Last season, Once Upon a Time saw a boost in the ratings thanks in part to the show’s Frozen storyline. How will the show do this time around? Will the ratings rise or fall? Cancelled or renewed for a sixth season? Stay tuned.
Once Upon a Time follows the continuing adventures of fairytale characters whose tales unfold between their storybook world and Storybrooke, a small town in Maine. The large cast includes Ginnifer Goodwin, Jennifer Morrison, Lana Parrilla, Josh Dallas, Emilie de Ravin, Colin O’Donoghue, Jared S. Gilmore, Sean Maguire, Rebecca Mader, and Robert Carlyle.
The ratings are typically the best indication of a show’s likelihood of staying on the air. The higher the ratings (particularly the 18-49 demo), the better the chances for survival. This chart will be updated as new ratings data becomes available — typically around 11:30am EST/8:30am PST. Refresh to see the latest.
3/3 update: ABC has renewed Once Upon a Time for a sixth season. Details here.
5/16 update: You can see the rest of the latest night’s ratings.
Note: If you’re not seeing the updated chart, please try reloading the page or view it here.
Last year comparison: The fourth season of Once Upon a Time averaged a 2.18 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 6.56 million total viewers.
Note: These are the final national numbers (unless noted with an “*”). These are different from the fast affiliate numbers which are just estimates of the actual ratings. The final nationals are typically released within 24 hours of the programming or, in the case of weekends and holidays, a couple days later.
What do you think? Do you still like the Once Upon a Time TV series? Do you think it should be cancelled or renewed for a sixth season?
Season 5a has become a tiring repetition. The characters were strong since season 1 but now the writers are so intent on making the show’s ships work that they’re letting them go downhill. Emma has become a character who just pines after Hook, and the arcs promised were not developed. How was Regina the savior? She did not focus that much on saving Emma from darkness but went after Robin Hood instead. What was the point of Emma saying “I saved you, now save me” to Regina and giving her that dagger because she was the only one who could… Read more »
Everything has become about Hook this season. Captain Swan were kissing every other scenes. Not everyone ships them, even though I respect all ships. How was Regina the savior? They said the roles would switch, but it seemed that Regina’s goal focused about Robin Hood and Zelena’s child. And now that have to go to the underworld and save Hook! It has become really repetitive and what was the point of Emma saying to Regina in 5×01 “I saved you, you saved me” when that didn’t really happen? They are so intent on making Captain Swan work out that they… Read more »
Cancel! This show has gotten so stupid and ridiculous. Kept waiting for the modern fairytale twists, but never gonna happen. I have no interest in whether hook lives or dies…comes back from he’ll or not. The flashbacks really got old and dark swan dived.
I don’t want the show to get cancelled, I really, really don’t. I just want it to go back to the show I knew and loved. Ever since season 4 especially, though S3 as well to a lesser extent, it’s like they forgot who their characters are. Plot-driven stories will do that. Season 1 and even 2 were about the characters, S4-5 are trying to force those characters into making decisions they would not have. It’s not even about the fairy tales anymore, they could be literally any other shows characters thrown into the same story and it wouldn’t make… Read more »
Please please please renew it, this show needs a sixth season, and even a seventh season to reach a proper conclusion that will leave me sad that it’s ending yet satisfied with the main characters relationships. They deserve so much more, please renew it! There are a lot of dedicated fans that love this show
This has been one of the most fascinating seasons of any television show I have ever seen. The acting of Jennifer Morrison and Colin O’Donoghue, in particular has been masterful. The love story between their characters feels genuine and has brought an energy and freshness that has been missing since season 3 back to the show. I hope the creators keep the dynamic unchanged going forward as they, and the actors, have truly created something beautiful in the love story of the Captain and the Swan.
