The DCU series Lanterns is experiencing considerable global success, with viewership figures rivaling those of established HBO hits. According to Nielsen data reported by Variety, the seventh episode of Lanterns garnered seven million views in the United States within its first three days across HBO's cable channels and its streaming service, HBO Max.
In the U.S., Lanterns is reportedly averaging over 12 million views per episode. When global viewership is factored in, this number rises to 19 million per episode. Variety also noted that viewership continues to grow, with 1.5 million new viewers reportedly tuning in for the series premiere just last week.
These figures place Lanterns in competitive company with other popular HBO programming. The Batman spin-off series The Penguin averaged 27 million views per episode in 2024, while Euphoria concluded its third season with an average of 25 million viewers per episode. The medical drama The Pitt averaged 15.4 million views for its second season, with its finale attracting 9.7 million viewers.
Lanterns is scheduled to air its season finale on HBO Max this coming Sunday, October 4. The series has sparked considerable discussion among fans, particularly regarding the fate of a central character, though theories suggest the character might still be alive. IGN gave the latest episode an eight out of ten, praising its resurgence in momentum and its focus on the core Hal Jordan and John Stewart dynamic.