Game of Thrones Dominates HBO with Record Viewership Figures
Mia Phillips
Published May 17, 2026
By Published May 8, 2026, 9:30 AM EDT Jordan is the Senior Editor for Movies & TV News at Screen Rant. She graduated from the University of Oregon with a B.A. in Psychology and a minor in Media Studies. An editor, writer, and digital media specialist based in New York City, you can also find her bylines on Business Insider.
Jordan originally hails from Washington State, giving her an undying loyalty to any Seattle sports team, though she's also spent time in Virginia, Oregon, and New Orleans. She runs on coffee and classic movies, taking pride in having seen every film on AFI's 100 Greatest Films list and every Best Picture Oscar winner. follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap
Dunk and Egg have now officially climbed their way onto an elite list of HBO shows as Game of Thrones continues to expand.
During Warner Bros. Discovery's Q1 2026 earnings call for shareholders (via ), CEO David Zaslav confirmed that is "among the most popular debut series in HBO history." Zaslav revealed that the series' freshman season is averaging 36 million global viewers per episode, which even exceeds the 20 million viewers-per-episode average of The Pitt season 2.
The impressive viewership numbers for continue the Game of Thrones franchise's domination of HBO since the flagship series' debut back in 2011. After eight seasons of the original show, a popular prequel with House of the Dragon, and another smash hit with A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms, the franchise's expansion remains a major source of success for the network.
In comparison to its predecessors, WBD revealed that House of the Dragon season 1 was averaging 29 million viewers per episode in the United States by the time of its finale in October 2026. Meanwhile, Game of Thrones season 8 was reportedly tracking approximately 44.2 million viewers per episode for its controversial final outing.
Other recent HBO TV shows that have also become some of the network's most-watched series debuts include 2026's The Last of Us season 1 and 2026's IT: Welcome to Derry season 1, both of which have new seasons already on the way or in the works. Like A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms and House of the Dragon, those two series come from established franchises with widespread fanbases.
Following in late February, Game of Thrones returns next month with House of the Dragon season 3 on June 21, the penultimate outing of the prequel surrounding Westeros' catastrophic Targaryen civil war. The franchise will then make a comeback in 2027 with the Ira Parker and George R.R. Martin-created A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2, though HBO has yet to confirm an exact release date or window for the sophomore season.
[SITEURL] | IT The Iron Throne Interactive Quiz ScreenRant/ TV/ Game of Thrones/ Trivia The Citadel · Maester’s Examination How Well Do You Know Westeros? “When you play the game of thrones, you win or you die.” 🐺StarkWinter is Coming 🦁LannisterHear Me Roar 🐉TargaryenFire and Blood 🦌BaratheonOurs is the Fury 🐙GreyjoyWe Do Not Sow ENTER WESTEROS → QUESTION 1 / 8GREAT HOUSES 01 The Lannisters are the wealthiest family in Westeros, ruling from their ancestral seat. What is the name of their castle? AHighgarden BStorm’s End CCasterly Rock DThe Eyrie ✓ Correct! Casterly Rock sits atop gold mines in the Westerlands and has been the seat of House Lannister for centuries. The gold beneath it is the source of the family’s legendary wealth — though as Tywin once noted, the mines ran dry years ago. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is Casterly Rock. Highgarden belongs to the Tyrells, Storm’s End to the Baratheons, and The Eyrie to the Arryns. Casterly Rock has been the Lannister stronghold since Lann the Clever swindled it from House Casterly. NEXT → QUESTION 2 / 8THE NIGHT’S WATCH 02 Jon Snow rises through the ranks of the Night’s Watch to eventually hold what title — the highest position in the order? AFirst Ranger BLord Commander CMaster of Arms DWarden of the North ✓ Correct! Jon Snow was elected the 998th Lord Commander of the Night’s Watch by his sworn brothers. He was one of the youngest men to ever hold the title, following in the footsteps of legends like Jeor Mormont. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is Lord Commander. While Jon started as a steward, he was elected Lord Commander after the death of Jeor Mormont. Warden of the North is a different title entirely — one held by the Stark family. NEXT → QUESTION 3 / 8DRAGONS 03 Daenerys Targaryen hatches three dragons from petrified eggs. Which of the following is NOT one of her dragons? ABalerion BDrogon CRhaegal DViserion ✓ Correct! Balerion “the Black Dread” was Aegon the Conqueror’s dragon, who died of old age over a century before the events of the show. Daenerys’ three dragons are Drogon, Rhaegal, and Viserion — named after Khal Drogo, Rhaegar, and Viserys. