With advances in media distribution technology and a world saturated by streaming services, we are living in the Golden Age of Television. What was once considered a casual pastime – consisting largely of 20-minute sitcoms and single-location small-scale studio productions – has gradually evolved into high-quality productions with budgets more akin to the cinematic scale.
This era of Prestige TV establishes television as a true rival to the cinema. Characterized by its increased production values, notable movie directors and actors, as well as spin-offs of well-known franchises, this era of TV marks an age where quality television becomes indistinguishable from its movie counterparts. With that being said, it is no wonder that more money is invested in television, with some of the most successful shows expending over 10 million dollars per episode. From Friends to The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, these are the most expensive television shows to date considering the number of episodes.
30
‘The Witcher’ (2019–)
$10 million per episode (10 episodes)
Henry Cavill shines as monster hunter Geralt of Rivia in this fan-favorite Netflix dark fantasy TV show based on the book series by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski, which also inspired a popular videogame. Geralt attempts to find his place in the world alongside a powerful sorceress (Anya Chalotra) and a princess with unmatched gifts (Freya Allan).
On top of The Witcher’s huge scale and incredible worldbuilding that certainly comes with high costs, the $10 million per episode show benefits from action-packed monster-hunting sequences to keep audiences invested. Naturally, it is not the least surprising that the Lauren Schmidt Hissrich show is on this list, whether that is for its location filming, elaborate costumes, high-quality effects, or the expensive star salaries.
The Witcher
- Release Date
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December 20, 2019
- Network
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Netflix
29
‘Pachinko’ (2022–)
$13 million per episode (8 episodes)
Released in 2022 on Apple TV, this captivating and masterfully acted K-drama based on the New York Times bestseller chronicles the ambitions of an immigrant Korean family across four generations. Throughout their challenging adventure, they leave their homeland to survive and attempt to thrive in a different country.
Panchinko’s ambitious budget, which has been described by The Hollywood Reporter as “a sizable premium show budget akin to Netflix’s The Crown,” is said to be $13 million per episode, instantly making it one of the most expensive shows streaming today. This also makes sense considering its compelling story that ranges from Korea, Japan, and the United States, the meticulous attention to historical detail, and the high-quality, almost cinematic and visually arresting production that the show features, fully immersing audiences throughout.
28
‘Rome’ (2005–2007)
$9–10 million per episode (12 episodes)
Rome is the perfect mix of political intrigue, epic warfare, and human drama; this landmark historical show vividly brings the ancient world to life. It chronicles the final years of the Roman Republic through the intertwined lives of both legendary figures like Julius Caesar and Cleopatra, and ordinary soldiers.
Despite there not being an exact budget for season two, season one’s production alone has an estimated budget of $100 million, making it one of the most expensive Max shows. Filmed in Italy, where vast and elaborate sets were recreated to encapsulate the grandeur of ancient Rome, the historical epic is one of the most historically accurate shows ever made, though the commitment to its realism certainly came at a steep price.
27
‘Band of Brothers’ (2001)
$12.5 million per episode (10 episodes)
Band of Brothers is a highly regarded, historically accurate TV series. It counts on an immensely talented cast, ranging from Damian Lewis to Michael Fassbender, and chronicles the history of “Easy” Company, 506th Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, U.S. Army. It is based on interviews with survivors and soldiers’ journals and letters.
Created by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, this astounding and immersive series entertained many who enjoy the genre, also thanks to its impressive average budget of $12.5 million per episode. Although many aspects contributed to this, the massive budget was mostly due to significant special effects and pyrotechnics as well as, of course, its impeccable ensemble cast. Fortunately, there is no doubt that the result was well worth the expense.
Band of Brothers
- Release Date
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2001 – 2001
- Network
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HBO
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Donnie Wahlberg
C. Carwood Lipton
26
‘The Last of Us’ (2023–)
$15 million per episode (9 episodes)
A pop culture phenomenon since its release, this critically acclaimed show based on the video game of the same name sees the talented, Emmy-nominated Pedro Pascal in the lead role as an introverted, hardened survivor. In a terrifying scenario where a global pandemic destroys civilization, Joel takes charge of a 14-year-old girl (Bella Ramsey) who may be humanity’s last hope.