I don’t know if Once should stay on the air, or not. The focus of the showrunners seems to be introspective even to detriment. I love Hook, but am losing confidence the show will do right by his character. They keep going back to the same thing over and over, and I think it’s a bad sign when viewers are exhausted in reality, as the story is, in fiction. Fans are exasperated. People look for something to warm their hearts; to cheer them up; to help them escape the real world, for a while. What does Once Upon A Time… Read more »
I’m not a fan of Hook, personally. I don’t hate him, just don’t like him. And it seems like the show focuses on him to the exclusion of everyone else (unless they are specifically interacting with him). That’s the biggest problem I have with Hook. I would have had no problem with him becoming a regular if it didn’t cut down on everyone else’s screentime significantly (heck, I’d have welcomed him, I love the villains, but he lost a lot of what made him, him, when he went “hero”). And they ignore all the bad things he does. I don’t… Read more »
Maybe this season, but other than that I feel that it’s been the Rumple and Snowing show since season 1! How many flashbacks and storylines with them? A LOT! Rumple is always connected to every character’s stories and David and Snow love one another a lot, and a lot and a lot…ok I get it already! No need to shove it down my throat writers! Hook and Regina’s struggles to become good were a nice change for me. All the characters are great, the writing has just gone downhill since season 1. I keep watching, hoping they’ll make a change… Read more »
I used to LOVE this show. Not anymore. The writing is terrible, it has no logic and the plots are annoying and cringe-worthy. They need some REAL writers in this show. I’m really sorry for actors like Robert Carlyle and Emilie De Ravin who are the only ones who really got my attention but they have pushed them aside and ruined a beautiful story. They have so much chemistry together and the “writers” have wasted it. Instead they keep pushing completely chemistry-less/annoying couples like Prince Charming and Snow White (their story was pretty much over at the end of Season… Read more »
Used to be original and clever in the first season or two but now is a hot mess… inconsistent characterization, lazy plotting, sloppy writing, not even a pretense of internal logic in world building and constantly shifting the established rules to accommodate increasingly lame plot twists… it’s time they brought this train wreck to an end… sad that such a promising concept has been so badly wasted
Not just a promising concept, but also a phenomenal cast to work with. And they give them dreck. The fact that the show has lasted as long as it has is 100% to do with their actors doing their best with what they’re given. Unfortunately, not even the greatest actors can hide the contrived mess it’s become for long. I agree with everything you said (except I don’t want to end yet, I will miss all the actors). But they can’t even keep up with their own history. They change back stories when they feel like it, and what you… Read more »
Jumped the shark a couple seasons back so I stopped watching. Seems others have as well. For those still watching enjoy it while it is still on.
Season Five has really changed, it’s gotten a bit darker and interesting. It is probably, aside from the first season, the second best season. I hope it keeps going!
you’re not watching the same show as the rest of us, it seems. this season is terrible.
Keep it going! People who don’t like it can watch something else. It’s called a remote control! !
Obviously a great many people have, and from the reactions to the finale, a great many more probably will.
Okay, but this show had like what, 15 or 16 million views last year or something? Now, it’s like 5 million?! There is a reason why ratings are dropping, it’s not because people are hating.
Who said anyone was hating from my comment?
@Maya you should really look at the season ratings pages -this show hasnt had 15 million viewers since season one or two according to my looking at the ratings pages just now.Also,total viewers don’t matter,18-49 demo does.Serialzed shows,like Once,especially loose viewers as they age.
Oh. Well…show still sucks anyways. :
I love this show. Can’t miss television and so clever !!
Cancel it ASAP!
they can fix the show!!!! I know they can, its screwed up now but have hope!
I hope they cancel this crap it’s beyond dumb & those two showrunners who happen to be writers among many others made this way too unwatchable since S5. They should’ve canceled this trash at the beginning of S1.
Love the show and will hope to see season six will really be disappointed if canceled.
I wouldn’t! Good riddance i would say!
if you hate the show so much – why waste your time on here, putting the show down and replying to positivity with your negativity?
Wow, ain’t u such a saint! FYI, im voicing my opinion & since u obviously live in some fairy tale where criticism doesn’t exist, well sorry to break it to u buddy but it does exist & this is a free speech so i am allowed to say what i think about this dumb tv show. This show became more & more in the terms ”what Disney property we’re gonna add next” instead of something original. (BTW Hercules is set for S5B just so u know). Killing Neal with whom Emma had chemistry just so that a shippers could be… Read more »
So…. How old are you?
i love it too! it’ll get renewed, no doubt.