How many seasons does Game of Thrones have and how many episodes?

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HBO's award-winning fantasy series "Game of Thrones" ran for eight seasons from 2011 to 2019. Every episode of the show is now available to stream on HBO Max. Ad-free subscribers can even watch the show in 4K with improved detail, contrast, and colors compared to the original broadcast.

"Game of Thrones" dives into the fictional medieval land of Westeros as various noble houses fight for the Iron Throne. The three main families are the Targaryens, Starks, and Lannisters, the former of which ruled Westeros for nearly 300 years before being overthrown. But as the houses battle against each other, an even greater supernatural threat could put an end to the entire realm.

Check out the trailer for 'Game of Thrones'

"Game of Thrones" is now one of the most successful TV shows of all time — receiving 164 Primetime Emmy Award nominations and 59 wins, including four awards for best drama series. The show also holds an "89% Fresh" score on Rotten Tomatoes based on all eight seasons.

Despite being incredibly popular, "Game of Thrones" received backlash for its eighth and final season. Based on the "A Song of Ice and Fire" book series by George R.R. Martin, the series finale was criticized for the characters' controversial endings. Nonetheless, "Game of Thrones" remains a huge franchise, and a new prequel series will debut on August 21.

How to watch 'Game of Thrones'

You can watch all eight seasons of "Game of Thrones" on HBO Max. The streaming service also features exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes featurettes.

HBO Max offers two different plans for subscribers. The cheaper ad-supported plan costs $10 a month, or $100 for a full year. If you have Cricket Wireless, the ad-supported tier is included in your plan at no additional cost. 

$9.99 from HBO Max

For ad-free streaming, HBO Max costs $15 a month or $150 annually. The ad-free plan also adds 4K playback support for select programs, including "Game of Thrones," as well as the ability to download content to watch offline. 

$14.99 from HBO Max

The HBO Max app is available on Fire TV products, Apple and Android mobile devices, gaming consoles, Roku streaming devices, and most new smart TVs released by major brands. Check out the full list of supported devices on HBO Max's website.

Can I rent or buy 'Game of Thrones' without HBO?

You can't rent "Game of Thrones" digitally, but you can purchase individual episodes, seasons, and the entire series to stream online without HBO Max. "Game of Thrones" episodes cost $4 each in HD quality through streaming retailers like Prime Video and Vudu. 

Pricing varies depending on the retailer and quality you choose, but each season can be purchased for $10 to $50. As of writing, you can buy the entire series digitally for $60 on Vudu.

Is 'Game of Thrones' available in 4K with HDR?

In anticipation of the "House of the Dragon" premiere on August 21, HBO Max finally released 4K high dynamic range (HDR) versions of "Game of Thrones" on August 1. However, the 4K versions of each episode are only available to subscribers of HBO Max's ad-free plan.

The 4K episodes offer improved detail, contrast, and color, making the already beautiful series look even more spectacular when viewing it on a 4K TV with HDR capabilities. The show also features Dolby Atmos surround sound when watched with compatible audio gear.

Buyers who prefer a physical copy of the series can also purchase "Game of Thrones" on 4K Blu-ray with HDR and Dolby Atmos sound.

How many seasons does 'Game of Thrones' have?

"Game of Thrones" has a total of eight seasons. The first six seasons each have 10 episodes with approximately one hour-long runtimes. Season seven has only seven episodes with slightly longer runtimes, while season eight has six episodes that run between 54 and 82 minutes long.

Are there 'Game of Thrones' spin-offs?

HBO has several "Game of Thrones" spin-offs in development. The series' first spin-off, a prequel called "House of the Dragon," premieres August 21 on HBO and HBO Max. 

Other "Game of Thrones" spin-offs in development include an untitled Jon Snow sequel series starring Kit Harington, as well as "The Sea Snake," "Ten Thousand Ships," "The Hedge Knight," and "The Golden Empire." None of these shows have been officially ordered to series just yet, but all of them come from stories and characters created by George R.R. Martin.