The Last of Us breaks HBO viewership records as show gets 99% on Rotten Tomatoes

After many months of anticipation, the first episode of HBO’s The Last of Us has premiered, bringing the universally-praised video game into a different format for audiences both old and new alike. It seems as though the show will be big for both HBO and Sony, as the premiere has broken viewer records.

As reported by Deadline, with 4.7 million viewers during its airing, The Last of Us managed the second-highest debut for HBO since 2010, with only House of the Dragon surpassing it (though the latter is of course directly connected to HBO’s most popular show of all time ‘Game of Thrones’).

For some further comparisons, another popular HBO production – Euphoria – saw its second season launch to 2.4 million viewers. That show ultimately went on to amass just under 20 million viewers for each episode, meaning The Last of Us will undoubtedly grow further over time.

Speaking on the success of its debut, show creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann said “Our focus was simply to make the best possible adaptation of this beloved story for as big an audience as we could. We are overjoyed to see how many fans, both old and new, have welcomed The Last of Us into their homes and their hearts.”

Since review embargoes were first lifted, The Last of Us has enjoyed a truly impressive critical reception, with the show currently standing at a 99% on Rotten Tomatoes and a 9.5 on IMDB.

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KitGuru says: What do you think of the first episode? Will you continue to watch the show? How do you think it compares to the game? Let us know down below.

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