazon subscription, which costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. Prime Video-only subscriptions are available as well for $8.99 per month. Since both plans are ad-based, Prime Video offers the ad-free “Video Ultra” that also has 4K UHD/Dolby Atmos availability for $4.99 per month or $45.99 per year.
ROME, ITALY – MARCH 19: Erik Kripke, showrunner, executive producer and creator of Amazon’s The Boys attends “The Boys” photocall at The Space Cinema Moderno on March 19, 2026 in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Elisabetta A. Villa/Getty Images)
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Eric Kripke Is ‘Anxious’ About ‘The Boys’ Finale
Nearly seven years after The Boys’ Season 1 premiere on July 26, 2019, Eric Kripke knows there’s a lot riding on the series finale since it is instrumental in defining the show overall.
“What makes me most … anxious about the final season is really hoping we land the plane,” Kripke told The Hollywood Reporter recently. “It’s super hard to do a finale. Fans will retroactively judge the show based on how they feel about the finale.
“If we stiff it, they will definitely say, ‘Well, that show wasn’t as good as we thought it was.’ And it’s almost like you’re trying to secure your legacy with these finales,” he added for THR. “And it’s the first finale I’ve ever done, too — so it’s not like I have any experience with it. So, I’m mostly anxious and girding my loins.”
The Boys series finale will begin showing in 4DX theaters in North America on Tuesday, starting at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT. Check your local listings for ticket availability and additional showtimes. The series finale will then begin streaming on Prime Video on Wednesday at 3 a.m. ET/12 p.m. PT.