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Highlights
- In the streaming era, TV shows have come to rival blockbusters with expansive budgets and unprecedented production values.
- Complex expenses drive costs higher on the most expensive TV shows, such as those for lavish sets and A-list star salaries.
- Success often now hinges on buzz, loyalty, and acclaim for cultural impact.
Television has boldly stepped out of the cinema's shadow, flexing financial muscles that would make blockbuster directors blush.
Far from the constraints of yesteryear, today's top-tier shows operate on a scale that rivals blockbuster films.
This evolution is fueled by a complex web of expenses that producers navigate to realize increasingly intricate visions.
Enormous production budgets underwrite sprawling sets, historical detail, and cutting-edge visual effects. A-list stars command salaries once reserved for the silver screen, pushing spending further skyward.
Unpredictable events like demanding location shoots, action-packed stunts, or even necessary re-shoots can become unexpected financial burdens.
Yet, a massive production budget alone does not guarantee a masterpiece. These lavish productions are a high-stakes gamble, demanding a payoff beyond visual spectacle.
In the streaming age, success hinges on a nebulous mix of buzz, subscriber loyalty, and critical acclaim – factors that fuel a show's cultural impact and secure its legacy.
Let's take a look at the ten most expensive television shows ever made to date.
Success And SalariesHow Much Was The Cast Of Game Of Thrones Paid Per Episode?
Game Of Thrones averaged over 30 million viewers per episode in its final season. Its star cast negotiated salaries reaching $1.2 million per episode.Updated, May 2024: On May 9th, multiple entertainment news outlets reported that several of the Netflix hits on this list were being featured in a "digital theme park" collaboration with Roblox.
According to Variety, the partnership between Netflix and Roblox was called "Nextworld," and it featured minigames based on several popular shows:
"Netflix is teaming up with Roblox to launch its own 'digital theme park' on the online gaming platform.
"Dubbed 'Nextworld,' the web-based universe will feature characters and content from Netflix IP including Stranger Things, One Piece, Cobra Kai and Rebel Moon.
"The offering debuts in early access Wednesday [May 15th] on Roblox."
GameSpot.com included a statement from Netflix about Nextworld:
"Once you enter Nextworld – which is your central hub in the Netflix universe – you can dive deeper into the series and films you love.
"Immersive games like Stranger Things: Escape from Hawkins High, One Piece: East Blue Brawls, and Rebel Moon: Outskirts Battles will connect you with your favorite characters in a whole new way."
10 Game Of Thrones (HBO)
Reported Production Budget: $15 Million Per Episode
The cultural phenomenon that put epic fantasy on everyone's screens, Game Of Thrones, escalated in cost as its popularity soared.
Based on the novels by George R.R. Martin, this ambitious epic started with a more modest $6 million per episode budget.
As its popularity exploded, so did the budget, reaching $15 million per episode for its final season.
This astronomical cost was fueled by fire-breathing dragons rendered with cutting-edge CGI, massive battle sequences requiring thousands of extras, and grandiose sets stretching from icy wastelands to magnificent palaces.
The show's star-studded cast, including Emilia Clarke, Kit Harington, and Peter Dinklage, commanded top-tier salaries to match their growing fame.
Game of Thrones redefined what television could achieve – despite its divisive final season – and its influence on the industry is unprecedented.
9 See (Apple TV)
Reported Production Budget: $15 Million Per Episode
See transports viewers to a hauntingly beautiful dystopian future where humanity has lost the gift of sight centuries ago.
When two children are born with the mythical ability to see, it throws the established order into chaos, igniting a war between those who view sight as a dangerous heresy and those who hope it marks a new era.
Starring Jason Momoa, See required a $15 million per episode budget to construct its unique world, largely due to its challenging production requirements.
To create its post-apocalyptic landscapes, sets were meticulously crafted, demanding intricate details for a world navigated through touch. Filming in remote wilderness locations further inflated costs.
While See boasts stunning visuals and a talented cast, its critical reception has been mixed, highlighting the gamble of investing such vast sums in a high-concept show.
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Reported Production Budget: $15 Million Per Episode
This Star Wars spin-off ignited a new era for the franchise, propelling Disney+ to the forefront of the streaming wars.
The Mandalorian follows a stoic, armor-clad bounty hunter traversing the lawless outer reaches of the galaxy, protecting a mysterious, force-sensitive child – the adorable Grogu (aka Baby Yoda).
A reported $15 million per episode budget ensures cinematic-quality adventures. Cutting-edge visual effects bring fantastical alien worlds and grimy spaceports to life, while elaborate practical sets provide a tangible feel to the action.
Although Pedro Pascal's lead performance is largely masked, the show's success rests on its commitment to the expansive Star Wars universe and the integration of groundbreaking technology like StageCraft, justifying its sizable investment and proving Disney+ can compete with the silver screen.
Nonetheless, given how successful the show has been, Disney has undoubtedly recovered that investment and profited substantially.
Nielsen reported that the second season of The Mandalorian was the most watched streaming television series in the United States, with 1.336 billion minutes of viewing time accrued on Disney+.
7 One Piece (Netflix)
Reported Production Budget: $17 Million Per Episode
Netflix's ambitious live-action adaptation of the manga and anime One Piece aims to bring its fantastical world to life with an estimated $17 million per episode.
The story follows Monkey D. Luffy and his crew of Straw Hat Pirates as they search for the legendary treasure known as One Piece.
