‘Lanterns’ Becomes the Most-Watched Show Globally Unexpectedly

DC Studios has experienced a varied history with its television adaptations, but something remarkable is unfolding right now. What began as a cautiously received detective drama has swiftly transformed into one of the most discussed shows of the year.

The series in focus is ‘Lanterns,’ the gritty HBO original that follows Hal Jordan and John Stewart as they delve into a murder investigation that leads them into a much larger conspiracy than they anticipated. Initial buzz surrounding the show was met with skepticism, as some fans feared that the grounded, procedural tone would overshadow the cosmic superhero elements that long-time Green Lantern readers desired.

Those worries have largely dissipated. ‘Lanterns’ has now secured the number one position on Rotten Tomatoes’ most popular chart, topped HBO Max, and claimed the number one spot overall on IMDb—an exceptionally rare achievement for any series, especially one still in its debut season.

The critical reception has been impressive as well. ‘Lanterns’ has achieved a 95 percent score on Rotten Tomatoes, officially making it the highest-rated project in the entire DC Universe, surpassing ‘Peacemaker’ Season 2 at 94 percent, ‘Creature Commandos’ at 93 percent, and ‘Superman’ at 83 percent.

This score didn’t happen overnight. The series initially premiered at 89 percent when its review embargo lifted, climbed to 91 percent before the premiere, and continued to rise as more critics weighed in, with many reviewers drawing parallels to acclaimed dramas like ‘True Detective.’

The show’s success isn’t confined to domestic viewers. ‘Lanterns’ has reached the top of HBO Max not only in the United States but also globally, holding the number one position across various markets, including Germany, France, Australia, and the Philippines, among others.

On IMDb, ‘Lanterns’ has maintained the number one position on the platform’s most popular TV shows chart with an 8.0 rating, surpassing established hits like ‘Reacher’ and ‘Bleach: Thousand-Year Blood War.’ This is a remarkable accomplishment for a brand-new series competing against shows with established fanbases.

Much of the acclaim is attributed to the show’s cast and creative team. Kyle Chandler stars as Hal Jordan alongside Aaron Pierre’s John Stewart, with Nathan Fillion reprising his role as Guy Gardner, which he has portrayed across three different DC Studios projects. Showrunner Chris Mundy developed the series with Tom King and Damon Lindelof, merging detective-noir storytelling with the franchise’s signature cosmic mythology.

For a franchise still working to establish its new direction under James Gunn and Peter Safran, ‘Lanterns’ achieving this level of widespread success is a significant victory. It arrives at a crucial time when the DCU needed a project that could unify critical acclaim with genuine mainstream viewership, rather than achieving one at the expense of the other.

It’s also important to note that critics have only screened a handful of the show’s eight total episodes so far, suggesting that both its Rotten Tomatoes score and broader popularity could still fluctuate as the remaining episodes are released weekly. Nevertheless, reaching the top of three major platforms simultaneously is an accomplishment that most shows never achieve, even at their peak, let alone during an ongoing season.

Whether ‘Lanterns’ can maintain this momentum through its finale remains a pressing question for DC Studios. For now, however, the series has quietly emerged as the biggest television story of the summer.

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