Game of Thrones Season 8 viewer numbers 2019

Over 13.6 million viewers in the United States watched the final episode of the last Game of Thrones season, 'The Iron Throne', making it the most watched episode of the hit series. The last season pulled in over ten million viewers for each episode.

The appeal of Game of Thrones

What started as a modestly popular production quickly became a global sensation. Audiences around the world were captured by George R.R. Martin’s creation and the fantasy show quickly developed a reputation for its violent and sexual content, with viewers particularly enamored with its powerful and ruthless characters. However, blood and guts were not the only drivers for its popularity. Whilst the show’s earlier episodes were more extreme, the less gory later seasons continued to bring in millions of viewers.

Even with the final two seasons being considerably shorter, consumption of the TV show was at an all-time high among viewers in the United States, with the season finale achieving a whopping 13.6 million views. A change in episode and season length, as well as creative direction leading the TV show further and further from the original book series, caused many viewers to reminisce about earlier seasons. However, despite some criticisms from the fan base, momentum for the show continued to grow and its audience reached peak levels.