By now, House of the Dragon has been enjoying its successful start on HBO as not also have fans of Game of Thrones enjoyed the return to Westeros, but the pilot episode became the broadcaster's highest-rated premiere with nearly 10 million people watching it. How the rest of the season will go down remains to be seen, but it is already off to an amazing start.

Looking back through HBO's catalog of shows over the years, there have been many premiere episodes that have garnered a lot of viewers. Some would eventually become some of their most successful series in history.

True Blood - 1.44 Million Viewers

Originally released in 2008, True Blood followed the romantic adventures of Sookie Stackhouse, a waitress with supernatural powers who lives in a world where vampires and humans co-exist. Blending horror, drama, and fantasy, the show attempted to tell a fresh and modern take on the many vampire stories that have come before it.

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Despite the already impressive number of viewers with Anna Paquin leading the cast after her time on major movie franchises like X-Men, the show seemed to intrigue a lot of people to see what the actress can deliver, not to mention bringing in fans of the original novels by Charlaine Harris. As the show advertised a mature and modern take on fantasy, many were intrigued by what this world would bring. (Stats from Broadcasting Cable.)

Entourage - 1.89 Million Viewers

Give A Little (Entourage) Cropped

It has been seven years since Entourage wrapped up the series with a feature-length movie that saw Vincent Chase and his best friends try to make it big in LA. And with nearly a hundred episodes of the show before it, there are plenty of great storylines and comedic shenanigans to enjoy.

Mark Wahlberg came on board as the show's executive producer and with such a big name behind it, some must have been certainly curious about his new venture away from acting. With actors like Jeremy Piven and Adrian Grenier immediately finding fame from the series and becoming big names, their affiliation with the show and their success only helped to make it one of the best HBO comedies according to IMDb. (Starts from RatingsRyan).

Westworld - 1.96 Million Viewers

Westworld Dolores Shocked Evan Rachel Wood

A televised remake of the sci-fi novel of the same name, Westworld saw a star-studded cast play a mix of androids and humans and their roles within a western-themed amusement park. As the series went on, the relationship between androids and humanity were tested in some extreme situations.

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With a cast made up of instantly recognizable actors like Evan Rachel Wood, Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, and James Marsden, many flocked to their television sets to see such big Hollywood starts in the series. It also opened the doors to new content outside big named shows like Star Trek and Star Wars. (Stats from TV By The Numbers).

Game Of Thrones - 2.22 Million Viewers

Ned Stark kneels before Robert Baratheon in Game Of Thrones

Introducing the world of Westeros, audiences would meet the many houses and characters who ruled the fantastical kingdom. Allegiances are tested, and betrayals and loyalty kept fans on their toes throughout the hit series' run.

It's hard to imagine that the show started with such a small amount of viewers compared to episodes in future seasons, but that didn't stop it from starting out with an impressive pilot. The beloved collection of fantasy novels by George R. R. Martin finally being adapted and some familiar names joining the cast must have attracted numerous viewers and the show was a fantasy series unlike any other. (Stats from TV By The Numbers).

True Detective - 2.33 Million Viewers

Rust from True Detective, played by Matthew McConaghey

Each season of the crime drama would introduce a set of new detectives who would attempt to solve their most challenging cases. The series has seen some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Rachel McAdams, and Mahershala Ali, which not many anthology series can say.

Regarded by many fans of this show as the best, the first season saw many people turning on their television sets to watch McConaughet and Harrelson act alongside one another in some of their best roles to date. Big-name stars and the teasers promised to deliver a gritty, big-budget show, so it interested enough people to check it out. (Stats from TV By The Numbers)

The Sopranos - 3.45 Million Viewers

James Gandolfini in The Sopranos

The show that made James Gandalfini a household name, The Sopranos would introduce everyone to Tony Soprano, a New Jersey-based mob who juggles crimes and family life. It may have ended in 2007, but last year saw a movie named The Many Saints of Newark that would give fans a glimpse into the early criminal career of Tony and other key characters.

An impressive rating, it was no surprise to see why one of best written American TV shows became big as it offered to bring the experience and storytelling from gangster flicks to everyone's homes. And with the famed television writer and producer David Chase behind it, the show would eventually become a massive hit for HBO. (Stats from Chicago Tribune).

The Wire - 3.70 Million Viewers

Omar The Wire Death Scene

Based in Baltimore, The Wire opened up the corrupt world of crime and law enforcement and how it impacts the individuals who inhabit them. As the series grew, the stars would become infamous in movies and television as their careers soared with actors like Idris Elba, Dominic West, and Michael K. Williams as they starred in some of the most important episodes the show had to offer.

Before Netflix documentaries and dramatic movies would open up the corruption of the law and the criminals who got a bad deal in life, The Wire was a realistic interpretation that many wouldn't have seen before. Furthermore, it helped to make the broadcaster stand out as a place where mature content can thrive. (Stats from The Futon Critic).

Carnivále - 5.33 Million Viewers

While not the biggest name in HBO's catalog, Carnivàle did garner a lot of attention when it was initially released. Set during the Great Depression, a fugitive with strange supernatural abilities runs away with a traveling carnival that leaves the staff questioning his motives and legitimacy.

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Considered a cult television classic today, Carnivàle managed to bring in a lot of viewers with its press materials and televised spots to bring in the crowd. As it followed the finale of Sex in the City, people may have stayed tuned to see what this new story will bring. (Stats from Medial Life Magazine.)

Deadwood - 5.75 Million Viewers

Deadwood movie image with Ian McShane

Easily David Mitch's greatest television show, Deadwood was based on a real American town and charted its growth through dramatic portrayals as well as some fictional elements sprinkled into it. It may have only aired for 3 seasons, but it did receive a movie in 2019 that carried on from where the finale left off.

Deadwood remains one of the best Western television shows of all time that introduced Ian McShane to a new generation of fans while appealing to existing ones. Regarded as one of his best roles, many wanted to see how one of the show's most intellectual characters, Al Swearengen, would play out among a cast of recognizable talent in a genre that hasn't been seen on television with such talent behind it. (Stats from Medial Life Magazine.)

House Of The Dragon - 9.99 Million Viewers

House of the Dragon Daemon Rhaenyra Targaryen Matt Smith Emma DArcy

Easily HBO's most successful premiere episode, House of the Dragon looks set to reignite the flames surrounding Game of Thrones in a big way. Set nearly 200 years before the events of the hit series, the prequel show follows the Targaryan dynasty when they were the rulers of Westeros.

With a fresh cast and a new creative team, it looks like the broadcaster has successfully bought in newcomers to the world as well as pleasing the fans. And despite the controversial way GOT ended, it didn't stop audiences from being hopeful about this prequel. (Stats from Variety.)

NEXT: 8 Familiar Game Of Thrones Sigils That Appear In The First Episode Of House Of The Dragon