Lanterns Averaging Nearly 19 Million Viewers Per Episode Worldwide on HBO

HBO‘s DC Studios series Lanterns is averaging nearly 19 million viewers per episode worldwide, according to Nielsen data reported by Variety, making it one of the streamer’s biggest hits of the year as it heads into its season finale.

How the Numbers Break Down

The figures come from a combination of Nielsen’s measurement of linear viewers on HBO’s cable channel and streams on HBO Max. Episode 7 drew 7 million U.S. viewers within its first three days of availability, matching the series’ previous U.S. high set by Episode 3 back in August. That brought the show’s running U.S. average per episode to above 12 million, a number that climbs to nearly 19 million once international viewing is factored in.

The series has built steadily since its premiere, which opened to 9.3 million viewers worldwide, reportedly the biggest-ever debut for a DC Studios show. That number climbed further by Episode 3, which drew 10 million viewers worldwide in its first three days, remaining the show’s global high for an individual episode. Notably, HBO did not provide a specific worldwide total alongside its Episode 7 figures, a departure from how it reported numbers for earlier episodes in the season.

The show has also continued pulling in new audiences well into its run, with 1.5 million additional viewers watching the series premiere for the first time within the week leading up to the finale, suggesting a wave of binge-watchers catching up before the season’s end.

Viewership at a Glance

How Lanterns Compares to Other HBO Shows

Lanterns’ nearly 19 million global average puts it in strong company among HBO’s recent big-ticket releases. It is being compared to IT: Welcome to Derry, which drew 6.5 million U.S. viewers in three days for its most-watched episode and reached a similar 19.7 million worldwide average around its finale, a number HBO later updated to 27 million per episode during an earnings call months later.

The Penguin, HBO’s previous DC series, finished its 2024 run averaging more than 27 million viewers per episode, while Euphoria’s third season averaged 25 million per episode worldwide. By those benchmarks, Lanterns’ current numbers, while strong, still trail some of the network’s biggest-ever performers, though its audience has continued growing as the season has progressed.

What’s Next for the Show

Starring Aaron Pierre as John Stewart and Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan, Lanterns was created by Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King. With the season finale releasing this week, viewership is expected to rise further as more binge-watchers catch up on the season.

While HBO has not yet officially confirmed a second season, reports have indicated a writers’ room for a follow-up season is already active, and DC Studios head James Gunn has described the upcoming episode specifically as a season finale rather than a series ending, fueling expectations that a renewal could follow.

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