Rotten Tomatoes Submit search Movies Tv shows RT App News Showtimes

Season 1 – Lanterns

Play trailer 2:35 Poster for Season 1 – Lanterns Next Ep Sep 6 Drama Sci-Fi Action Adventure Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist Tomatometer Popcornmeter
92% Tomatometer 103 Reviews 81% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Based on the DC comic "Green Lantern," drama series "Lanterns" follows new recruit John Stewart and "Lantern" legend Hal Jordan. These two intergalactic cops are drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. In association with Warner Bros. Television and DC Studios, the HBO series provides a fresh live action take on the popular universe and its characters. Emmy nominee Chris Mundy serves as showrunner and executive producer for this original detective story.
Watch on HBO Max Stream Now

Where to Watch

Lanterns — Season 1

Lanterns — Season 1

What to Know

Critics Consensus

Lanterns lights the way to a controlled and fantastical escape, in which Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre bring audiences into their world of wonder through fearless performances, grounded writing, and charismatic chemistry.

Read Critics Reviews

Audience Says

Tempering superhero spectacle with prestige drama, Lanterns is a well-written mystery that shines thanks to the magnetic alchemy between Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre.

Read Audience Reviews

Critics Reviews

View More
Melanie McFarland Salon.com 6d
The world of “Lanterns” prefers to be bracingly honest about our false assumptions about heroism and whether the people we deem to be noble really are... That is what makes a Lantern a hero, and this adaptation one of the best of its kind in a long time. Go to Full Review
Peter Travers The Travers Take Aug 21
3/4
Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre go way beyond the call of comic-book duty to bring humanity to the usual alien mashup. Much appreciated. Go to Full Review
J. Kelly Nestruck Globe and Mail Aug 21
The Green Lantern mythos is too goofy to be grounded no matter how much swearing or sex is added in. I’d rather HBO had hired co-creator Damon Lindelof to make another season of Watchmen instead. Go to Full Review
Sean O'Connell CBR 3d
9/10
A mature, dark mystery that’s carried by two impeccably cast leads that packs numerous surprises in every episode. Go to Full Review
Daniel Chin The Ringer 6d
At times, Lanterns does feel like it’s holding back the cosmic side of its identity -- but that sense of care and reverence for its heroes and their legacies always shines through. Go to Full Review
Glen Weldon Pop Culture Happy Hour (NPR Podcast) Aug 24
This is a lean, very effective show because I'm not comparing it to True Detective. I'm comparing it to a lot of other superhero shows. Go to Full Review
Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View More
Gabriel F @RT92562146 13h So well written and acted. Great pacing as well. One of the best adaptations from a comic book by far. See more Yagmur M @RT27604542 14h The type of project that revitalizes an entire genre. Flawless top to bottom with an electric Kyle Chandler stealing every scene he's in See more Will V @RT38619143 14h Episode 2 was great. Episode 3, on the other hand, is a weird, race-baiting filler episode that the season simply doesn't need especially since the trailer teased something completely different from what the episode actually delivered. See more Arvydas @Arvydas 15h Lanterns is just brilliant. After the first three episodes, I can already see this series becoming something truly special. There are no cringe-worthy moments or forced messaging, just a rich, grounded story that elevates the show. The fresh approach to the narrative is refreshing and engaging. Keep up the great work, HBO has a hit on its hands. See more Jacob F @RT92083343 16h The first two episodes of Lanterns did an excellent job of establishing these new versions of two fan-favorite characters. While the explicit language felt forced and redundant at times, the mystery, drama, comedy, and suspense were nearly perfect. However, by Episode 3, it seemed the writers felt John Stewart needed a different kind of backstory, one that focused more on race than on his abilities. The episode was not only a disappointment to thousands of fans, but also a disservice to the character of John Stewart. I will not be continuing with the series. See more Max L @RT87845014 16h So much promise. The first two episodes diverged from the comics but at least felt like an original mystery with two strong leads. Episode 3 is where James Gunn’s DCU does what it always does: throw out the actual story in favor of a lecture. John Stewart was already Black in the comics and earned the ring the same way everyone else did—willpower, not a Guardian talent-scout DEI program that starts when he’s a baby. This episode rewrites the fundamentals so the Corps can run a decades-long social experiment on one family. I wanted Green Lantern. I got a prestige-TV origin about trauma and worthiness. Done with this show. The episode treats grooming as profound character work. It is not. It is a rewrite that makes the Corps look like a creepy HR department and turns John’s origin into a racial/parental thesis statement. Green Lantern is about willpower and overcoming fear. This is replacing the character. Gunn keeps getting chances to just tell the story and keeps choosing not to. See more Read all reviews
Lanterns — Season 1

My Rating

Read More Read Less WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW POST RATING

Episodes

Episode 1 Aired Aug 16, 2026 Pilot After a fatal shooting, Green Lantern Hal Jordan and new recruit John Stewart set out to prove it was an extraterrestrial event. Details Episode 2 Aired Aug 23, 2026 Trust Fall Green Lantern Hal Jordan and new recruit John Stewart investigate a deadly shooting to prove an alien force was involved. Details Episode 3 Aired Aug 30, 2026 OutKast John's parents train him to become the perfect candidate for the next Green Lantern. However, as John trains under Hal, he is disillusioned by Hal's teachings. Details Episode 4 Airs Sep 6 Following new recruit John Stewart and "Lantern" legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. Details Episode 5 Airs Sep 13 Following new recruit John Stewart and "Lantern" legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. Details Episode 6 Airs Sep 20 Following new recruit John Stewart and "Lantern" legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. Details Episode 7 Airs Sep 27 Following new recruit John Stewart and "Lantern" legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. Details Episode 8 Airs Oct 4 Following new recruit John Stewart and "Lantern" legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. Details Episode 9 Aired Aug 14, 2026 Following new recruit John Stewart and "Lantern" legend Hal Jordan, two intergalactic cops drawn into a dark, Earth-based mystery as they investigate a murder in the American heartland. Details Episode 10 Airs undefined Lanterns Join Kyle Chandler, Aaron Pierre and the creatives behind Lanterns as they explore the contentious relationship between Hal Jordan and John Stewart. Details
Watchmen 96% 57% Watchmen Watchlist TRAILER for Watchmen The Sympathizer 89% 71% The Sympathizer Watchlist TRAILER for The Sympathizer We Are Who We Are 90% 74% We Are Who We Are Watchlist TRAILER for We Are Who We Are 30 Coins 91% 76% 30 Coins Watchlist TRAILER for 30 Coins Mosaic 79% 54% Mosaic Watchlist Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Season Info

Director
Geeta Vasant Patel, James Hawes, Stephen Williams
Executive Producer
Chris Mundy
Screenwriter
Chris Mundy, Damon Lindelof, Tom King
Network
HBO Max
Genre
Drama, Sci-Fi, Action, Adventure
Original Language
English
Release Date
Aug 16, 2026
Join The Newsletter Join The Newsletter Cookie Settings