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is Balerion. Daenerys’ three dragons are Drogon (black and red), Rhaegal (green and bronze), and Viserion (cream and gold). Balerion the Black Dread was Aegon the Conqueror’s mount, dead long before Daenerys was born. NEXT → QUESTION 4 / 8INFAMOUS EVENTS 04 The Red Wedding is one of the most shocking moments in TV history. At whose castle does this massacre take place? AHarrenhal BRiverrun CCasterly Rock DThe Twins ✓ Correct! The Red Wedding took place at The Twins, the castle of House Frey. Lord Walder Frey violated the sacred guest right by slaughtering Robb Stark, Catelyn Stark, and their bannermen during the wedding feast of Edmure Tully and Roslin Frey. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is The Twins. Walder Frey’s castle — two towers spanning the Green Fork — was where he broke sacred guest right to massacre the Starks. “The Lannisters send their regards” remains one of the show’s most chilling lines. NEXT → QUESTION 5 / 8VALYRIAN STEEL 05 Jon Snow wields a Valyrian steel bastard sword given to him by Lord Commander Jeor Mormont. What is the sword’s name? AIce BLongclaw CHeartsbane DOathkeeper ✓ Correct! Longclaw is a Valyrian steel bastard sword that was the ancestral weapon of House Mormont. Jeor gave it to Jon after he saved the Lord Commander from a wight, replacing the bear pommel with a white wolf for House Stark. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is Longclaw. Ice was the Stark greatsword (melted down by Tywin Lannister), Heartsbane belonged to House Tarly, and Oathkeeper was one of the two swords forged from Ice. Longclaw is the Mormont blade Jon carries throughout the series. NEXT → QUESTION 6 / 8COURT INTRIGUE 06 Tyrion Lannister serves as Hand of the King to which ruler, expertly managing the defense of King’s Landing during the Battle of the Blackwater? ARobert Baratheon BTommen Baratheon CJoffrey Baratheon DDaenerys Targaryen ✓ Correct! Tywin sent Tyrion to serve as Hand in his place during Joffrey’s reign. Tyrion brilliantly orchestrated the defense against Stannis Baratheon’s fleet using wildfire, though he received no credit and was nearly killed in the battle. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is Joffrey Baratheon. Tyrion served as Joffrey’s Hand of the King in Season 2, appointed by his father Tywin. He later served as Hand to Daenerys, but it was under Joffrey that the Battle of the Blackwater took place. NEXT → QUESTION 7 / 8PROPHECY & LORE 07 Jon Snow’s true parentage is one of the show’s biggest reveals. What is his real Targaryen name, given by his mother Lyanna Stark? AAegon Targaryen BAemon Targaryen CRhaegar Targaryen DJaehaerys Targaryen ✓ Correct! Lyanna Stark named her son Aegon Targaryen. He is the legitimate son of Rhaegar Targaryen and Lyanna, who were secretly married. This made Jon the true heir to the Iron Throne — a fact that changed the course of the final season. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is Aegon Targaryen. Lyanna whispered the name to Ned Stark in the Tower of Joy. Jon is the son of Rhaegar Targaryen (not named after him), making him Aegon — a name carried by many Targaryen kings, including the Conqueror himself. NEXT → QUESTION 8 / 8THE IRON THRONE 08 In the series finale, who is chosen by the lords and ladies of Westeros to rule the Six Kingdoms as king? AJon Snow BSansa Stark CTyrion Lannister DBran Stark ✓ Correct! Bran Stark — now Bran the Broken — was chosen as king of the Six Kingdoms at the Dragonpit council. Tyrion argued that Bran’s story was the most compelling reason to rule. Sansa became Queen in the North, and Jon was sent back to the Wall. ✗ Dracarys! The answer is Bran Stark. Tyrion nominated Bran at the great council, arguing “who has a better story than Bran the Broken?” Sansa was crowned Queen in the independent North, Jon returned to the Wall, and Tyrion served as Bran’s Hand of the King. REVEAL MY SCORE → The Citadel · Results Sealed Your Westeros Record ⚔ / 8 Did you claim the Iron Throne — or lose your head? ↻ PLAY THE GAME AGAIN
Also recently confirmed to be in the works is Game of Thrones' first-ever movie. At CinemaCon 2026, Warner Bros. announced that the tentatively-titled is in development, which is set to tackle King Aegon I Targaryen's legendary conquest of Westeros approximately 300 years before the original show's events.
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A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2 is currently in production, with filming recently facing an obstacle due to severe flooding in Spain. In addition to the return of Peter Claffey as Ser Duncan the Tall and Dexter Sol Ansell as Prince Aegon "Egg" Targaryen, the newcomers in A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms season 2's cast will include Lucy Boynton as Lady Rohanne Webber, Babou Ceesay as Ser Bennis of the Brown Shield, and Peter Mullan as Ser Eustace Osgrey.
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Peter Claffey Ser Duncan 'Dunk' the Tall -
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StreamingDirectors Owen Harris Writers George R. R. Martin, Ira Parker Franchise(s) Creator(s) George R. R. Martin, Ira Parker Expand Collapse
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