Viewers are flocking to HBO’s latest release, "The Penguin," starring Colin Farrell as the infamous DC Comics villain. The series made a powerful debut with an astounding **10.4 million cross-platform viewers** tuning in for its premiere on **September 19**. This impressive figure positions "The Penguin" ahead of all current HBO shows during the same time frame, with the exception of giants like "House of the Dragon" and "The Last of Us."

Just a week after its premiere, HBO revealed that the first episode attracted **5.3 million viewers** within the first four days. Remarkably, **5.1 million additional viewers** joined in during the following week, showcasing an incredible surge in interest. The second episode, which aired last Sunday, continued the upward trend, captivating **1.6 million viewers** across all platforms— a **17 percent increase** from the premiere night.

Following "The Penguin," the third-season finale of "Industry" attracted **260,000 viewers** on its first night, which is lower than the season’s peak of **370,000** earlier this season. However, with an average of **1.6 million viewers per episode this season**, "Industry" continues to gain traction, drawing in a third more viewers than its previous season. In fact, HBO has already greenlit a fourth season, indicating strong confidence in this ongoing series.

Originally, "The Penguin" was intended to be a standalone series on Max, HBO's streaming platform, as a spin-off from Matt Reeves’ 2022 film "The Batman." However, in a strategic branding move, HBO shifted "The Penguin" and several other upcoming series—like "Lanterns," "Dune: Prophecy," "Welcome to Derry," and the new "Harry Potter" series—into the HBO original programming lineup in June. This shift allows the show to reach audiences both on Max and through HBO’s traditional cable channels, greatly enhancing visibility.

While it's difficult to determine how well "The Penguin" would have performed if it had remained solely on Max, the initial on-air premiere drew **242,000 viewers**, roughly **18 percent** of its first-night total. The combination of additional linear showings and HBO's prestigious brand likely contributed to this impressive viewer turnout.

As audiences continue to embrace "The Penguin," it seems HBO has another potential blockbuster on its hands. What other surprises does HBO have in store for viewers? Stay tuned!