Despite generating significant controversy among longtime DC fans and casual viewers, HBO Max’s Lanterns appears to be holding—and even growing—its audience.
According to data provided by the streamer to Variety, the third episode of the DC Studios series attracted 10 million viewers worldwide during its first three days of availability. Of those viewers, approximately 7 million were located in the United States.
That represents a new high for the series and, more importantly, an increase from its already impressive premiere.
Lanterns debuted on August 16 with 9.3 million global viewers during its first three days, including 6.6 million in the United States. At the time, the numbers placed it among the five largest series premieres in HBO Max history and made it the biggest debut for a DC Studios series on the streaming service.
HBO Max reports that the premiere has now surpassed 20 million viewers worldwide.
Lanterns Appears to Be Building an Audience
When the initial numbers were announced, there was reason to be cautious about declaring Lanterns a success. There is some ambiguity surrounding what HBO Max considers a “view,” especially compared to the minutes watched that will later be reported by Nielsen. That said, HBO Max’s reporting that viewership is climbing suggests that audiences are completing episodes and continuing with the series.
Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan in Lanterns – HBO, DC Studios
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Episode 3 improved upon the premiere’s three-day global audience by approximately 7.5%, while its American audience increased from 6.6 million to 7 million.
Warner Bros. Discovery did not release comparable figures for Episode 2, making it impossible to determine the exact week-to-week trajectory. Nevertheless, an episode reaching a larger audience than the heavily promoted premiere is a sign that viewers are sticking around.
Controversies Have Not Driven Viewers Away
The strong numbers are also noteworthy because Lanterns has generated significant debate over its interpretation of the Green Lantern mythology, treatment of legacy heroes, and social messaging. Many critics argued that the most recent episode was particularly offensive.
Episode 3, titled “OutKast,” focuses heavily on John Stewart’s childhood and reveals that his mother, Bernadette Stewart, spent years preparing him to eventually become a Green Lantern.
Her extreme training methods have generated considerable criticism online, with some viewers interpreting her treatment of John as abusive.
Vanessa Baden Kelly and Bernadette Stewart – DC
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However, actress Jasmine Cephas Jones defended the character, describing Bernadette as a “super hero without a cape.”
Additionally, Vanessa Baden Kelly, who wrote the controversial episode, claimed that “if the ring wasn’t sexist, Bernadette would have been chosen, because she really is just the most fearless of everybody.”
The episode—and the series as a whole—has also sparked debate over its emphasis on race. Although John Stewart’s childhood is shown in flashbacks to 1996, his mother expresses the belief that teaching her son to overcome fear is particularly important because he is a black man in America. Some online critics have argued that those concerns are exaggerated for the era depicted.
The Real Test Is Still Ahead
Whatever viewers think of those creative decisions, the controversy clearly has not prevented people from watching.
Aaron Pierre as John Stewart and Kyle Chandler as Hal Jordan in Lanterns – HBO, DC Studios
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Three episodes into its run, Lanterns has accomplished something far more important than simply generating curiosity for its premiere or outrage online: its audience appears to be growing.
The ultimate test will be whether the series can maintain that momentum throughout the remainder of its first season. As it continues pushing boundaries, Nielsen’s numbers will likely paint a clearer picture of whether Lanterns ultimately soared—or crashed and burned.
Are you surprised by the viewership for Lanterns? Sound off and let us know!
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