The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Powerseason 2 took a viewership hit compared to season 1, and a new report reveals just how much. Created by Patrick McKay and J.D. Payne, the Prime VideoLord of the Ringsseries premiered back in 2022, chronicling the rise of evil in Middle-earth during the Second Age.Reviews forThe Rings of Powerseason 2hailed the new episodes as an improvement over season 1 in summer 2024, but the sophomore outing didn’t quite match the viewership highs of that debut season.
A new report fromLuminate, a third party streaming analytics company, now reveals that the viewership decline forThe Rings of Powerseason 2 was fairly significant. According to the company,season 2 viewership over its first 12 weeks of availability was down 60% from season 1 in terms of total minutes watched. This news in Luminate’s report comes as the company reveals thatThe Rings of Power’s dip in viewership accompanied a decline for both Marvel andStar Warscontent as well, with three major franchises faltering.
What The Rings Of Power Season 2’s Viewership Decline Means For The Show
Will The Lord Of The Rings Show Return?
Prior toThe Rings of Powerseason 1 even releasing,the show was hyped as a five-season venture for Amazon, with the company’s total expenditure on the series expected to reach $1 billion by the time it concluded. Despite the viewership decline, Amazon is seemingly still committed to this plan. McKay and Payne recently revealed that they’ve already begun work onThe Rings of Powerseason 3, which might start filming this year.
The Rings Of Power Season 2 Ending Explained (In Full)
The Rings of Power season 2 is over, culminating in a finale that wraps up most major storylines while leaving teases for future installments.
Per a report fromTHR, Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke revealed in October thatthe company expectsThe Rings of Powerseason 2 to eventually catch up to viewership of season 1. Season 2 remained a top performer on the Nielsen charts throughout its run, with over 1 billion minutes streamed in its first two weeks. TheTHRreports also notes that the show remains one of Prime Video’s top 5 most successful shows.
Our Take On The Rings Of Power Season 2’s Viewership Decline
Season 2 Has Been An Improvement Over Season 1 In Terms Of Quality
Considering justhow expensiveThe Rings of Poweris to make, a season 2 viewership drop of 60% from season 1 is not a promising sign. It’s worth mentioning, however, thatthe response to season 2 has generally been more positive. OnRotten Tomatoes, for example, season 2 has an audience score of 59% compared to season 1’s 38%, with both seasons sporting critics' scores of 84%.
If season 3 continues this downward viewership trend forThe Lord of the Rings:The Rings of Power, it’s possible that a season 4 will not move forward. Considering just how much of an improvement season 2 is over season 1, this would be a shame, as the latest episodes suggest that the show is now finding its groove.
The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power
Cast
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
