Series that never fail to take your breath away action have become a dominant force in the modern entertainment industry. A consequence of this huge popularity is that production companies and streaming services are now more likely to invest huge budgets into these shows to improve the quality of their output. Vast sets, CGI, impressive stunt work, and a top-notch cast all contribute to those huge budgets (via Media Guide).
While a big budget is no guarantee of a good TV show, it’s hard to deny that many of these shows are incredible. From exploring the worlds of Westeros and Middle-earth to a galaxy far, far, far away, these series have left an indelible mark on the television industry and set the bar for other action films to aspire to. These shows revolutionized modern television and often boast per-episode budgets that rival even the biggest blockbusters.
10
Halo (2022–2024)
$10.4 million per episode
Based on the extremely popular video game franchise of the same name. Halo is a science fiction epic set in the 26th century. It brings Master Chief’s futuristic war world to life as the UNSC battles the Covenant. With an estimated budget of around $200 million, financed by Paramount+, Halo quickly became one of the most expensive television shows ever made.
These enormous production costs were driven by the need to bring the world of video games to life, meeting audience expectations while immersing them in a futuristic setting. Incredible set of computer graphics and set design Halo from each other and gave the producers the opportunity to bring true depth to this fictional world. Bye Halo was sadly canceled after just two seasons, it remains one of the most ambitious television action and video game adaptations of all time.
9
See (2019-2022)
$15 million per episode
The Apple TV+ series is set in a post-apocalyptic world more than 600 years in the future. See tells the story of humanity losing its sight. The ability to see is nothing more than a myth. Jason Momoa plays Baba Voss, a fearless tribal leader whose world is turned upside down when two sighted babies are born into his tribe. SeeThe production budget was inflated not only because of the huge sets that were used, but also because of the dedication of the actors to the roles they played.
Innovative and impressive, See It may not be as popular as the other big budget TV shows on this list, but it tells a compelling story in a completely unique way.
The sighted actors went through weeks of intensive training and choreography to bring a sense of authenticity to this world of blindness. It does See It is one of the most unique television productions of modern times, and the sets were meticulously detailed to create the feeling that this world is truly inhabited only by blind people. Innovative and impressive, See It may not be as popular as the other big budget TV shows on this list, but it tells a compelling story in a completely unique way.
8
The Witcher (2019-present)
$10.1 million per episode
When Netflix The Witcher When first released, it quickly became one of the streaming giant’s flagship series with a budget of around $10 million per episode. Based on popular books and video games. The WitcherIn previous seasons, Henry Cavill played Geralt of Rivia. The dedication to the fight scenes that Cavill brought to the role was astounding, and his character was often considered standout while he was on the series.
The Witcher had a huge budget, much of which went into elaborate special effects, detailed set and costume designs, and dynamic set pieces. It has become one of Netflix’s most successful and popular shows of all time, and while only time will tell what Liam Hemsworth brings to the role of Geralt, there’s no denying the legacy that The Witcher went into fantasy and action TV shows. Its high production values, combination of practical effects and CGI, and compelling storytelling all prove that the budget here was well spent.
7
WandaVision (2021)
$25 million per episode
WandaVision was the first example of the Marvel Cinematic Universe delving into the television industry, and it certainly set an impressive standard for future shows. WandaVision tells the story of Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) after Avengers: Endgameand explores how she charms an entire city to cope with the loss of Vision (Paul Bettany). The MCU is known for its big budget films, so it’s no surprise that WandaVision had a staggering budget of $25 million per episode.
This huge budget was invested in production design and CGI. The scenery was constantly changing, with each episode telling Wanda’s story from a different point of view in a different decade. Combined with ambitious CGI and the salaries of the two main stars, WandaVision The total budget was approximately $225 million. However, the series remains one of the MCU’s most unique and compelling projects, telling an emotional story of grief and loss that justifies its incredibly large budget.
6
Stranger Things (2016-present)
$30 million per episode
Netflix Stranger Things has become more than just a TV show, it’s a cultural phenomenon. First premiered on a streaming service in 2016. Stranger Things tells the story of the small town of Hawkins in Indiana and the strange incidents that constantly occur there. It was first released to immediate critical and commercial success, and its great popularity likely contributed to the ever-increasing production value of its seasons.
The fourth season was released in 2022, with an estimated budget per episode of approximately $30 million. This was primarily due to CGI monsters like Vecna ​​and the Demogorgon, as well as incredible set design, especially in Upside Down, a parallel universe with a gateway to Hawkins. Additionally, acting salaries Stranger Things have only increased since the beginning, contributing to the show’s ever-increasing budget. Despite this huge investment, Stranger Things remains one of the biggest TV shows of recent years, proving it was a worthwhile investment.
