‘Lanterns’ Becomes Highest-Rated DCU Project on Rotten Tomatoes

The road to launching a new DC Universe has been anything but smooth for James Gunn and Peter Safran. Between Supergirl’s disappointing box office run and mixed reactions to some of the franchise’s earlier entries, the rebooted DCU has spent much of 2026 fighting to prove it has real staying power.

That narrative has shifted dramatically over the past week. HBO’s ‘Lanterns,’ the gritty detective series following Hal Jordan and John Stewart, premiered its first episode to widespread critical acclaim, immediately drawing comparisons to prestige dramas like ‘True Detective.’

Those comparisons have now translated into hard numbers. ‘Lanterns’ has climbed to a 95% score on Rotten Tomatoes, officially becoming the highest-rated project across the entire DC Universe, surpassing Peacemaker Season 2 at 94%, Creature Commandos at 93%, Superman at 83%, and Supergirl at 52%.

That climb happened remarkably fast. The series initially debuted at 89% when its review embargo lifted on August 14, then jumped further to 91% before the premiere, and continued climbing throughout the following days as additional positive reviews rolled in. The score is currently based on 71 critic reviews with an average rating of 7.65 out of 10.

Rotten Tomatoes’ official critics’ consensus credits the series with delivering “fearless performances, grounded writing, and charismatic chemistry” from stars Kyle Chandler and Aaron Pierre. That praise has echoed across individual reviews as well, with outlets highlighting the show’s unusually restrained, character-driven tone compared to typical superhero fare.

ScreenRant awarded the series a 9/10, calling it the solo Green Lantern project DC fans have been waiting for, while CBR described ‘Lanterns’ as the DCU’s best project to date. Other critics pointed to the show’s murder-mystery framing and its willingness to lean into slower, more atmospheric storytelling as key strengths setting it apart from its franchise predecessors.

Series co-creator James Gunn has previously described the show’s tonal approach as intentional, framing it as a terrestrial, detective-style story centered on Hal Jordan and John Stewart as space cops investigating a mystery tied into the larger DCU narrative. That grounded framing appears to be resonating strongly with critics who’ve praised the show for feeling distinct from the rest of the franchise’s output so far.

The timing of this success carries extra weight given the franchise’s recent track record. Supergirl’s underwhelming theatrical performance and mixed reviews earlier this summer had cast doubt over the DCU’s broader trajectory, making ‘Lanterns” reception feel like a genuine turning point for the franchise heading into its next wave of projects.

Co-creator Damon Lindelof addressed the pressure of meeting fan expectations directly in a recent interview, noting that fans ultimately want storytellers willing to take creative risks. He argued that leaning too heavily into fan service tends to backfire, framing ‘Lanterns” more grounded, unpredictable approach as a deliberate departure from that instinct.

That risk appears to be paying off, at least critically. Discussions around a potential second season are already underway, with writer Christopher Cantwell reportedly joining showrunner Chris Mundy to explore where the story could go next.

It’s worth noting that critics have currently only screened the first four episodes of the eight-episode season, meaning the score could still shift as more of the story unfolds. Still, given how quickly ‘Lanterns’ climbed past every other DCU title, the show has already accomplished something none of its predecessors managed to pull off this convincingly.

With new episodes continuing to roll out weekly on HBO, ‘Lanterns’ now carries the responsibility of maintaining that momentum through its full run.

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