AMC’s acclaimed crime drama thriller series ‘Breaking Bad,’ starring Bryan Cranston, has seen exceptional growth in its current fifth season. Sunday night’s episode delivered 2.8 million viewers, a 47 percent increase over season four’s finale.

Sunday’s episode of ‘Breaking Bad,’ titled ‘Gliding Over All,’ concluded the first half of season five, with the final eight episodes of the Emmy Award-winning drama premiering next summer. The episode, the last of 2012, was also up 57 percent in household rating, 37 percent in adults 18-49 and 34 percent in adults 25-54, when compared to the season four finale.

Charlie Collier, AMC’s president, said “Congratulations to everyone involved in Sunday’s great success and for delivering episode after episode of television that is nothing short of remarkable.” He added that the fact that the drama series “continues to deliver at such a remarkable level creatively, now over 50 episodes later, is a rare accomplishment that begins with (writer-producer-director) Vince Gilligan and the torch is carried by ever member of the team on both sides of the camera.”

Some of the key Nielsen Highlights for ‘Breaking Bad’s first eight episodes of season five include:

-2.1 household rating: 44% over season four series average
-2.6 million viewers: 39% vs. season four series average
-1.6 million adults 18-49: 56% over season four series average
-1.6 million adults 25-54: 49% vs. season four series average

Written by: Karen Benardello