The Last of Us is back — and it’s drawing more viewers than ever.
According to Warner Bros. Discovery, the highly anticipated Season 2 premiere pulled in 5.3 million viewers across HBO and Max on Sunday night. That’s a 13% increase over the show’s debut episode in January 2023, which attracted 4.7 million viewers — and it signals growing momentum for the post-apocalyptic juggernaut.
The figure combines Nielsen’s cable viewership estimates and Max streaming totals, confirming the series’ place as a modern HBO flagship.
A Breakout Series That Keeps Building
The series originally became the second-most watched HBO debut in a decade, only trailing House of the Dragon. Its first season peaked with 8.2 million viewers for the finale and drew 32 million total viewers over a 90-day period.
Now with Season 2 underway, audiences are diving back into Joel and Ellie’s harrowing world. Catch-up viewership for Season 1 soared by 150% last week alone, signaling strong anticipation and word-of-mouth for the new season.
What Happens in Season 2?
Set five years after the events of Season 1, The Last of Us Season 2 explores a world that’s darker and more divided. The official logline teases deeper conflict — both between Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsey), and within the fractured society they now navigate.
New Season, Bigger Stakes
Created by Chernobyl’s Craig Mazin and game creator Neil Druckmann, the show continues to walk the line between emotional devastation and blockbuster intensity. This season will spotlight themes of revenge, moral ambiguity, and the cost of survival in a broken world.
Who’s Behind Season 2?
The show is executive produced by Mazin, Druckmann, Carolyn Strauss, Jacqueline Lesko, Cecil O’Connor, Asad Qizilbash, Carter Swan, and Evan Wells. Writer Halley Gross (co-writer on The Last of Us Part II) also returns as co-executive producer.
The production is a collaboration between Sony Pictures Television, PlayStation Productions, Word Games, Mighty Mint, and Naughty Dog.
A Cultural Phenomenon in the Making
The Last of Us has consistently raised the bar for video game adaptations. With Season 2 already making waves in the ratings and fan discussion forums, it’s clear the story still has room to evolve — and devastate — on screen.
📺 New episodes air Sundays at 9/8c on HBO
📲 Stream same-day on Max
