Commercials are coming soon to Netflix.
The streamer on Thursday said it would launch a cheaper, ad-supported plan at $6.99 a month starting on Nov. 3 in the U.S. Netflix will still offer ad-free subscriptions, but for people seeking a discount, a total of four to five minutes of ads will be spread out before and during their favorite programs each hour.
The company said a limited number of shows and movies won’t be available on its Basic with Ads plan because of licensing restrictions, and customers won’t have the ability to download programs.
The push into advertising comes years after Netflix resisted putting commercials on its programs. But as the company faced increasing competition from rivals like HBO Max that offered lower-cost, ad-supported subscriptions to customers, some analysts said it was inevitable that Netflix would do the same.
The company — which remains the dominant subscription streaming service with nearly 221 million customers worldwide — is under pressure by investors to continue to grow its business. The pandemic saw unprecedented sign-ups for streaming, but since then, Netflix has struggled.
Netflix lost subscribers in two consecutive quarters and laid off hundreds of workers earlier this year to cut costs.
AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez
Netflix headquarters in Los Gatos, Calif.
Some analysts believe that Netflix’s move into advertising could increase subscribers, reduce cancellations and provide an additional revenue stream for the company.
Doug Anmuth, an analyst with J.P. Morgan, estimates that the new plans could bring Netflix around $600 million in advertising revenue next year in the U.S. and Canada and roughly $2.65 billion in 2026 in that region.
Anmuth said in a research note that given Netflix’s muted subscription growth, “advertising is critical to re-accelerating revenue” and driving more profitability.
By offering ads, Netflix may be able to reach people who aren’t subscribers. Nine out of 10 adults who don’t have Netflix watch other ad-supported streaming content, according to a recent survey of 2,500 adults by Samba TV and Harris X.
“These audiences have no aversion to watching ads in exchange for free or reduced price content and are prime candidates to turn to Netflix’s new ad-supported tier,” Samba TV Chief Executive and Co-Founder Ashwin Navin told The Times last month.
The cost of an ad-free Netflix subscription is the most expensive for any popular U.S. streaming service. Netflix monthly ad-free plans range from $9.99 to $19.99. That’s compared with ad-free HBO Max and Hulu priced at $14.99 a month.
Disney+ will launch an $8 monthly ad-supported plan on Dec. 8. At that time, the cost of an ad-free plan will go up to $11 a month. Launching its ad-supported plan before Disney+ could give Netflix an edge with courting advertisers.
For customers who opt for ads on Netflix, 15- to 30- second ads will appear before and during their programs.
Netflix’s ad-supported plans will launch next month in 12 countries, including the U.S., Australia, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom.
“In short, Basic with Ads is everything people love about Netflix, at a lower price, with a few ads in-between,” wrote Greg Peters, Netflix’s chief operating officer in a statement. “Basic with Ads also represents an exciting opportunity for advertisers — the chance to reach a diverse audience, including younger viewers who increasingly don’t watch linear TV, in a premium environment with a seamless, high-resolution ads experience.”
Some analysts are skeptical over whether an ad-supported plan will significantly boost customer growth, or if it will cause ad-free customers to downgrade to less expensive plans.
Jeffrey Wlodarczak, a principal and analyst at Pivotal Research Group, views Netflix’s move into advertising as “defensive not offensive.”
“We also believe a lower-cost ad supported version of NFLX (Netflix) arguably taints the NFLX brand and the tech behind successful advertising delivery is very difficult … not to mention NFLX original programming is not optimized for ad breaks,” wrote Wlodarczak in a research note. He has sell recommendation on the stock.
Netflix has partnered with Microsoft on its advertising efforts. On Thursday, Peters said Netflix also teamed with DoubleVerify and Integral Ad Science “to verify the viewability and traffic validity of our ads” beginning next year.
In addition to growing competition from rival streaming services, Netflix also faces a challenging global economy.
Kenneth Leon, research director at CFRA Research, warns that there could be more headwinds ahead as consumers could cut back on spending during a recession.
