The Last of Us isn’t HBO’s most streamed show anymore

The Last of Us, HBO's most-streamed series in its debut season, is not anymore. Season two saw a drastic decline in viewership and public reaction. The season was met with more criticism than praise.

According to FlixPatrol, Rick and Morty, which is currently in its eighth season, has surpassed The Last of Us on HBO regarding how much they have been streamed. It is now the second most streamed show on HBO, And Just Like That being the first.

Why is The Last of Us not the most-streamed show on HBO?

Rick and Morty season eight was released on 25th May 2025, while And Just Like That released its third season on 29th May 2025. A primary reason these two shows have risen to become the two most-streamed shows on HBO could be that they have just started airing their latest seasons. However, there are other reasons as well.

The Last of Us was highly praised and appreciated for its first season. The show followed the game closely and delivered a first season that was a huge success. Pedro Pascal as Joel and Bella Ramsey as Ellie received quite the love, and the first season still has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 96% on the Tomatometer and 86% on the Popcornmeter.

However, season two of the show, which ran from 13th April to 25th May 2025, wasn't as successful. It has a Rotten Tomatoes score of 92% on the Tomatometer and 37% on the Popcornmeter.

Besides, Joel's death and the mismatch between game Ellie and show Ellie were some of the reasons why this season wasn't as successful as its predecessor. This could be another reason as to why Rick and Morty and And Just Like That have surpassed The Last of Us in terms of streaming numbers.

It is no surprise that And Just Like That is the most-streamed show on HBO right now, given the popularity of the franchise. Its predecessor show, Sex and the City, and the two films that followed, were a huge success. Thus, the spin-off, set a little more than a decade after the films and featuring many of the original cast, is understandably a hit.

Rick and Morty season eight's success is a bit of a surprise, albeit a positive one. Justin Roiland, co-creator of the show, voiced both Rick and Morty till season six. But then, due to several domestic violence and misconduct allegations, he was fired. From season seven, Ian Cardoni voices Rick, while Harry Belden voices Morty.

This change in voice cast was a bit of a risky move for the creators, as it could lead to a fall in viewership. However, the show seems to be doing great, having a Rotten Tomatoes score of 100% on the Tomatometer and 87% on the Popcornmeter.

Rick and Morty has also been streamed more than most films on HBO. According to FlixPatrol, the only film on HBO that has been streamed more than Rick and Morty is The Alto Knights.

The Last of Us has been renewed for a third season with Abby as the main protagonist. Hence, it has a chance to redeem itself after season two failed to be as successful as season one. How The Last of Us performs in its third season remains to be seen.

The Last of Us, And Just Like That, and Rick and Morty are all streaming on Max.

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