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The Last of Us

The Last of Us

Every path has a price.

2023–Ongoing2 seasonsRenewedSeason 3 upcoming17 episodes~50 min/epTV-MAMidcredits score: 89th percentile of all shows

Twenty years after modern civilization has been destroyed, Joel, a hardened survivor, is hired to smuggle Ellie, a 14-year-old girl, out of an oppressive quarantine zone. What starts as a small job soon becomes a brutal, heartbreaking journey, as they both must traverse the United States and depend on each other for survival.

Your rating, lists and review

Where to watch

Where can I watch The Last of Us?

As of October 24, 2026, MovieCove lists The Last of Us streaming on HBO Max and to rent or buy on Apple TV and Prime Video.

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Rent / Buy

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Highlights

What stands out about The Last of Us?

The Last of Us earns 9 badges, led by Universally Loved and Cultural touchstone.

Show 1 more
  • Rank
  • Reception
  • Craft and mood
  • Content

Reception

Is The Last of Us worth watching?

The Last of Us' Midcredits score is the 89th percentile of all shows, from 796K ratings across 5 sources. 88% liked it (rated it 7 or higher out of 10).

Midcredits score

How well it was received

89th percentile

Better received than 89% of shows

86th percentile among Action91st percentile among 2020s
Acclaim (how much people like it)84th
Approval (how many liked it)89th

Acclaim

Universally Loved: Rating-distribution shape vs the catalog

How much people like it

79 /100

84th percentile of all shows

84th percentile among Action87th percentile among 2020s

Critics 83 · Audience 78

Critics and audiences broadly agree.

Rating distribution

Most people land high, with a thin tail of low scores from those it didn't reach.

Approval

How many liked it

88% liked it

89th percentile of all shows

86th percentile among Action91st percentile among 2020s
88% rated it 7–1012% rated it 1–6

Critics 94% · Audience 62%

On Rotten Tomatoes, a bigger share of critics approved than audiences.

Reach

How many have seen it

99th percentile

791K ratings across platforms

97th percentile among Action99th percentile among 2020s
TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Up 1% in 30 days

What reviewers say

Common ground

Season 1 of The Last of Us is a faithful, high-production-value adaptation of the video game centered on the father-daughter bond between Joel and Ellie.

Fans praised

  • Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey's chemistry carries the relationship
  • Faithful adaptation preserving the game's emotional core and iconic scenes
  • Exceptional production design, cinematography, and practical effects create a believable post-apocalyptic world

Detractors panned

  • Season 2's shift to teen romance and revenge plot loses the survival horror tension
  • Ellie's character is dumbed down from resourceful survivor to reckless, immature brat
  • Abrupt killing of Joel early in season 2 leaves the story without its emotional anchor

What stands out

ActingDivisive85

Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey praised for chemistry and authenticity; detractors find Ramsey's older Ellie unconvincing

Cinematography85

Stunning visual style capturing desolate landscapes and intimate close-ups; both camps agree on high production value

Atmosphere80

Gritty, immersive world-building in season 1; season 2's tonal inconsistency toward teen drama criticized

DialogueDivisive70

Natural, emotionally resonant exchanges in season 1; some find Ellie's quips forced or cringe-worthy

Emotional impactDivisive65

Season 1's father-daughter bond deeply moving; season 2's revenge arc and romance fail to land emotionally for many

CharactersDivisive60

Rich father-daughter dynamic in season 1 widely praised; season 2's Ellie called unlikeable, immature, and poorly written

Plot and storyDivisive55

Season 1's quest structure effective; season 2's revenge plot labeled aimless, bloated, and illogical

PacingDivisive40

Season 1 praised for tight pacing; season 2 widely criticized for sluggish, filler-heavy episodes and rushed key moments

Preferred by

Critics vs users

Preferred by Critics

Critics scored it 19 points higher than users.

No notable difference between the other groups: each pair ranks it within 10 percentile points.

  • Women vs men 4 points apart
  • Under-30s vs over-30s 2 points apart
  • US vs non-US 2 points apart

Episodes

2 seasons

Season 2 · 2025 · 7 episodes · 6.6 average across 7 rated episodes

  • S2E1

    Future Days

    Apr 13, 202559 minTMDB rating 6.8
  • S2E2

    Through the Valley

    Apr 20, 202557 minTMDB rating 7.7Season best
  • S2E3

    The Path

    Apr 27, 202557 minTMDB rating 6.2
  • S2E4

    Day One

    May 4, 202553 minTMDB rating 6.2
  • S2E5

    Feel Her Love

    May 11, 202545 minTMDB rating 6.4
  • S2E6

    The Price

    May 18, 202560 minTMDB rating 6.7
  • S2E7

    Convergence

    May 25, 202550 minTMDB rating 6.2Finale

Watch experience

What is The Last of Us like to watch?