“Even though video streaming is viewed to be a value, leisure thing to do, households have way too many different types of streaming from formidable competitors of Netflix besides them,” Leon said. “So we see the risk is really recession.”
Netflix will release its third-quarter earnings on Tuesday. The company has said it estimates it will add 1 million subscribers in the third quarter, compared with a gain of 4.4 million subscribers during the third quarter last year.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
Amazon Studios
TV is a numbers game in more ways than one. Intricate sets, using new visual effects, and paying famous actors make television an expensive enterprise. Some of the most significant numbers in show budgets are on actors' paychecks: In the 1990s, well-known stars like Kelsey Grammer were getting $1.6 million for each episode of "Frasier," while Jennifer Aniston and her five "Friends" raked in up to $1 million per episode. In the final season of HBO's "Game of Thrones," several of its stars made $500,000 per episode.
Stacker conducted independent research via news reports and entertainment outlets to find 25 of the most expensive TV shows ever produced. Since most series budgets are based on rumors or estimates and numbers are not official, the entries aren't ranked. But they are organized from lowest to highest budget.
"Band of Brothers" was among the first big-budget shows not on major network television when it began its run on HBO in the late 1990s with an almost unprecedented budget of $12 million per episode. Having Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg attached to the project pushed HBO into funding it. Since then, the network has spent even more on making shows like "The Pacific" and "Game of Thrones." Other networks and streaming platforms followed suit: Disney+ is set to spend $136 million on "Star Wars: Skeleton Crew," and Netflix is expected to shell out $15 million per episode for its upcoming live-action adaptation of "Avatar: The Last Airbender."
Read on to discover which shows cross the $10 million-per-episode budget threshold—and which has the largest known budget, with a whopping $58.1 million per episode.
You may also like: 50 ads that made TV history
Amazon Studios
TV is a numbers game in more ways than one. Intricate sets, using new visual effects, and paying famous actors make television an expensive enterprise. Some of the most significant numbers in show budgets are on actors' paychecks: In the 1990s, well-known stars like Kelsey Grammer were getting $1.6 million for each episode of "Frasier," while Jennifer Aniston and her five "Friends" raked in up to $1 million per episode. In the final season of HBO's "Game of Thrones," several of its stars made $500,000 per episode.
Stacker conducted independent research via news reports and entertainment outlets to find 25 of the most expensive TV shows ever produced. Since most series budgets are based on rumors or estimates and numbers are not official, the entries aren't ranked. But they are organized from lowest to highest budget.
"Band of Brothers" was among the first big-budget shows not on major network television when it began its run on HBO in the late 1990s with an almost unprecedented budget of $12 million per episode. Having Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg attached to the project pushed HBO into funding it. Since then, the network has spent even more on making shows like "The Pacific" and "Game of Thrones." Other networks and streaming platforms followed suit: Disney+ is set to spend $136 million on "Star Wars: Skeleton Crew," and Netflix is expected to shell out $15 million per episode for its upcoming live-action adaptation of "Avatar: The Last Airbender."
Read on to discover which shows cross the $10 million-per-episode budget threshold—and which has the largest known budget, with a whopping $58.1 million per episode.
You may also like: 50 ads that made TV history
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
Anarchos Productions
- Budget per episode: $9 million
- On air: 2015-2018
- Network: Netflix
"The Matrix" creators Lana and Lilly Wachowski co-created "Sense8," a sci-fi thriller about a group of strangers scattered throughout the world who physically connect since they are all kin to one woman. The series had the most massive budget of all Netflix productions, jumping from $4.5 million to $9 million an episode under producer Roberto Malerba's rule. However, that didn't last long, as the show never developed a big enough audience to warrant its exorbitant costs and was promptly canceled after two seasons.
Anarchos Productions
- Budget per episode: $9 million
- On air: 2015-2018
- Network: Netflix
"The Matrix" creators Lana and Lilly Wachowski co-created "Sense8," a sci-fi thriller about a group of strangers scattered throughout the world who physically connect since they are all kin to one woman. The series had the most massive budget of all Netflix productions, jumping from $4.5 million to $9 million an episode under producer Roberto Malerba's rule. However, that didn't last long, as the show never developed a big enough audience to warrant its exorbitant costs and was promptly canceled after two seasons.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
Electus
- Budget per episode: $9 million
- On air: 2014-2016
- Network: Netflix
Like many period productions, Netflix's "Marco Polo" broke budgets with its complex sets, showy costumes, and pricey props. The journey of the 13th-century Italian merchant who befriended Mongol ruler Kublai Khan was told throughout a 10-episode series that Netflix hoped would grow its content empire.
