Lanterns (2026)
Only one can wear the ring.
Two intergalactic cops, new recruit John Stewart and Lantern legend Hal Jordan, are drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland.
| Type | TV series |
|---|---|
| First aired | 16 August 2026 |
| Status | Returning Series |
| Genre | Drama, Mystery, Sci-Fi & Fantasy |
| Created by | Damon Lindelof, Chris Mundy and Tom King |
| Starring | Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre and Kelly Macdonald |
| Seasons | 1 season, 8 episodes |
| Episode length | about 54 min |
| Time to watch it all | about 7 hours |
| Rated | TV-MA |
| Scores | TMDB users 8.3/10 |
Where to watch Lanterns
Lanterns is streaming on Max ($18.49 a month) in the US. At ten hours a week, all of the series takes about 1 month of Max, or $18.49 at list price.
We check availability daily. Page last updated 30 September 2026. Prices are standard monthly plans and change often, so check with the service before you sign up.
What kind of watch this is
Lanterns is a 2026 drama, mystery, and sci-fi series created by Damon Lindelof, Chris Mundy, and Tom King. It pairs veteran Hal Jordan with rookie John Stewart, played by Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre, in a murder investigation set in Rushville, Nebraska. Hal sees an extraterrestrial incident; the town sees a crime. The ring, a source of power and conflict, sits at the center of that divide.
The tone is quiet and heavy. It leans into the friction between cosmic scale and small-town reality. With 8 episodes running 54 minutes each, the total watch time is 7 hours. It is a slow burn that trusts its audience to sit with the silence.
What the critics said
Rotten Tomatoes reports 93% positive reviews from 130 critics, with an average rating of 7.7/10. Metacritic settles on 72 out of 100, calling the reception generally favorable. The consensus highlights Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre bringing audiences into a world of wonder through fearless performances. It is a controlled, fantastical escape.
Not every review was unalloyed praise. Daniel Fienberg of The Hollywood Reporter found the comic-book elements underwhelming. Alison Herman of Variety criticized the series for relying heavily on other prestige dramas. The praise for the chemistry is loud; the complaints about pacing are quieter.
How it did with audiences
The first three days pulled in 9.3 million viewers worldwide, with 6.6 million tuning in from the U.S. That U.S. number eclipsed the premieres of It: Welcome to Derry and The Penguin, landing as the biggest start for a DC Studios series on HBO Max. The third episode hit a peak of 10 million global viewers, and the pilot eventually crossed 20 million. It ranked among the five biggest launches in HBO Max history.
If you liked this
TMDB's recommendations for people who watched Lanterns.
Sources
- Lanterns on TMDB — synopsis, cast, ratings and recommendations
- Wikidata Q110556821 — review scores, box office and awards (CC0)
- “Lanterns (TV series)” on Wikipedia, by its contributors (history) — reception, audience figures and legacy, summarised and adapted here under CC BY-SA 4.0
- Where to watch and prices: Binge Boss, from TMDB watch-provider data (powered by JustWatch) and our own provider list
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