HBO’s Rome has climbed to No. 2 on the U.S. Apple TV Store’s television chart, nearly two decades after ending. According to ScreenRant, the historical drama held that position on October 14, 2026, behind The Sopranos.
Notably, this is a digital storefront ranking, not a count of viewers across every streaming platform. Meanwhile, the report identified a reason for the renewed interest: a discounted complete-series bundle.
At the time, Apple offered both seasons for $10, down from $35, ScreenRant reported. However, the available information does not establish how many purchases the promotion generated or prove it caused the chart climb.
Why Did HBO Cancel Rome After Only Two Seasons?
Originally, Rome premiered in 2005 and followed the Roman Republic’s transformation through political leaders and ordinary soldiers. Kevin McKidd played Lucius Vorenus, while Ray Stevenson portrayed Titus Pullo.
Alongside them, Polly Walker played Atia, Ciarán Hinds portrayed Julius Caesar, and James Purefoy appeared as Mark Antony. Together, their stories connected palace rivalries with the violence and pressures of life.
Behind the scenes, HBO partnered with the BBC on an expensive production filmed at Italy’s Cinecittà studios. Ultimately, costs helped end the series after 22 episodes, with its final season airing in 2007.
Previously, HBO decided against a third season in July 2006, before the second season reached viewers. Consequently, co-creator Bruno Heller had to shorten a plan.
“I discovered halfway through writing the second season the show was going to end,” Heller told The Hollywood Reporter. Initially, he intended that season to finish with Brutus’s death, followed by two seasons set in Egypt.
Instead, he explained, “But because we got the heads-up that the second season would be it, I telescoped the third and fourth season into the second one, which accounts for the blazing speed we go through history near the end.”
Still, no revival accompanies this chart news.
