HBO is no doubt feeling euphoric. The Season 3 premiere of “Euphoria” has pulled in 8.5 million U.S. viewers across HBO and HBO Max in its first three days of availability.
Per HBO, that is a 44% increase over the Season 2 premiere, which aired in January 2022. The four-year hiatus did little to dampen enthusiasm for the series, which saw stars Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Jacob Elordi, and more return.
While the first two seasons focused on the characters in high school, the new season takes place five years after the Season 2 finale. Since then, Rue (Zendaya) has begun working as a drug mule for Laurie (Martha Kelly), Nate (Elordi) has taken over his father’s construction business. He is also preparing to marry Cassie (Sweeney), who is launching an OnlyFans account.
This season also sees the return of Maude Apatow, Alexa Demie, Hunter Schafer, Colman Domingo, Kelly, and Chloe Cherry among others. New stars this season include Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Darrell Britt-Gibson, Sharon Stone, and Marshawn Lynch.
The premiere episode also features tributes to late series stars Angus Cloud and Eric Dane, as well as executive producer Kevin Turen. Cloud, who played drug dealer Fezco in Seasons 1 and 2, died of a drug overdose in 2023. Dane, meanwhile, died from complications of ALS in early 2026. Turen died on Nov. 12, 2023 from a cardiac emergency while driving.
Elsewhere on the HBO schedule, the finale of the critically-acclaimed limited series “DTF St. Louis” drew 3.5 million crossplatform viewers in its first three days. The show has seen consistent growth week-to-week, with the finale finishing 40% above the premiere. Per HBO, the show is averaging 6.5 million viewers per episode.