Fans of post-apocalyptic television—say, The Walking Dead enthusiasts—are guaranteed to enjoy the highly expensive The Last of Us, which reportedly costs over $15 million per episode. As it would turn out later, its expensive budget was very much worth it, as the show has appealed to critics and general audiences alike and has rapidly become one of the most popular series of all time.
The Last Of Us
- Release Date
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January 15, 2023
- Network
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HBO
25
‘One Piece’ (2023–)
$17 million per episode (8 episodes)
It is only natural that One Piece is now one of the most-watched series on Netflix—after all, all fans of the anime seem to be loving its live-action adaptation so far. The show revolves around a young pirate captain (Iñaki Godoy) who sets out on an adventure with his crew of pirates (Mackenyu Arata, Emily Rudd, Taz Skylar, Jacob Gibson) to discover the mythical titular treasure and ultimately attain the title of Pirate King.
Even if one is not familiar with its source material, this pirate series is certainly a good enough introduction to its fantastical world, especially for those who are looking to stream something fun and lighthearted. The Netflix series allegedly sat at around a whopping $17.27 million per episode.
One Piece
- Release Date
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August 31, 2023
- Network
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Netflix
24
‘Halo’ (2022–)
$10 million per episode (17 episodes)
Based on the iconic Microsoft video game, Halo saw the beloved franchise adapted for television in the Paramount+ series. Following the war between the United Nations Space Command and the alien alliance known as the Covenant, Halo brings the science fiction tale to the small screen in a big way.
As one of the most critically acclaimed and successful video game franchises, the Halo TV series could easily rely on its existing fanbase for support. However, many fans agree that considering the $10 million per episode budget, the CGI could have been better. Although season one’s production was impacted by the pandemic, with big names attached and executive producer Steven Spielberg involved, it ended up falling a bit short of expectations. However, fans are waiting for season two to be bigger and better than ever.
23
‘The Sandman’ (2022–)
$15 million per episode (12 episodes)
The Sandman was one of the most pleasant surprises to come out of 2022. The absorbing fantasy series, which is based on Neil Gaiman‘s comic book series of the same name, centers on the king of dreams (Tom Sturridge) as he escapes after being captured and held captive for 105 years and attempts to restore everything he once had in his possession, including his realm.
From the moment it premiered, Netflix’s The Sandman became one of the most talked-about series globally, and its budget was one of the main reasons why there were doubts surrounding whether the streaming service would eventually renew it. “Sandman is a really expensive show. And for Netflix to release the money to let us make another season we have to perform incredibly well,” Neil Gaiman commented. Fortunately for viewers, The Sandman received a second season (even though it seemingly counts on a $15 million budget per episode).
The Sandman
- Release Date
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August 4, 2022
- Network
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Netflix
22
‘The Pacific’ (2010)
$20 million per episode (10 episodes)
Revolving around the historical events of the World War II battle between Japanese and American soldiers on the island of Peleliu, The Pacific was the most expensive miniseries at the time. Thanks to its remarkable premise and memorable characters, it is regarded as one of the best series of its genre.
At a $20 million budget per episode, the expensive HBO miniseries reached critical acclaim for its historical accuracy and depiction of epic World War II Pacific Ocean fight scenes. With big names like Spielberg and Tom Hanks behind the production and iconic film composer Hans Zimmer behind the war drama’s score, The Pacific truly feels like a TV show on a grand cinematic scale, and its budget reflects its quality.
21
‘Sense8’ (2015–2018)
$9 million per episode (24 episodes)
One of the most beloved sci-fi mystery shows, Netflix’s Sense8 was picked up for a two-hour finale after worldwide fans insisted it must go on on social media following its heartbreaking cancellation. The appeal of the Wachowski sisters’ series is not hard to grasp: the engaging story centers around a group of people linked mentally all over the globe who must find a way to survive those who see them as threats.
Considering that it was filmed on location worldwide (meaning it also had to resort to specialists to accurately depict different cultures), and featured a few awesome special effects, it makes sense that Sense8 would be a costly show. At $9 million per episode, Sense8 has understandably captured the attention of many with its elaborate narrative and stunning visuals that fully immersed audiences in its intellectually stimulating narrative.