The new DC series “Lanterns” has made a huge impact on HBO Max. The show pulled in 9.3 million global viewers across HBO and HBO Max in its first three days of release. This makes it the biggest DC Studios premiere on the streaming platform to date.
Warner Bros. Discovery announced the viewership numbers on August 20, 2026. The series premiere ranked among the top five series premieres in HBO Max history.
The show stars Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan and Aaron Pierre as John Stewart. It premiered on August 16, 2026 on HBO and streams simultaneously on HBO Max.
Viewership Numbers That Put Lanterns Among HBO Max’s Biggest Launches
The 9.3 million viewers came from across the globe. Of that total, 6.6 million viewers were from the United States alone. The show outperformed several other major series debuts.
“Lanterns” beat the premiere numbers of “It: Welcome to Derry,” which had 5.7 million viewers in its first three days. It also outperformed “The Penguin” and “True Detective: Night Country” in their opening weekends.
The premiere episode stayed at the number one spot on HBO Max’s daily Top 10 list since its Sunday debut. This shows strong viewer interest beyond just the opening weekend.
The show’s co-creators include Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, and Tom King. Mundy serves as showrunner. James Gunn and Peter Safran, the heads of DC Studios, also serve as executive producers.
“The light shines bright. #Lanterns delivered 9.3M global viewers in its first three days, becoming @DCOfficial’s top series premiere on @hbomax and ranking among the platform’s biggest launches,” reads the caption on X.
The Cast and Story Behind DC’s New Hit Series
Kyle Chandler plays Hal Jordan, the first Green Lantern from Earth. Aaron Pierre plays John Stewart, a new recruit who has trained his whole life to become a Green Lantern.
The cast also includes Kelly Macdonald as Sheriff Kerry. Other cast members are Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Laura Linney, Jason Ritter, J. Alphonse Nicholson, and Jasmine Cephas Jones.
The show follows a simple but gripping story. Two space cops, veteran Hal Jordan and new recruit John Stewart, get pulled into a dark mystery on Earth. They investigate a murder in the American heartland. The case has ties to cosmic forces.
The series blends a neo-Western feel with the Green Lantern universe’s mythology. It takes a more grounded approach compared to typical superhero shows.
Release Schedule and Where to Watch Lanterns
“Lanterns” airs new episodes every Sunday night on HBO. Each new episode streams on HBO Max at the same time it airs on TV.
The first season has eight episodes. Here is the full episode release schedule:
- Episode 1 – August 16 (already aired)
- Episode 2 – August 23
- Episode 3 – August 30
- Episode 4 – September 6
- Episode 5 – September 13
- Episode 6 – September 20
- Episode 7 – September 27
- Episode 8 – October 4
New episodes air at 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT. Viewers in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, India, and other regions can stream the show on HBO Max. The show is also available through various local streaming partners in different countries.
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Critical Response and Fan Reactions
Critics have given mixed but mostly positive reviews to “Lanterns.” Some praise the grounded approach and strong performances from Chandler and Pierre. Others find the pilot episode slow.
One review noted that the show “trades superhero spectacle for a ‘True Detective’-style mystery”. Another called it a “grounded superhero show” that “shine[s] bright”.
Fans have expressed divided opinions online. Some viewers enjoyed the premiere. Others worry the show removes too many superhero elements.
“I enjoyed it but I’m afraid this show is going for the whole ‘take away the superhero aspect from this superhero show and [hope] its still good’ route,” one fan commented.
Despite the divided reactions, the viewership numbers prove that many people tuned in to watch. The show also earned praise for Chandler and Pierre’s performances.
James Gunn has defended the show’s tone. He clarified that the DC Universe will not have “one tone” going forward. This means different DC projects can have different styles.
Showrunner Chris Mundy said Gunn took a hands-off approach during development. Mundy told The Hollywood Reporter: “At the very beginning, James was off doing Superman. He was in the trenches. So while he would come in for high-level stuff, there was a fair amount of trust that he was gracious enough to give us”.
The show was originally planned as a Max original. But it later moved to HBO as part of a new content plan. This move likely helped the show reach a wider audience.
“Lanterns” is produced by HBO in association with Warner Bros. Television and DC Studios. The show was picked up for eight episodes in June 2024.
Also Read: Aaron Pierre Says ‘Lanterns’ Intense Training Gave Him a Major Edge for ‘Man of Tomorrow’
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