Ranking Every RuPaul's Drag Race Premiere Episode According To IMDB

With the grand premiere of RuPaul’s Drag Race season 15 on MTV kicking off the queer calendar of 2023, many fans are taking the time to reflect on previous premiere episodes within the flagship US series.

From split premieres to surprise contestants to Variety Shows to lip sync extravaganzas, Mama Ru and the producers behind Drag Race have twisted and turned the concept of a grand premiere in many different ways. Some have worked successfully, while others weren’t received as well.

Besides the format of a premiere episode, one must also consider the first impressions that fans have when it comes to a new cast of queens. Some casts are very well-received from the start, but others take some time to gain more support from viewers.

Using IMDB ratings as a standardized tool, it’s time to rank every premiere of RuPaul’s Drag Race and see how these episodes stack up against one another.

Scroll through to check out the ranking of each premiere episode of RuPaul’s Drag Race over the years.

14. Season 13 (Score: 6.3)

With a very low score of 6.3, the first episode of Drag Race season 13, “The Pork Chop,” is deemed the worst-ever premiere for the flagship series according to IMDB. Many fans hated the concept of putting the queens through the psychological turmoil of the so-called Pork Chop Loading Dock.

13. Season 1 (Score: 7.3)

It’s hard – and potentially unfair – to compare the first-ever premiere of Drag Race to subsequent seasons with such a higher budget. Alas, this “Drag on a Dime” premiere has a 7.3 score on IMDB, so this is where the episode lands in this ranking.

12. Season 2 (Score: 7.6)

Just like the first season, this was still very early on for the overall Drag Race franchise. The premiere of season two has a 7.6 score on IMDB, which is pretty low in comparison to future seasons.

9-11. Season 3 (Score: 7.7)

With a score of 7.7, this is a sign that things started to get better for Drag Race premieres. The fact that season three has the same score as two other recent seasons shows how much this episode changed the game for the series back when it aired.

9-11. Season 7 (Score: 7.7)

Tied with a score of 7.7 is Drag Race season seven. The show was experiencing its highest high at this point, with seasons four, five, and six solidifying the franchise as a cultural phenomenon. Unfortunately, though, viewers didn’t warm up to the season seven cast right away.

9-11. Season 11 (Score: 7.7)

This is another example of a premiere episode that suffered from the fans’ first impressions of the queens. Season 11 is also tied with a score of 7.7, largely due to viewers not falling in love with these queens right away.

7-8. Season 5 (Score: 8.0)

Season five is one of the most iconic Drag Race seasons of all time, and its score of 8.0 for the premiere episode shows that. Fans were immediately into this cast of queens and the narratives that were set up (you can thank Alyssa Edwards and Coco Montrese for a lot of that!).

7-8. Season 14 (Average Score: 8.0)

Drag Race season 14 had a split premiere. The first premiere scored an 8.2 on IMDB, while the second premiere scored a 7.8. Averaging out those numbers, the season 14 premiere has a score of 8.0 – tying with season five.

5-6. Season 4 (Score: 8.2)

Another tie!? Last one, we promise! The premiere of Drag Race season four has an 8.2 score on IMDB, which is very impressive for that time period of the series.

5-6. Season 10 (Score: 8.2)

Also with an 8.2 score on IMDB is season 10 of Drag Race. This was the birth of “Miss Vanjie,” which would ultimately become one of the biggest memes in the herstory of the franchise.

4. Season 6 (Average Score: 8.25)

A lot of fans call season six their favorite cycle of Drag Race – and this was the first season to feature the split premiere format. The first premiere scored an 8.1 on IMDB, whereas the second premiere scored an 8.4. This comes up to an average of 8.25 for the season six premiere.

3. Season 8 (Score: 8.3)

The season 8 premiere of Drag Race has a whopping 8.3 score on IMDB. This episode was not only fabulous for its incredible cast of queens, but it also featured all previous winners of the series coming back for a special photoshoot. The fans were living, and rightfully so!

2. Season 12 (Average Score: 8.4)

According to the scores on IMDB, the most successful split premiere in Drag Race herstory took place in season 12. The first episode scored a 9.0, while the second episode scored a 7.8. This amount to an average of 8.4, making it the second-best Drag Race premiere ever.

1. Season 9 (Score: 8.8)

Oh. My. Gaga! When it comes to starting out a new year of Drag Race, nothing has reached the levels of the season nine premiere featuring Lady Gaga. On IMDB, this episode has a score of 8.8 – making it the best premiere of all time according to viewers.