Electus
- Budget per episode: $9 million
- On air: 2014-2016
- Network: Netflix
Like many period productions, Netflix's "Marco Polo" broke budgets with its complex sets, showy costumes, and pricey props. The journey of the 13th-century Italian merchant who befriended Mongol ruler Kublai Khan was told throughout a 10-episode series that Netflix hoped would grow its content empire.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
Chuck Lorre Productions
- Budget per episode: $9 million
- On air: 2007-2019
- Network: CBS
Like "Friends," the CBS series "Big Bang Theory" was one of the costliest major network series ever. The high budget was mainly due to original cast members Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, and Kaley Cuoco earning $1 million per episode (up from $60,000 per episode when the show started in 2007) by the end of the show's 12-year run. CBS was charging more than $326,260 for 30-second advertising slots in 2013 and around $258,500 in its final season. For the series finale, the network asked for $1.2 million to $1.5 million for 30 seconds of ad time.
Chuck Lorre Productions
- Budget per episode: $9 million
- On air: 2007-2019
- Network: CBS
Like "Friends," the CBS series "Big Bang Theory" was one of the costliest major network series ever. The high budget was mainly due to original cast members Jim Parsons, Johnny Galecki, and Kaley Cuoco earning $1 million per episode (up from $60,000 per episode when the show started in 2007) by the end of the show's 12-year run. CBS was charging more than $326,260 for 30-second advertising slots in 2013 and around $258,500 in its final season. For the series finale, the network asked for $1.2 million to $1.5 million for 30 seconds of ad time.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
Home Box Office (HBO)
- Budget per episode: $9 million
- On air: 2005-2007
- Network: BBC/HBO
This bust couldn't be saved even by hundreds of extras, embellished costumes, and extravagant set designs recreating soldiers fighting under the Roman Republic during the days of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. "Rome" ended after only two seasons.
Home Box Office (HBO)
- Budget per episode: $9 million
- On air: 2005-2007
- Network: BBC/HBO
This bust couldn't be saved even by hundreds of extras, embellished costumes, and extravagant set designs recreating soldiers fighting under the Roman Republic during the days of Mark Antony and Cleopatra. "Rome" ended after only two seasons.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
Bad Robot
- Budget per episode: $8-10 million
- On air: 2016-present
- Network: HBO
From the opening credits, "Westworld" was the underdog debuting after "Game of Thrones." The 90-minute pilot reportedly cost around $25 million to produce. The futuristic Western, starring Hollywood A-listers Anthony Hopkins and Ed Harris, was co-produced by famed filmmaker J.J. Abrams.
Bad Robot
- Budget per episode: $8-10 million
- On air: 2016-present
- Network: HBO
From the opening credits, "Westworld" was the underdog debuting after "Game of Thrones." The 90-minute pilot reportedly cost around $25 million to produce. The futuristic Western, starring Hollywood A-listers Anthony Hopkins and Ed Harris, was co-produced by famed filmmaker J.J. Abrams.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
Netflix
- Budget per episode: $10 million
- On air: 2019-present
- Network: Netflix
Based on a popular video game and book franchise, "The Witcher" follows a trio of superpowered monster hunters who set out to rid their world of evil. Netflix sunk hundreds of thousands of dollars into the show's elaborate sets and special effects to ensure the franchise's pre-existing audience would be satisfied enough to tune in each week—a gamble that paid off, considering the show was its most popular series in 2019. Additionally, the show's star, Henry Cavill, earned $400,000 an episode during the first season, increasing to more than $1 million an episode for the second season.
