The Gilded Age returns with its biggest premiere audience yet
HBO's period drama pulled in nearly 4 million U.S. viewers in three days, up 25% from last season's premiere. Here's what Season 4 is about and when it ends.
Bertha Russell shook up New York society, and it looks like viewers have noticed. HBO says Season 4 of The Gilded Age has just delivered the show's biggest premiere ever.
What happened?
HBO announced on Thursday that the Season 4 premiere, which aired on November 1, drew nearly 4 million cross-platform U.S. viewers in its first three days of availability. "Cross-platform" means HBO's TV channel and streaming on HBO Max are counted together.
That makes it the series' most-watched season premiere to date. It is a 25% jump from the Season 3 opener, which reached 3.2 million.
There is another number worth knowing. HBO says Season 3 went on to average 8.8 million U.S. viewers per episode, so the show has tended to keep growing after its premieres.
How did we get here?
The Gilded Age first arrived on HBO on January 24, 2022. Created by Julian Fellowes, it is set in 1880s New York and stars Carrie Coon and Christine Baranski.
Season 3 premiered on June 22, 2025, and drew about 3.2 million viewers in its first three days. Season 4 has now topped that comfortably.
What is Season 4 about?
According to HBO, Bertha Russell (Coon) changed Society, but at a cost. Now her family has to reckon with the consequences.
Meanwhile, Agnes van Rhijn (Baranski) sees a chance to win back her position. Marian (Louisa Jacobson) forges a new path for herself, and Peggy (Denée Benton) works to be accepted by her future in-laws. The season's warning, in HBO's words: you must be careful what you wish for.
The cast also includes Cynthia Nixon, Morgan Spector, Taissa Farmiga, Harry Richardson and Blake Ritson, among many others.
What's next?
New episodes air on Sunday nights at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and HBO Max. The season finale is set for December 20.
Fellowes is also a writer and executive producer on the show, which is a co-production between HBO and Universal Television.
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The Gilded Age Season 4 premiere ratings · 3 updates
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