Game of Thrones is Still the Most Pirated TV Show Even in 2022

Ahead of the upcoming release of HBO's anticipated House of the Dragon, Game of Thrones once again tops the charts as the most pirated show of 2022.

Game of Thrones is Still the Most Pirated TV Show Even in 2022

Even in 2022, Game of Thrones is still the most pirated TV show, according to a new report. First premiering in 2011 on HBO, Game of Thrones quickly became one of the most popular shows in the world. Based on George R. R. Martin’s fantasy book series of the same name, Game of Thrones tells the story of several warring families’ attempts to control the Iron Thrones of Westeros. The show ultimately ran for 8 seasons before coming to a close in 2019.

Although it didn’t take long for the show to develop a passionate fan base, later seasons saw Game of Thrones become a cultural phenomenon. In its eighth and final season, the show was drawing an average of 44.2 million viewers per episode across all platforms, setting records that still have yet to be broken (for reference, Euphoria season 2 averaged 16.3 million viewers). Although Game of Thrones was being watched by millions of paying, legitimate customers, the show also became the most pirated in the world, at the time. The Game of Thrones season 8 premiere, for example, was pirated 54 million times in 24 hours.

According to a new report from USwitch, Game of Thrones is still proving immensely popular among pirates, currently holding the number one spot as the most pirated TV show of 2022. The report measures piracy in terms of internet searches for illegal streams, with Game of Thrones drawing an average of 8,560 searches per month. The medieval fantasy show beats HBO’s other hit series, Euphoria, which holds the number two spot with 7,960 searches per month, and Friends, which comes in at number 3 with 5,060 searches per month.

Although shows like WandaVision and The Mandalorian have been named the most pirated series in the years following the end of Game of Thrones in 2019, it’s likely that the upcoming release of House of the Dragon, a GoT spinoff, has led many to revisit the original series. House of the Dragon takes place hundreds of years before the events of Game of Thrones, but a number of the warring families, including the Targaryens, remain central players, perhaps explaining why many are looking to once more immerse themselves in the fantasy world of Westeros. Despite currently being the most pirated TV show of the year, Game of Thrones continues to draw criticism for its final 2 seasons, widely considered by fans to be immensely disappointing.

While the show’s ending may not have struck a chord with many viewers, it’s clear that Game of Thrones still represents a high point not only for fantasy television but for television in general. Game of Thrones may not be required viewing to understand House of the Dragon, but many fans are evidently keen to revisit the characters, settings, and battles that made the original show so popular. It remains to be seen whether House of the Dragon will develop as large a fanbase as Game of Thrones, but it’s likely the upcoming show will also be heavily pirated.