5
The Last of Us (2023–present)
$15 million per episode
HBO The Last of Usbased on the critically acclaimed video game franchise of the same name, has become one of the most expensive shows of 2023. The total production budget is estimated to be over $100 million. The Last of Us was a showcase of HBO’s incredible production values. It faithfully retells the story of Joel (Pedro Pascal) and Ellie (Bella Ramsay) as they navigate a post-apocalyptic world overrun by Infected, and is one of the most ambitious television projects in recent years.
From the incredible makeup and CGI of Infected, to the post-apocalyptic landscape and scenery, and the all-star cast, no expense was spared in creating the world of Infected. The Last of Us brought to life for television.
While viewing The Last of Usit’s easy to see that the production budget was very well spent. From the incredible makeup and CGI of Infected, to the post-apocalyptic landscape and scenery, and the all-star cast, no expense was spared in creating the world of Infected. The Last of Us brought to life for television. Thrilling, heartbreaking and heartbreaking, The Last of Us is a very special medium, and HBO has done an excellent job of bringing it to television.
4
House of the Dragon (2022-present)
$20 million per episode
There was one key way HBO wanted to repeat its success Game of Thrones in its prequel, House of the Dragonand it had fantastic production value. Each episode reportedly costs the company approximately $20 million to produce. House of the Dragon tells the story of Westeros two centuries before the events Game of Thronesrecalling the events of the Targaryen Civil War, also known as the Dance of Dragons. Based on the book by George R.R. Martin. Fire and blood, House of the Dragon Of course, this budget was needed to achieve success.
The show’s budget was aimed at bringing Westeros back to life. From the epic, large-scale action sequences to the grandiose sets, breathtaking costume designs and, of course, the CGI dragons themselves, no expense has been spared. House of the Dragonfirst two seasons. Although Martin himself was not happy with House of the DragonThis is its second season, but that hasn’t stopped it from becoming one of the most popular shows of the last decade.
3
The Mandalorian (2019-present)
$12.6 million per episode
The Mandalorian one of the most interesting projects to come out of Star wars franchises since Disney acquired Lucasfilm, and some of that success can be attributed to the huge budget. It tells the story of Din Djarin (Pedro Pascal), a bounty hunter from Mandalore who meets a young Grogu. Over the course of three seasons, Dean becomes attached to Grogu and fights to protect him from a galaxy that wants him dead.
The MandalorianThe series’ budget contributed to a revolution in television production, with the use of “voluminous” scenes being praised. The volume is a state-of-the-art digital set that uses LED screens to create immersive environments and sets, from the dusty western atmosphere of Tatooine to the interior of Din’s ship. This monumental feat in computer graphics was accomplished by The Mandalorian one of the biggest budget TV shows ever when it was first released, but has since become one of the most heartwarming and popular series in the world. Star wars franchise, proving it was money well spent.
2
Game of Thrones (2011-2019)
$15 million per episode
Game of Thrones it is perhaps the most impressive television show of all time in terms of production quality. It was an unprecedented, ambitious attempt for HBO to bring Westeros to the small screen in this way, but for the most part it was incredibly successful. In later seasons, the budget was estimated at approximately $15 million per episode, and the series produced some of the largest action sequences in television history.
From Battle of the Bastards to September’s Baylor Wildfire and of course the iconic sets. Game of Thrones set an incredibly high standard of television production that had never been seen before.
From Battle of the Bastards to September’s Baylor Wildfire and of course the iconic sets. Game of Thrones set an incredibly high standard of television production that had never been seen before. Bye Game of ThronesThe final season was lackluster in terms of narrative closure, but that didn’t take away from the seven seasons of incredible action, storytelling, and intrigue that HBO provided for viewers. Game of ThronesThe budget proved that TV shows could rival cinema in both scale and ambition.
1
The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power (2022–present)
$58.1 million per episode
Prime Video’s take on JRR Tolkien’s Middle-earth is by far the most expensive series of all time so far. Considering rights acquisition and production, the budget for the first two seasons Rings of Power that alone adds up to a staggering and game-changing $1 billion. This is unprecedented and more than the budget of all three Lord of the Rings films combined. It tells the story of the creation of the Rings of Power and explores the backstory of iconic characters such as Sauron, Galadriel, and Elrond.
Of course, much of the production budget went into CGI and scenery to bring Middle-earth back to the screen. Various fight scenes in the first two seasons use a combination of CGI and practical effects to create some truly stunning moments. The visuals and ambitious storytelling presented in Rings of Power are a testament to the sheer scale of the project and Amazon’s unprecedented financial investment.
Source: Media Guide