$58 million per episode
These are the most expensive series of all time – many of which you’ve never heard of
Second most expensive series of all time: Richard Madden plays a secret agent in “Citadel” – but hardly anyone knows the series
In the fight for viewers, streaming providers like Netflix dig deep into their pockets. But that doesn’t guarantee success. Some of the most expensive series are surprisingly unknown – and rightly so.
The gold rush mood at Netflix and Co. has long since disappeared. In the fight for viewers, for a while no series was too expensive, no idea too daring. The pressure to always deliver new material was too great. The industry has now become more selective again. The companies want to make money. And has made some very expensive flops. Or have you ever heard of “Citadel” or “The Get Down”?
15th place: The Get Down ($16 million per episode)
When it was released in 2016, the series about a group of teenagers in the Bronx in the 1970s was the most expensive series that Netflix had ever produced at $16 million per episode. Problems during filming were primarily to blame for the cost explosion. It wasn’t worth it, at least for Netflix: Despite good reviews, “The Get Down” wasn’t very successful. It was one of the first Netflix productions to be canceled after just one season.
14th place: Wandavision ($16.5 million)
With “Wandavision” the costs even fell: Disney had budgeted $150 million for six episodes for the series about the Scarlet Witch, known from the Avengers films. In the end there were even nine episodes – and the price fell to “only” 16.5 million per episode. The series was a complete success with critics and viewers.
13th place: One Piece ($18 million)
This also applies to the live-action adaptation of the anime hit “One Piece”. The streaming giant had to deliver: Fans of the original were eagerly waiting, but skeptical, for the series about a young pirate captain and his crew. Netflix invested $18 million for each of the eight episodes, which were enthusiastically received by fans.
12th place: Fallout ($19 million)
Expectations were also high for Amazon Prime’s new series “Fallout” – after all, the sarcastic, morbid series about survival after a nuclear war is based on an enormously successful video game series. Director and author Jonathan Nolan is not only the brother of Oscar winner Christopher Nolan, but also made a name for himself with “Westworld”. It remains to be seen whether the investment of $19 million per episode is worth it for Amazon: The series has only been available since April 11th. However, the first reviews are extremely positive.
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11th place: House of the Dragon ($20 million)
“House of the Dragon” has already provided proof of audience interest: the prequel series to “Game of Thrones” is entering its second round in the summer. The budget of $20 million per episode doesn’t go toward big names, but rather into elaborate sets and computer-animated dragon fights.
10th place: Three Body Problem ($20 million)
The optical opulence also costs in the new project of the two minds behind the series adaptation of “Game of Thrones”: Netflix’s new blockbuster “Three Body Problem” costs the same at $20 million per episode and relies on strong effects and locations around them World. And, as the streaming giant hoped, it attracts a gigantic audience. The series has been number one on Netflix around the world for weeks.
9th place: The Pacific (20 million)
However, significantly fewer people in this country have probably heard of the World War II drama “The Pacific”. The World War II drama, produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, is a spin-off of HBO’s hit “Band of Brothers” and was a huge success in its native USA. In Germany, when it was released in 2010, it could only be seen on Sky.
8th place: Loki ($24 million)
The series about the God of Deception and his crazy adventures to save time was a surprise hit at Disney – and of course got a second season. The $24 million per episode of “Loki” should be considered an excellent investment given its success at Disney.
7th place: Kenobi ($25 million)
As a rule, the company budgets a little more for its prestige series: $25 million is available for everything from the Star Wars and Marvel universes. The long-awaited miniseries “Kenobi,” in which Ewan McGregor once again took on the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi, was also a success.
6th place: Hawkeye ($25 million)
This applies a little less to “Hawkeye”. Although the series about the Avengers member with the bow was rated slightly better than “Kenobi”, the hype was significantly less – despite the same budget.
5th place: Falcon and the Winter Soldier ($25 million)
In “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” both come together. The series about two sidekicks of Captain America and Ironman neither completely convinced the critics nor was the hype particularly great. But $25 million per episode is a lot of money.
4th place: Stranger Things ($30 million)
However, it is not surprising that Netflix is investing real money in “Stranger Things”. The series about the supernatural adventures of a young group of friends is one of the streaming service’s biggest hits. That’s what it costs: each episode of season 4 cost $30 million.
3rd place: Secret Invasion ($35 million)
The most expensive Disney series is one of the most unsuccessful: the service paid $35 million for “Secret Invasion” to have Samuel L. Jackson’s Nick Fury uncover an alien conspiracy. But the chaotically told series didn’t really convince fans or critics. And found correspondingly few spectators.
2nd place: Citadel ($50 million)
Cita-what? you may now ask yourself. Rightly so. Because hardly anyone knows about the second most expensive series of all time. “Game of Thrones” star Richard Madden is caught up in his past in Amazon’s spy series. And with today’s knowledge, Amazon probably wouldn’t spend the $50 million per episode again.
1st place: The Lord of the Rings – The Rings of Power ($58 million)
The most expensive series of all time also comes from Amazon. Each of the eight episodes of “The Rings of Power” costs $58 million. The license fee for “The Lord of the Rings” probably took up most of the budget. This has an advantage: With the largest cost factor out of the way, subsequent seasons cost significantly less. Season three is already in the works.