Conclusions only — categories and positions, no plot detail.

Earnest, dark and intense — an even-paced watch that leaves you bittersweet.

ToneFeelDemandexact position · filled zone: the category

What it asks of you

What it feels like

Moods
DreadTenseMelancholic
Heaviest: middle
Register
Solemn: Grave and dignified; treats its subject with weight and respect.Brutal · 3% of shows
Told as
Three-act: Setup, confrontation, resolution — the default Hollywood shape.SerializedNew arc each season
ToneThe show takes its post-apocalyptic world and its characters' moral struggles with complete seriousness, never winking at the audience.
The rideThe series sustains a tense, often dread-filled atmosphere, with its heaviest emotional and violent stretches in the second season.
StructureThe story unfolds chronologically across episodes, with no significant non-linear storytelling.
Episode formatThe series tells one continuous story across seasons, with each episode advancing the overall narrative.
Season formatSeason 1 is a survival journey; season 2 shifts to a revenge arc, though both continue the same core cast and world.

How it leaves you

what you carry away
BittersweetThought-provoking
Why it leaves you this wayThe moral compromises and the bond between Joel and Ellie leave a lingering mix of hope and sorrow.
How it ends · evidence
Ambiguous ending

Story archetype

where it sits among all shows
Monster — 18% of shows. A threat menaces the hero's world and must be defeated.Rags — 3% of shows. A rise from lowliness to fortune, status, or recognition.Quest — 6% of shows. A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles.Voyage — 2% of shows. Into a strange world and back again, changed.Comedy — 12% of shows. Confusion and cross-purposes resolved into harmony.Tragedy — 4% of shows. A flaw or fixation drives the protagonist to ruin.Rebirth — 7% of shows. A stalled or darkened life reopened and renewed.Mystery — 8% of shows. A question drives the story — who did it, what happened, what is real — until it is answered.No archetype — 40% of showsPredator — 7% of shows. A creature or killer hunts the protagonists (Jaws, Alien).Tyrant — 3% of shows. A human villain holds power over the hero's world (Die Hard).Invasion — 2% of shows. An external force attacks the home or world (Independence Day).Oppressive state — 3% of shows. A government, its agencies or a secret faction inside them is the monster (V for Vendetta).Corporate villainy — 1% of shows. A company or its bosses are the monster (Erin Brockovich).Institutional injustice — 1% of shows. A court, prison, police force, school or church is itself the enemy (Spotlight).Class system — under 1% of shows. The gap between rich and poor, or a rigid hierarchy, is the monster (Parasite).Technology turns — under 1% of shows. Technology people rely on becomes the threat (The Terminator).Inner demon — 1% of shows. The monster is within — addiction, illness, a dark double.Underdog triumph — 2% of shows. Rise through competition or contest (Rocky).Social ascent — 1% of shows. A climb in class or status (Pretty Woman).Fame and fortune — under 1% of shows. An artistic or showbiz rise (A Star Is Born).Rise and fall — under 1% of shows. Wealth or power gained, self lost (Scarface).Hidden worth revealed — under 1% of shows. The protagonist's true value finally recognized.Treasure hunt — 1% of shows. Retrieve an object of value (Raiders of the Lost Ark).Rescue — 2% of shows. Retrieve or save a person (Saving Private Ryan).Mission — 4% of shows. Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).Journey home — under 1% of shows. The goal is getting back (Finding Nemo).Pilgrimage — under 1% of shows. The journey itself transforms; the destination is symbolic.Portal fantasy — under 1% of shows. Transported into another world (The Wizard of Oz).Fish out of water — 1% of shows. Displaced into an unfamiliar social world (Elf).Survival ordeal — under 1% of shows. Trapped in a hostile environment, fighting back (Cast Away).Time displacement — under 1% of shows. Unstuck in time (Back to the Future).Descent — under 1% of shows. A night-journey into an underworld or subculture (After Hours).Romantic comedy — 2% of shows. Lovers kept apart by confusion, united at last.Comedy of errors — 3% of shows. Mistaken identity or misunderstanding drives the plot.Farce — 2% of shows. Escalating absurd chaos and coincidence (The Hangover).Buddy comedy — 1% of shows. A mismatched pair forced together (Rush Hour).Comedy of manners — 2% of shows. Social codes and class satirized (Clueless).Hubris — 1% of shows. Pride or ambition invites the fall (There Will Be Blood).Obsession — under 1% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Corruption arc — 1% of shows. Step-by-step moral decay (The Godfather).Doomed love — 1% of shows. Love destroyed by circumstance (Brokeback Mountain).Crushed by fate — 1% of shows. Destroyed by forces beyond the protagonist's control.Redemption — 1% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Healing — 3% of shows. Recovery from grief or trauma (Good Will Hunting).Liberation — 2% of shows. Breaking free of a confining life (Room).Second chance — 1% of shows. A stagnant life re-opened to love or purpose (Groundhog Day).Puzzle — 1% of shows. A clue-by-clue puzzle you can try to solve before the reveal (Knives Out, Clue).Investigation — 6% of shows. A long pursuit of the truth that may never be fully solved (Zodiac, Memories of Murder).Enigma — 1% of shows. The mystery is what is real, or what is actually happening (Mulholland Drive).QuestMission
Every story archetype, clockwise from the top
  • Monster 18%: Predator 7% · Tyrant 3% · Invasion 2% · Oppressive state 3% · Corporate villainy 1% · Institutional injustice 1% · Class system under 1% · Technology turns under 1% · Inner demon 1%
  • Rags 3%: Underdog triumph 2% · Social ascent 1% · Fame and fortune under 1% · Rise and fall under 1% · Hidden worth revealed under 1%
  • Quest 6% (this title): Treasure hunt 1% · Rescue 2% · Mission 4% (this title) · Journey home under 1% · Pilgrimage under 1%
  • Voyage 2%: Portal fantasy under 1% · Fish out of water 1% · Survival ordeal under 1% · Time displacement under 1% · Descent under 1%
  • Comedy 12%: Romantic comedy 2% · Comedy of errors 3% · Farce 2% · Buddy comedy 1% · Comedy of manners 2%
  • Tragedy 4%: Hubris 1% · Obsession under 1% · Corruption arc 1% · Doomed love 1% · Crushed by fate 1%
  • Rebirth 7%: Redemption 1% · Healing 3% · Liberation 2% · Second chance 1%
  • Mystery 8%: Puzzle 1% · Investigation 6% · Enigma 1%
  • No archetype 40%