Netflix
- Budget per episode: $10 million
- On air: 2019-present
- Network: Netflix
Based on a popular video game and book franchise, "The Witcher" follows a trio of superpowered monster hunters who set out to rid their world of evil. Netflix sunk hundreds of thousands of dollars into the show's elaborate sets and special effects to ensure the franchise's pre-existing audience would be satisfied enough to tune in each week—a gamble that paid off, considering the show was its most popular series in 2019. Additionally, the show's star, Henry Cavill, earned $400,000 an episode during the first season, increasing to more than $1 million an episode for the second season.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
Sony Pictures Television
- Budget per episode: $10 million
- On air: 2021-present
- Network: Amazon Prime
Scale seems to be the factor that drove the budget for Amazon's "The Wheel of Time" to such extreme heights. Based on a series of novels by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, the fantasy show is shot on elaborately decorated sound stages and specially built, full-scale sets with hundreds (or sometimes even thousands) of extras. Amazon Studio's co-head of TV, Vernon Sanders, told IGN that the show's budget is only growing for seasons two and three so that as the storylines and universe expand, the level of magic and detail will remain consistent.
Sony Pictures Television
- Budget per episode: $10 million
- On air: 2021-present
- Network: Amazon Prime
Scale seems to be the factor that drove the budget for Amazon's "The Wheel of Time" to such extreme heights. Based on a series of novels by Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson, the fantasy show is shot on elaborately decorated sound stages and specially built, full-scale sets with hundreds (or sometimes even thousands) of extras. Amazon Studio's co-head of TV, Vernon Sanders, told IGN that the show's budget is only growing for seasons two and three so that as the storylines and universe expand, the level of magic and detail will remain consistent.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
Warner Bros. Television // Getty Images
- Budget per episode: $10 million
- On air: 1994-2004
- Network: NBC
The final season of "Friends" rang up a bill of $10 million per episode. Stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, and David Schwimmer were all interested in pursuing other projects, even though they were being paid upwards of $1 million each per episode. The six-member original cast each pulled in 2% of syndication income, which amounted in 2018 to at least $20 million each.
Warner Bros. Television // Getty Images
- Budget per episode: $10 million
- On air: 1994-2004
- Network: NBC
The final season of "Friends" rang up a bill of $10 million per episode. Stars Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Matthew Perry, Matt LeBlanc, Lisa Kudrow, and David Schwimmer were all interested in pursuing other projects, even though they were being paid upwards of $1 million each per episode. The six-member original cast each pulled in 2% of syndication income, which amounted in 2018 to at least $20 million each.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
343 Industries
- Budget per episode: $10 million
- On air: 2022-present
- Network: Paramount+
Based on the popular video game franchise of the same name, "Halo" is a science fiction show set in the 26th century. It's safe to assume that nearly all of its $200 million budget went toward its visual effects (VFX, physical sets, or costume design), as none of the actors are big enough to demand high salaries. It's also unclear whether the large budget was worth it, as the series' first season garnered mixed reviews from critics and fans.
343 Industries
- Budget per episode: $10 million
- On air: 2022-present
- Network: Paramount+
Based on the popular video game franchise of the same name, "Halo" is a science fiction show set in the 26th century. It's safe to assume that nearly all of its $200 million budget went toward its visual effects (VFX, physical sets, or costume design), as none of the actors are big enough to demand high salaries. It's also unclear whether the large budget was worth it, as the series' first season garnered mixed reviews from critics and fans.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
Bazmark Films
- Budget per episode: $11 million
- On air: 2016-2017
- Network: Netflix
"The Get Down" could not get back up due to its bloated budget of $120 million, stemming from the show's expensive sets and exorbitant licensing fees for R&B and funk songs used in the series. Set in the 1970s during the birth of hip hop and disco in famed New York City clubs like CBGB and Studio 54, the period drama musical starred Justice Smith and Jimmy Smits.
