DC Studios has a major television hit on its hands as Lanterns delivered the biggest premiere for a DC Studios series on HBO Max to date.
The new HBO series starring Aaron Pierre and Kyle Chandler drew 9.3 million global cross-platform viewers across HBO and HBO Max during its first three days, according to figures released by HBO. Of that total, 6.6 million viewers came from the United States.
The impressive debut makes Lanterns the biggest premiere for a DC Studios series on HBO Max, surpassing previous DC releases on the platform. It also places the series among the five biggest series premieres in HBO Max history.
For comparison, The Penguin debuted to 5.3 million U.S. viewers across HBO and Max in 2024, giving Lanterns a sizable advantage during its opening window.
Lanterns stars Pierre as John Stewart alongside Chandler as Hal Jordan, bringing two of DC’s most recognizable Green Lanterns together in a story that takes a considerably more grounded approach to the cosmic heroes.
Kyle Chandler, Lanterns [Warner Bros.]
The eight-episode series follows veteran Lantern Jordan and new recruit Stewart as they investigate a mysterious case in the American heartland. The series combines its superhero and science-fiction elements with a darker detective story, giving the Green Lantern mythology a different feel from previous live-action adaptations.
Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof and Tom King created the series, with Mundy serving as showrunner. Lanterns is also a key installment in James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Universe, connecting the television side of DC Studios’ expanding franchise with its larger Gods and Monsters storyline.
The record-setting debut is an encouraging sign for DC Studios, particularly considering the amount of attention surrounding the series before its premiere. The grounded direction and interpretation of the Green Lantern mythology generated plenty of discussion among fans, but the early viewership numbers show that audiences were interested in seeing what DC had planned.
With 9.3 million viewers in only three days and a place among HBO Max’s largest series launches, Lanterns is officially off to a strong start.
New episodes of Lanterns air Sundays on HBO and stream on HBO Max.
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