Quest: A journey toward a defined objective, with companions and obstacles. · Mission: Accomplish or destroy a defined objective (Mission: Impossible).

6% of shows fit this archetype

A loose fit — the map only half-holds this one.

Why this archetypeThe series follows Joel escorting Ellie across an infected America in hopes of finding a cure, evolving into a revenge quest after a personal loss.

What it's about

7 groups · 53 themes
Bonds — 31% of showsSelf — 27% of showsPower — 7% of showsMorality — 11% of showsSurvival — 9% of showsSociety — 10% of showsIdeas — 5% of showsRomantic love — 10% of showsMarriage — 2% of showsFamily bonds — 22% of showsParenthood — 1% of showsFriendship — 18% of showsLoyalty — 7% of showsIdentity — 20% of showsComing of age — 9% of showsAging — under 1% of showsSelf-worth — 7% of showsAmbition — 14% of showsPurpose — 16% of showsMemory — 3% of showsObsession — 2% of shows. A fixation consumes the protagonist (Black Swan).Power — 5% of showsCorruption — 3% of showsGreed — 2% of showsClass — 4% of showsOppression — 2% of showsFreedom — 4% of showsJustice — 14% of showsDuty — 2% of showsRevenge — 1% of showsGuilt — 1% of showsRedemption — 3% of shows. Moral reawakening of a hardened soul (A Christmas Carol).Forgiveness — under 1% of showsSacrifice — 2% of showsBetrayal — 3% of showsDeception — 6% of showsSurvival — 12% of showsWar — 1% of showsViolence — 2% of showsMortality — 2% of showsGrief — 4% of showsTrauma — 5% of showsMental illness — under 1% of showsAddiction — under 1% of showsIllness and disability — under 1% of showsCommunity — 25% of shows. Consequences reach a town, institution or group.Isolation — 3% of showsPrejudice — 2% of showsDisplacement — 1% of showsFaith — 1% of showsTradition vs change — 3% of showsFame — 5% of showsLegacy — 3% of showsFate — 1% of showsFree will — under 1% of showsTruth — 6% of showsHope — 4% of showsNature — 3% of showsArt — 2% of showsTechnology — 1% of showsSelfFamilybonds
Every theme, clockwise from the top
  • Bonds 31% (this title): Romantic love 10% · Marriage 2% · Family bonds 22% (this title) · Parenthood 1% · Friendship 18% · Loyalty 7%
  • Self 27%: Identity 20% · Coming of age 9% · Aging under 1% · Self-worth 7% · Ambition 14% · Purpose 16% · Memory 3% · Obsession 2%
  • Power 7%: Power 5% · Corruption 3% · Greed 2% · Class 4% · Oppression 2% · Freedom 4%
  • Morality 11%: Justice 14% · Duty 2% · Revenge 1% (this title) · Guilt 1% · Redemption 3% · Forgiveness under 1% · Sacrifice 2% · Betrayal 3% · Deception 6%
  • Survival 9%: Survival 12% (this title) · War 1% · Violence 2% · Mortality 2% · Grief 4% · Trauma 5% · Mental illness under 1% · Addiction under 1% · Illness and disability under 1%
  • Society 10%: Community 25% · Isolation 3% · Prejudice 2% · Displacement 1% · Faith 1% · Tradition vs change 3% · Fame 5% · Legacy 3%
  • Ideas 5%: Fate 1% · Free will under 1% · Truth 6% · Hope 4% · Nature 3% · Art 2% · Technology 1%