Bazmark Films
- Budget per episode: $11 million
- On air: 2016-2017
- Network: Netflix
"The Get Down" could not get back up due to its bloated budget of $120 million, stemming from the show's expensive sets and exorbitant licensing fees for R&B and funk songs used in the series. Set in the 1970s during the birth of hip hop and disco in famed New York City clubs like CBGB and Studio 54, the period drama musical starred Justice Smith and Jimmy Smits.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
Dreamworks
- Budget per episode: $12.5 million
- On air: 2001
- Network: HBO
The period costumes, European location, and star-studded cast did not come cheap for co-creators Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. Critics acclaimed performances by actors Damian Lewis, Michael Fassbender, and David Schwimmer for the D-Day realism of the "Easy" Company 2nd Battalion of the 506th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. The 10-hour World War II show cost more than $125 million.
Dreamworks
- Budget per episode: $12.5 million
- On air: 2001
- Network: HBO
The period costumes, European location, and star-studded cast did not come cheap for co-creators Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks. Critics acclaimed performances by actors Damian Lewis, Michael Fassbender, and David Schwimmer for the D-Day realism of the "Easy" Company 2nd Battalion of the 506th Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division. The 10-hour World War II show cost more than $125 million.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
LucasFilm
- Budget per episode: $12.5-15 million
- On air: 2019-present
- Network: Disney+
The first live-action series in the "Star Wars" franchise, "The Mandalorian" was also Disney+'s first major original series. And while it didn't receive the same budget as the platform's Marvel series, Disney certainly invested in the project. A large portion of the show's first season budget went to a new, award-winning visual effects program called StageCraft. This exciting innovation allows the actors to immerse themselves in the CG environments in real-time through massive wrap-around LED screens.
LucasFilm
- Budget per episode: $12.5-15 million
- On air: 2019-present
- Network: Disney+
The first live-action series in the "Star Wars" franchise, "The Mandalorian" was also Disney+'s first major original series. And while it didn't receive the same budget as the platform's Marvel series, Disney certainly invested in the project. A large portion of the show's first season budget went to a new, award-winning visual effects program called StageCraft. This exciting innovation allows the actors to immerse themselves in the CG environments in real-time through massive wrap-around LED screens.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
Left Bank Pictures
- Budget per episode: $13 million
- On air: 2016-present
- Network: Netflix
It cost approximately $37,000 to recreate the wedding dress of Queen Elizabeth II in the first episode of "The Crown," and things only got more expensive from there. Along with the extravagant wardrobe of Elizabeth (Claire Foy), the series used up to 7,000 costumes and a life-sized replica of Buckingham Palace. Netflix initially committed to spending $130 million on "The Crown's" first two seasons.
Left Bank Pictures
- Budget per episode: $13 million
- On air: 2016-present
- Network: Netflix
It cost approximately $37,000 to recreate the wedding dress of Queen Elizabeth II in the first episode of "The Crown," and things only got more expensive from there. Along with the extravagant wardrobe of Elizabeth (Claire Foy), the series used up to 7,000 costumes and a life-sized replica of Buckingham Palace. Netflix initially committed to spending $130 million on "The Crown's" first two seasons.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
Constant c Productions
- Budget per episode: $13 million
- On air: 1994-2009
- Network: NBC
When the 15-season series first aired in 1994, George Clooney and fellow actors Noah Wyle and Julianna Margulies were not the household names they are today. As that changed, so did the budget—which eventually peaked at $13 million per episode. Add in the one episode directed by Quentin Tarantino, and "ER" goes down as one of the most expensive series of all time.
Constant c Productions
- Budget per episode: $13 million
- On air: 1994-2009
- Network: NBC
When the 15-season series first aired in 1994, George Clooney and fellow actors Noah Wyle and Julianna Margulies were not the household names they are today. As that changed, so did the budget—which eventually peaked at $13 million per episode. Add in the one episode directed by Quentin Tarantino, and "ER" goes down as one of the most expensive series of all time.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
Echo Films
- Budget per episode: $15 million
- On air: 2019-present
- Network: AppleTV+
One of the most successful AppleTV+ series to date, "The Morning Show" follows the anchors of a popular morning news program (a la "The Today Show" or "Good Morning America") as they deal with the fallout of a scandal. The show stars Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, who, according to The Hollywood Reporter, each earned $1.25 million per episode. Toss in big-name recurring stars like Steve Carell and Julianna Margulies and an upcoming guest arc from Jon Hamm, and it's easy to see how the budget could balloon thanks to actors' salaries alone.
