The new DC Studios series Lanterns has made a significant impact on HBO Max, achieving the largest premiere viewership for any DC Studios show on the platform. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the series garnered 9.3 million viewers globally within its first three days of release, with 71% of that total originating from the United States.
This strong debut places Lanterns ahead of premieres for other notable DC Studios productions such as The Penguin, Peacemaker, and the animated Creature Commandos. It also ranks among the top five series premieres in HBO Max's overall history. In the U.S. alone, Lanterns attracted 6.6 million viewers, a figure that exceeds the premiere viewership of critical successes like IT: Welcome to Derry and True Detective: Night Country, and closely trails A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms' 6.7 million viewers. The long-term success of Lanterns, however, will be determined by its performance over its initial 90-day release window.
The early success is a welcome development for DC Studios co-CEOs James Gunn and Peter Safran, especially following the underperformance of the Supergirl film at the box office. While it is premature to definitively label Lanterns a hit, showrunner Chris Mundy has indicated that planning for a potential second season is already underway. Warner Bros. will ultimately decide whether to proceed with further episodes.
Mundy expressed optimism about the first season's narrative, stating, "We feel good that we told the story in Season 1 well." He added that the decision for a second season would depend on audience interest, with any continuation aiming for a fresh yet familiar approach to characters. "We’re about six weeks into laying out a season, and then we’ll talk to folks about it really soon," Mundy noted.
The premiere of Lanterns has already generated considerable online discussion, particularly regarding its darker, more adult tone. Gunn has recently defended this stylistic choice, contrasting it with the lighter approach of the Superman film. The tone is expected to shift again with upcoming projects, including the body horror film Clayface and the family-friendly adventure Man of Tomorrow.
Aaron Pierre, who portrays John Stewart in Lanterns, is set to appear in Man of Tomorrow. His character's adaptation to a more family-oriented tone in the Superman film will be a point of interest, drawing parallels to how Marvel Studios has integrated characters like The Punisher into different cinematic contexts.
The first episode of Lanterns Season 1 is now available for viewing, with IGN having published a spoiler-free review. The series officially premiered on HBO and HBO Max on Sunday, August 16.