HBO announced Monday (16th) that The Last of Us series, the game’s anticipated PS3 adaptation, has achieved its secondbiggest debut for the network in 12 years. The first episode, entitled ‘When You’re Lost in Darkness’, attracted 4.7 million viewers when it was released last Sunday (15). That milestone hasn’t been reached since 2010, with the debut of Boardwalk Empire O Império do Contrabando still on cable television. In streaming times, Sunday night viewership is only 20% to 40% of the total episode count for an HBO production.
The lead in this ranking continues with The House of the Dragon, which amassed nearly 10 million viewers when it launched in August 2022. Coincidentally or not, Pedro Pascal (Joel) and Bella Ramsey (Ellie), duo of protagonists of The Last of Us, were introduced to the general public through another HBO production, Game of Thrones, the main series that gave rise to House of The Dragon is.
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2 of 3 The Last of Us series is the liveaction hit for the PS3 — Photo: Playback/IMDb
The Last of Us series is the liveaction hit for the PS3 — Photo: Reproduction/IMDb
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Comparing the liveaction premiere to Season 2 of Euphoria, HBO’s top 2 blockbuster averaging 19.5 million views per episode, The Last of Us managed to nearly double its viewership upon release. Zendaya’s series garnered 2.4 million views when it premiered its second season. Coupled with the extremely positive response from audiences and critics alike, with a 9.5 on IMDb, The Last of Us is beginning to establish itself as a success in all aspects.
Craig Mazin (Chernobyl) and Neil Druckmann, the creators of the adaptation, couldn’t be happier. In a joint statement, they said: “Our focus was simply to make the best possible adaptation of this beloved story for as wide an audience as possible. We are thrilled to see how many fans, old and new, have welcomed The Last of Us into their homes and hearts.”
3 of 3 The Last of Us is an adaptation by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann — Photo: Handout/HBO Max
The Last of Us is an adaptation by Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann Photo: Handout/HBO Max
HBO and HBO Max Content Board Chairman Casey Bloys also commented on the great performance of the new production. “We’re thrilled that fans of the series and the game are experiencing this iconic story in a new way, and we want to thank them for helping make it a success. Congratulations to Craig [Mazin]Neil [Druckmann] and the brilliant cast and crew who worked tirelessly to bring this show to life. We look forward to fans around the world enjoying the remainder of the season.”
Featuring information from IMDb, Indie Wire, Deadline and TV Line.