The Lanterns premiere ratings are in: 9.3 million viewers worldwide in its first three days on HBO and HBO Max, per The Hollywood Reporter. That makes it the biggest premiere for a DC Studios show on the platform.
The US supplied 6.6 million of that total, about 71%. The figure beats several recent HBO series premieres, and sits just behind A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms:
| Premiere | US viewers | Window |
|---|---|---|
| A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms | 6.7 million | 3 days (Jan 2026) |
| Lanterns | 6.6 million | 3 days (Aug 2026) |
| IT: Welcome to Derry | 5.7 million | 3 days (Oct 2025) |
| The Penguin | 5.3 million | 4 days (Sep 2024) |
| True Detective: Night Country | 2 million | First night (Jan 2024) |
The series is also among the top five premieres HBO Max has ever had, and it has sat at No. 1 on the platform’s daily Top 10 since Sunday, per Deadline. For DC Studios it is the strongest streaming debut yet — ahead of The Penguin, Peacemaker and Creature Commandos — and quiet vindication for a project that took seven years to reach the screen while two sibling DC shows died waiting.
Lanterns premiere ratings: what the show is
Kyle Chandler plays Hal Jordan, the veteran Green Lantern; Aaron Pierre plays John Stewart, the recruit. The pair are sent to Nebraska to investigate a mass shooting that Jordan suspects has alien roots — a case that finally gives the ring something more interesting to do than punch. Chris Mundy (Ozark) created the series with Damon Lindelof and comics writer Tom King, and runs it as showrunner; James Hawes directed the first two episodes. Nathan Fillion reprises his role as Guy Gardner later in the season, and the cast also includes Kelly Macdonald, Garret Dillahunt, Poorna Jagannathan, Jason Ritter and Ulrich Thomsen.
In the UAE, Lanterns streams on OSN+, which premiered it on 17 August with a PG15 rating. Standard costs AED 48.99 a month and Premium AED 64.99; our Where to Watch guide has the full breakdown.
When did Lanterns premiere?
Lanterns premiered on 16 August 2026 in the US on HBO and HBO Max, and on 17 August in the UAE on OSN+.
Where can I watch Lanterns in the UAE?
Lanterns streams on OSN+ in the UAE with a PG15 rating. Standard costs AED 48.99 a month and Premium AED 64.99.
Is Lanterns part of the DC Universe?
Yes. Lanterns is the first series of James Gunn and Peter Safran’s DC Studios slate, produced by HBO in association with Warner Bros. Television.
