THE LAST OF US Surges to 7.5 Million Viewers Sunday Night in Third Consecutive Week of Audience Growth

Episode 4 of THE LAST OF US delivered another series high Sunday night, with 7.5 million viewers across HBO Max and linear telecasts. Viewership was up 17% from Episode 3 last Sunday and 60% above the series debut night in January. Viewing is based on Nielsen and first party data. The series has grown its audience each Sunday night with the release of new episodes.

Episode 4 of THE LAST OF US, titled "Please Hold to My Hand," "showcases Bella Ramsey and Pedro Pascal as impressively malleable performers" and is where "the emotional stakes are raised," per IGN. The New York Times heralds "Bella Ramsey's multilayered performance" in this episode as "so pivotal to this story" while A.V. Club states Pedro Pascal "has a chance to spread his wings with glimmers of humor and warmth." Rolling Stone notes it's a "terrific" episode that is "essential in the larger picture."

Episode five of THE LAST OF US will debut early on HBO Max and HBO On Demand beginning Friday, February 10 at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT in advance of its HBO linear premiere on Sunday, February 12 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. Watch a preview for episode five (HERE). New episodes of the series will continue to air Sundays at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on HBO Max, leading up to the season finale on March 12.

Fans can also tune in to The Last of Us Podcast, the series' official companion podcast where host Troy Baker, who plays Joel in the video game, sits down with series creators Craig Mazin (Emmy(R)-winning creator of HBO's "Chernobyl") and Neil Druckmann, the creator of the acclaimed video game, for a scene-by-scene deep dive of each episode. Since premiere, the series' companion podcast remains #1 on Apple's TV & Film chart in the U.S. with Esquire naming it one of "The Best Podcasts of 2023 (So Far)" and calling it "...the perfect ally for your streaming journey."

A new spotlight page for THE LAST OF US is live on HBO Max, featuring behind-the-scenes content and access to the companion podcast, as well as an interactive flashlight to help fans find their next series to watch. The spotlight page also showcases a curated selection of movies and series from 2003, the year the life-altering outbreak occurred in the new HBO series.

Additionally, the first episode of THE LAST OF US is now available to stream for free on HBOMax.com.