The Dexter franchise continues to deliver audiences for Showtime and Paramount+.
The latest iteration of the saga, Dexter: Resurrection, brought in 3.1 million cross-platform viewers over the show’s opening weekend from July 11-13. The series follows the title character (Michael C. Hall) — who, as it turns out, did not die in the finale of Dexter: New Blood, hence the Resurrection part of the new show’s title — to New York City.
The 3.1 million cross-platform viewers (calculated by dividing total viewing time worldwide by run time, what most of the rest of the industry calls views rather than viewers) is a considerable improvement on the premiere of the most recent Dexter series, the prequel Original Sin, in December 2024. Original Sin premiered to about 2.1 million viewers over its first three days.
As is usually the case with premium cable shows, the vast majority of Dexter: Resurrection’s audience came via streaming. Same-day Nielsen ratings for the show’s on-air premiere at Showtime show the first two episodes averaged just 221,000 viewers. That leaves about 2.88 million viewers — 93 percent of the opening weekend total — for streaming. Paramount+ says Resurrection is the most streamed premiere in Showtime history, a title previously held by Original Sin. (The streamer dropped “With Showtime” from the name of its ad-free tier in June in favor of calling it Paramount+ Premium.)
“Dexter: Resurrection delivered an electrifying performance that not only rekindled a fiercely devoted fanbase but also captivated a new generation of viewers — shattering records with Showtime’s most-streamed premiere ever,” said Chris McCarthy, co-CEO of Paramount Global and president of Showtime/MTV Entertainment. “This triumph underscores the lasting impact of this iconic franchise, brought to life by Michael C. Hall’s unparalleled portrayal and [showrunner] Clyde Phillips’ visionary creative leadership.”
Phillips executive produces with Hall, Scott Reynolds, Tony Hernandez, Lilly Burns and Marcos Siega. Monica Raymund and Siega each directed multiple episodes of the season.