The show's cost is driven by the need for over-the-top special effects, elaborate ship designs, and a massive cast to realize its expansive cast of characters.
According to Deadline Hollywood, One Piece debuted with over 18.5 million viewers in its first week.
One Piece's success hinges on its ability to capture the spirit of its source material, justifying its significant investment and enticing legions of potential new fans to set sail with Netflix.
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Reported Production Budget: $20 Million Per Episode
Even over a decade since its release, The Pacific remains one of the most expensive miniseries ever produced.
Following the interwoven stories of American Marines fighting in the Pacific Theater of World War II, its estimated $20 million per episode budget was primarily driven by its commitment to historical accuracy.
Extensive location shoots in remote areas, realistic set design, and explosive battle sequences pushed the costs through the roof.
Reports suggest that HBO had to cough up $200 million in total for the ten episodes of the show – with some estimates ranging as high as $270 million – making it the most expensive miniseries ever made.
5 House Of The Dragon (HBO)
Reported Production Budget: $20 Million Per Episode
HBO, no stranger to lavish productions, poured around $20 million into each episode of this Game Of Thrones prequel.
House Of The Dragon chronicles the bloody Targaryen civil war known as the Dance Of The Dragons, centuries before the events of its predecessor.
Fire-breathing dragons, plush costumes fit for royalty, and intricate sets all come with ample price tags.
Though critically well-received, House Of The Dragon must live up to the gargantuan legacy of Game Of Thrones to justify its huge budget.
The prequel's inclusion of extensive CGI dragons and grand battle sequences contributes to its higher production costs compared to Game Of Thrones, compounded by the effects of inflation.
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House Of The Dragon, a prequel to Game Of Thrones, is a massive success with a budget of over $20 million per episode.4 WandaVision (Disney+)
Reported Production Budget: $25 Million Per Episode
A delightfully mind-bending entry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), WandaVision sees Wanda Maximoff tap into her intense grief and warp reality into a series of sitcom pastiches.
Her synthezoid husband, Vision, becomes her unwilling co-star as she cycles through decades of television tropes.
The cost of approximately $25 million per episode reflects the painstaking detail required to meticulously replicate classic television sets and intricate era-specific styles.
On top of that, extensive CGI and the riveting action sequences characteristic of the MCU pushed the budget even higher.
WandaVision's critical and audience acclaim, along with its unique premise and knockout performances, prove it was an investment that paid off for Disney+.
3 Stranger Things (Netflix)
Reported Production Budget: $30 Million Per Episode
Stranger Things started out with a more modest budget, but its popularity drove its cost per episode to $30 million by season four.
This Spielberg-ian epic follows a group of kids in the small town of Hawkins, Indiana, as they unravel mysteries involving monstrous creatures from another dimension, government conspiracies, and a telekinetic girl named Eleven.
The demands of crafting detailed special effects sequences featuring grotesque creatures, creating detailed period-specific sets, establishing a nightmarish Upside Down realm, and accommodating the ever-increasing salaries of its now-superstar cast of teens are primarily responsible for the show's escalating expenses.
Variety reported that Stranger Things' first season cost approximately $6 million per episode, which increased to $8 million in season two.
Nonetheless, the investment has yielded significant returns for Netflix, considering how trendy the show is. Season four alone garnered around 188.2 million hours of viewing in its first week.
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Reported Production Budget: $50 Million Per Episode
Another Amazon contender for the title of most expensive TV show to date, Citadel, aims to redefine the spy genre.
This globetrotting thriller from the Russo brothers (directors of Avengers: Endgame) promises interconnected, action-packed narratives spanning multiple countries and languages.
Citadel follows agents Mason Kane (Richard Madden) and Nadia Sinh (Priyanka Chopra), two spies presumed dead after a mission goes awry in Italy.
The reported budget of around $50 million per episode hints at the bold ambition behind this series. Extensive international location shoots, explosive action sequences, and a large, star-studded cast necessitate a massive budget.
Furthermore, rumored production troubles and re-shoots have likely added to the already substantial cost.
Despite its high production costs, the show fell short of expectations, leading to disappointment for both Amazon and viewers alike.
1 The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power (Prime Video)
Reported Production Budget: $58 Million Per Episode
Amazon Prime/Prime Video's The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power boasts a reported $58 million per episode production budget, which culminates in a $465 million total budget, making it the most expensive TV production ever to date.
This budget size even eclipses the combined cost of Peter Jackson's Lord Of The Rings film trilogy, which cost $281 million to make.
The Rings Of Power transports viewers back thousands of years to before the familiar events of The Hobbit and The Lord Of The Rings trilogy.
The narrative follows the forging of the titular rings, the rise of Sauron the Dark Lord, and the epic struggles that shaped Middle-Earth's fate.
J.R.R. Tolkien's beloved world is brought to life with unparalleled grandeur. Amazon has invested $250 million solely in acquiring the rights.
Moreover, the projected budget for each of the planned five seasons ranges between $100 to $150 million, meaning the series could ultimately cost upwards of a billion dollars, an unprecedented investment in television history.
Majestic sets recreate the Elven city of Lindon and the Dwarven realm of Khazad-dûm, while exquisite costumes and groundbreaking visual effects depict fantastical creatures and awe-inspiring battles.
The sheer scale of the production, coupled with the acquisition rights for the Tolkien estate, rationalizes the colossal budget.
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