Game of Thrones is an American fantasy drama television series created for HBO by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss. It is an adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire, George R. R. Martin's series of fantasy novels, the first of which is titled A Game of Thrones. The show was shot in the United Kingdom, Canada, Croatia, Iceland, Malta, Morocco, and Spain. It premiered on HBO in the United States on April 17, 2011, and concluded on May 19, 2019, with 73 episodes broadcast over eight seasons.
Set on the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos, Game of Thrones has a large ensemble cast and follows several story arcs throughout the course of the show. The first major arc concerns the Iron Throne of the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros through a web of political conflicts among the noble families either vying to claim the throne or fighting for independence from whoever sits on it. A second focuses on the last descendant of the realm's deposed ruling dynasty, who has been exiled to Essos and is plotting a return and reclaim the throne. The third follows the Night's Watch, a military order defending the realm against threats from beyond Westeros's northern border.
Game of Thrones attracted a record viewership on HBO and has a broad, active, and international fan base. Critics have praised the series for its acting, complex characters, story, scope, and production values, although its frequent use of nudity and violence (including sexual violence) has been subject to criticism. The final season received significant critical backlash for its reduced length and creative decisions, with many considering it a disappointing conclusion. The series received 59 Primetime Emmy Awards, the most by a drama series, including Outstanding Drama Series in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019. Its other awards and nominations include three Hugo Awards for Best Dramatic Presentation, a Peabody Award, and five nominations for the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Drama.
A prequel series, House of the Dragon, premiered on HBO in 2022.
Cast and characters[]
- Sean Bean - Eddard "Ned" Stark
- Sebastian Croft - young Ned Stark
- Robert Aramayo - adolescent Ned Stark
- Mark Addy - Robert Baratheon
- Nikolaj Coster-Waldau - Jaime Lannister
- Michelle Fairley - Catelyn Stark
- Lena Headey - Cersei Lannister
- Nell Williams - young Cersei Lannister
- Emilia Clarke - Daenerys Targaryen
- Iain Glen - Jorah Mormont
- Harry Lloyd - Viserys Targaryen
- Kit Harington - Jon Snow
- Richard Madden - Robb Stark
- Sophie Turner - Sansa Stark
- Maisie Williams - Arya Stark
- Alfie Allen - Theon Greyjoy
- Isaac Hempstead Wright - Bran Stark
- Jack Gleeson - Joffrey Baratheon
- Rory McCann - Sandor "The Hound" Clegane
- Peter Dinklage - Tyrion Lannister
- Jason Momoa - Khal Drogo
- Aidan Gillen - Petyr "Littlefinger" Baelish
- Liam Cunningham - Davos Seaworth
- John Bradley - Samwell Tarly
- Stephen Dillane - Stannis Baratheon
- Carice van Houten - Melisandre
- James Cosmo - Jeor Mormont
- Jerome Flynn - Bronn
- Conleth Hill - Varys
- Sibel Kekilli - Shae
- Natalie Dormer - Margaery Tyrell
- Charles Dance - Tywin Lannister
- Oona Chaplin - Talisa Maegyr
- Rose Leslie - Ygritte
- Joe Dempsie - Gendry
- Kristofer Hivju - Tormund Giantsbane
- Gwendoline Christie - Brienne of Tarth
- Iwan Rheon - Ramsay Bolton
- Hannah Murray - Gilly
- Ed Skrein (season 3) and Michiel Huisman (seasons 4–6) - Daario Naharis
- Nathalie Emmanuel - Missandei
- Callum Wharry (seasons 1–2) and Dean-Charles Chapman (seasons 4–6) - Tommen Baratheon
- Indira Varma - Ellaria Sand
- Tom Wlaschiha - Jaqen H'ghar
- Michael McElhatton - Roose Bolton
- Jonathan Pryce - The High Sparrow
- Jacob Anderson - Grey Worm
International broadcast[]
| Country | Channel |
|---|---|
| United States | HBO |
| Arab World | OSN, MBC4 |
| Asia | HBO |
| Latin America | HBO |
| Albania | Top Channel, Fox Life |
| Algeria Tunisia |
OSN, Nessma |
| Australia | Showcase |
| Austria | Sky Atlantic, TNT Serie, RTL II |
| Bangladesh | HBO |
| Belgium | 2BE, Be 1, Prime, VTM 4, La Deux, La Trois |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | HBO |
| Brazil | HBO |
| Bulgaria | HBO |
| Canada | HBO Canada, Super Écran, Showcase, AddikTV |
| Croatia | HBO, HRT |
| Cyprus | ANT1 Cyprus |
| Czech Republic | HBO, ČT2 |
| Denmark | HBO Nordic, C More, TV3 |
| Estonia | Fox Life, ETV2 |
| Finland | HBO Nordic, C More, Yle TV2 |
| France | OCS Choc, Canal+, D8, D17 |
| Germany | Sky Atlantic, TNT Serie, RTL II |
| Greece | Nova Cinema 1, Nova Cinema HD, Skai TV |
| Hungary | HBO |
| Iceland | Stöð 2 |
| India | HBO, Star World |
| Israel | Yes Oh |
| Italy | Sky Cinema 1, Sky Atlantic, Rai 4 |
| Japan | Star Channel |
| Latvia | Fox Life |
| Lithuania | BTV |
| Moldova | HBO |
| Montenegro | HBO |
| Netherlands | HBO Nederland, RTL 4 |
| New Zealand | SoHo, Prime |
| North Macedonia | HBO |
| Norway | HBO Nordic, CMore, NRK3 |
| Pakistan | HBO |
| Poland | HBO |
| Portugal | SyFy |
| Romania | HBO |
| Russia | Fox Life, REN TV |
| Serbia | HBO |
| Slovakia | HBO |
| Slovenia | Kanal A, HBO |
| South Africa | M-Net |
| South Korea | SCREEN |
| Spain | Canal+, Antena 3, LaSexta, Neox |
| Sweden | HBO Nordic, C More, SVT1 |
| Switzerland | TNT Serie, RTS Un |
| Turkey | CNBC-e, e2, tvyo |
| Ukraine | TET, 1+1 |
| United Kingdom Ireland |
Sky Atlantic |