8 TV shows with big budgets that actually paid off

While a huge budget doesn’t necessarily guarantee a show’s success, some great shows do more than make up for their exorbitant price tag. There have been a number of failed big-budget TV shows over the years. Even the most expensive show of all time can end up looking like an expensive flop. citadel and ring of power These are just two recent examples of shows struggling to justify their huge costs. They still have the potential to turn things around, but reviews of the first season have been viewed through the lens of the much-hyped budget.

Famous actors can quickly inflate a show’s budget, along with key elements like costumes, locations, and the use of CGI. In recent years, TV shows have generally become more expensive, especially toward luxury goods. Some of the budgets for recent shows were unimaginable even a decade ago, highlighting how the lines between high-end television and movies continue to blur. While expensive shows may be becoming more common, hit rates suggest that money is no guarantee of success. There are only a few shows that can completely justify the huge cost.

8 Friends (1994-2004)

$10 million per episode

In the last few seasons, friend It was very expensive for a sitcom. The show featured six stars who played absolutely critical roles in its success, and who worked together to negotiate higher pay.Each friend In the end, cast members earned $1 million per episode. It’s rare for a TV star to receive such a high salary, and it’s unheard of for six actors to earn this much money on one show. friend But it was worth the incredible budget and remains one of the most popular sitcoms of all time.

7 Rome (2005-2007)

$9 million per episode

HBO historical drama Rome The story follows the lives of two ordinary soldiers as the Roman Empire rises from the ruins of the Republic. Rome This was an ambitious feat in television storytelling at the time, and the commitment to historical authenticity required significant investment. Rome‘s period-appropriate costumes and sets helped create an immersive portrait of a tumultuous time in the history of the ancient world. It may have only lasted two seasons, but Rome Almost 20 years later, it’s still gaining new fans. It could be an ideal option for a big-budget reboot.

6 Band of Brothers (2001)

$12.5 million per episode

HBO’s World War II miniseries was a defining moment in the early days of prestige television. With Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg as producers, band of brothers brought the scope and production values ​​of movies to the small screen.of band of brothers The cast is full of talent, and many of the actors have gone on to have a lot of success over the past 20 years. However, the cast isn’t the only reason this show has such a huge budget. band of brothers was an ambitious miniseries that required many period costumes and props, and was shot on location throughout Europe.

Five The Crown (2016-2023)

$14.4 million per episode

Netflix crown spends a huge amount of money and spares no expense in recreating historical events related to the British Royal Family. Part of the hefty cost can be attributed to the show’s talented cast, including Olivia Colman, Imelda Staunton, and Jonathan Pryce.but The main reason the show’s budget has ballooned is its commitment to historical authenticity.requires fancy costumes and a location. crown CGI is often used to imitate real-world locations that are never allowed to be filmed, such as Windsor Castle, which also pushes up the budget.

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Four Stranger Things (2016-2025)

$30 million per episode

stranger things The period setting and CGI are used abundantly. Any of these can significantly increase a show’s production costs, and when combined, stranger things The most expensive show on Netflix. Budgets increase significantly each seasonas stranger things ‘ has become a flagship show on Netflix, and its actors are getting paid even more.It seems likely that stranger things Season 5 could be the biggest yet. It may cost a lot of money, but stranger things It was definitely a smart investment for Netflix. Finding a replacement for the program may be difficult.

3 The Mandalorian (2019-)

$15 million per episode

the mandalorian It was my first live action Star Wars Being a TV show, this series needed to be a hit. The show started out with an eye-popping budget, a sign of how important it was to Disney+, but the payoff was well worth the investment. the mandalorian It doesn’t sacrifice scale or sci-fi action. Star Wars A movie just because it’s on TV.best episode of the mandalorian They often tell stories that are perfect for working as short films.Not all live action Star Wars The show is up to the same high standards.

2 Game of Thrones (2011-2019)

$15 million per episode

Although the controversial final season may have tarnished its reputation somewhat, game of thrones is still a victory for fantasy television. Based on the novel by George R.R. Martin, game of thrones It’s an epic story with dozens of important characters. Costumes, props, and sets also added to the show’s huge budget, and his extensive CGI didn’t come cheap. game of thrones is a great example of a bold and ambitious TV show. Huge budgets were spent, especially in the later seasons, which was necessary to do justice to the source material.

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1 Loki (2021-2023)

$25 million per episode

Marvel TV shows reportedly have a budget of around $25 million per episode. Although not everyone was equally successful, loki It was worth every penny.of The MCU’s movie budgets have always been among the highest in the industry, so it’s no surprise that TV projects would be just as expensive.. Like a movie, loki and other Marvel films rely heavily on expensive CGI and big-name actors, neither of which come cheap. loki It’s a fun mix of comedy and action, but it also helps expand on the MCU’s rich storytelling.