Bonds

Family bondsSurvival · 12% of showsRevenge · 1% of shows
Interrogates its theme: Questions its theme without settling the answer.Global stakes: Consequences reach the world.Dual lead
How it treats its themeThe central story is about the surrogate father-daughter bond that forms between Joel and Ellie as they survive the apocalypse, later complicated by a revenge-driven second season.
StanceThe show questions what bonds mean in a collapsed world, weighing survival against human connection and later revenge against loss.

The world

ContemporaryUrbanWildernessScience fiction
Orchestral modernAmbientSupportive music · original score
SettingPost-apocalyptic America, 20 years after a fungal outbreak has decimated civilization
MusicThe score underscores the emotional gravity of the journey and the world's desolation.

Content guide

Is The Last of Us okay for kids?

TV-MA

The Last of Us is rated TV-MA. As of August 18, 2026, Midcredits content scores put its violence at severe (91/100), sexual content at moderate (49/100), language at severe (87/100), drug and alcohol content at moderate (41/100) and frightening material at severe (89/100). Overall it is heavier than 89% of TV-MA shows.

Ratings in 31 other countries
  • UK15
  • Canada18+
  • AustraliaMA 15+
  • Germany16
  • France18
  • Ireland18
  • South Korea19
  • Brazil16
  • ArgentinaSAM 16
  • Austria16
  • Czechia18+
  • Denmark15
  • FinlandK16
  • Hungary18
  • IndiaA
  • Israel18+
  • ItalyVM14
  • LTS
  • MexicoB-15
  • Netherlands16
  • Norway15
  • Poland18
  • Portugal16
  • PRTV-MA
  • RO18
  • Russia18+
  • SingaporeR21
  • South Africa16
  • Spain18
  • Türkiye13+
  • VITV-MA
Overall
Intense · all five categories
Heavier than 94% of all showsHeavier than 89% of TV-MA shows
Violence & Gore
Severe
heavy for a TV-MA show
heavier than 90%
Sex & Nudity
Moderate · audience split: No severity level holds a majority of voters
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 41%
Profanity
Severe
heavy for a TV-MA show
heavier than 87%
Alcohol & Drugs
Moderate
typical for a TV-MA show
heavier than 31%
Frightening / Intense
Severe
heavy for a TV-MA show
heavier than 93%

Point along a line to see a well-known title at that level.

The reason to think twice is violence, frightening material, and language. Everything else sits at or below what TV-MA shows usually carry.

Source: Midcredits content scores, 0 (none) to 100 (severe) per category, with each standing ranked against other shows that have them.

What content warnings does The Last of Us have?

MovieCove found 3 depicted content warnings in The Last of Us: Death of a child (severe), Terminal illness (moderate), Gore or body horror (mild). 1 more is mentioned only, in dialogue or backstory (behind the spoiler gate). A missing warning is not a guarantee of absence.

SevereDeath of a child
ModerateTerminal illness
MildGore or body horror

Mentioned: referenced in dialogue or backstory, not shown in the story’s present.

Cast and crew

Who is in The Last of Us?

Cast

Bella Ramsey
as Ellie Williams
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Pedro Pascal
as Joel Miller
Gabriel Luna
as Tommy Miller
Career best: Their highest-reaching show role by billing, audience size and rating.Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Isabela Merced
as Dina
Top draw: One of the 3 biggest draws in this cast: billing here weighted by career star power.
Young Mazino
as Jesse
Screen debut: No prior film or television role.
Rutina Wesley
as Maria Miller
Robert John Burke
as Seth
Veteran: 15 or more years in, with as much work as the typical long-career actor.
Danny Ramirez
as Manny Alvarez
Rising: A short career with a standing when this show came out above the median working actor today.
Samuel Hoeksema
as Clicker
Kaitlyn Dever
as Abby Anderson

More like this

What are shows like The Last of Us?

TMDB's suggestions for shows like The Last of Us include 12 Monkeys (2015), Z Nation (2014) and Station Eleven (2021).

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What other shows share a tag with The Last of Us?

106 other shows share the rarest tag below, premise: protector on a journey. Each tag opens Browse with the shows that share it.