Last Of Us Season Finale Reaches 8.2 Million Viewers To Set A New Record

HBO has announced that the season finale of The Last of Us reached 8.2 million viewers on its first night across HBO Max and traditional TV in the US. That's a new ratings record for first-night viewership.

HBO also confirmed that Episode 1 from January is now closing in on 40 million viewers in the US alone, while Episodes 1-6 are averaging 30.4 million viewers in total. Outside the US, The Last of Us has become HBO Max's most-watched TV show in Europe and Latin America.

Viewership for The Last of Us for its premiere grew with every episode. Episode 5 is something of an anomaly, though, as it premiered on HBO Max two days early to avoid a clash with the Super Bowl. With Friday-Sunday numbers accounted for, Episode 5 reached 11.6 million viewers for its premiere.

The Last of Us will return for a second season, but HBO has yet to announce anything specific about it. It's expected to follow the events of The Last of Us: Part II, though showrunner Craig Mazin and writer Neil Druckmann have said Season 2 won't cover the entire game's story, suggesting Season 3 is in the works.

The Last of Us Premiere Viewership Numbers

• Episode 1 – 4.7 million (Jan. 15)
• Episode 2 – 5.7 million (Jan. 22)
• Episode 3 – 6.4 million (Jan. 29)
• Episode 4 – 7.5 million (Feb. 5)
• Episode 5 – 11.6 million (Feb. 10-Feb. 12)*
• Episode 6 – 7.8 million (Feb. 19)
• Episode 7 – 7.7 million (Feb. 26)
• Episode 8 – 8.1 million (March 5)
• Episode 9 – 8.2 million (March 12)

*Early premiere, includes data from Friday to Sunday

The Last of Us Season 1 wrapped up on March 12 with a heartbreaking, violent, and crushing finale. For more, check out what The Last Of Us' Merle Dandridge had to say about the finale.

As for the game series, Naughty Dog is making a new The Last of Us multiplayer game. After that, Naughty Dog might make The Last of Us Part III, or it might not.