Echo Films
- Budget per episode: $15 million
- On air: 2019-present
- Network: AppleTV+
One of the most successful AppleTV+ series to date, "The Morning Show" follows the anchors of a popular morning news program (a la "The Today Show" or "Good Morning America") as they deal with the fallout of a scandal. The show stars Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston, who, according to The Hollywood Reporter, each earned $1.25 million per episode. Toss in big-name recurring stars like Steve Carell and Julianna Margulies and an upcoming guest arc from Jon Hamm, and it's easy to see how the budget could balloon thanks to actors' salaries alone.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
Chernin Entertainment
- Budget per episode: $15 million
- On air: 2019-2022
- Network: AppleTV+
"See" is set 600 years into the future in a post-apocalyptic world where humans are blind. According to the show's star, Jason Momoa, the stark setting and the sighted cast members' commitment to making their performances believable caused the budget to balloon. In one interview, he described how they went to great lengths on both accounts—changing the actual landscape of the areas outside Vancouver where they were shooting and undergoing a month of "blindness training" before filming began.
Chernin Entertainment
- Budget per episode: $15 million
- On air: 2019-2022
- Network: AppleTV+
"See" is set 600 years into the future in a post-apocalyptic world where humans are blind. According to the show's star, Jason Momoa, the stark setting and the sighted cast members' commitment to making their performances believable caused the budget to balloon. In one interview, he described how they went to great lengths on both accounts—changing the actual landscape of the areas outside Vancouver where they were shooting and undergoing a month of "blindness training" before filming began.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
Netflix
- Budget per episode: $15 million
- On air: 2022-present
- Network: Netflix
Fans spent decades awaiting a "Sandman" series, so Netflix knew that they couldn't spare any expense. Based on a series of Neil Gaiman comic books, the show's setting is an array of bizarre dream worlds. The recreation of these worlds (through physical sets and special effects) caused the streaming service to allocate such a big budget for each episode. The cost was so significant that rumor has it Netflix may not renew it for a second season.
Netflix
- Budget per episode: $15 million
- On air: 2022-present
- Network: Netflix
Fans spent decades awaiting a "Sandman" series, so Netflix knew that they couldn't spare any expense. Based on a series of Neil Gaiman comic books, the show's setting is an array of bizarre dream worlds. The recreation of these worlds (through physical sets and special effects) caused the streaming service to allocate such a big budget for each episode. The cost was so significant that rumor has it Netflix may not renew it for a second season.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
HBO
- Budget per episode: $15 million
- On air: 2011-2019
- Network: HBO
The most watched program in the history of the HBO network raised the bar for costumes, set design, and breakout talent, all of which cost millions per episode. The fantasy drama, featuring dragons and deathly weddings, gained worldwide attention in its eight seasons for its plot, special effects, and astronomical budget.
HBO
- Budget per episode: $15 million
- On air: 2011-2019
- Network: HBO
The most watched program in the history of the HBO network raised the bar for costumes, set design, and breakout talent, all of which cost millions per episode. The fantasy drama, featuring dragons and deathly weddings, gained worldwide attention in its eight seasons for its plot, special effects, and astronomical budget.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
HBO
- Budget per episode: $20 million
- On air: 2022-present
- Network: HBO
The prequel to George R.R. Martin's "Game of Thrones," "House of the Dragon" may have been 2022's most anticipated series. Its huge budget caused quite a stir before it even premiered, with many worrying the show would wind up overhyped. Thankfully, most fans were pleased with the final product, especially once they realized showrunners spent so much of the budget on things that mattered to the plot, like bringing 20 CGI dragons and an elaborate fantasy world to life.
HBO
- Budget per episode: $20 million
- On air: 2022-present
- Network: HBO
The prequel to George R.R. Martin's "Game of Thrones," "House of the Dragon" may have been 2022's most anticipated series. Its huge budget caused quite a stir before it even premiered, with many worrying the show would wind up overhyped. Thankfully, most fans were pleased with the final product, especially once they realized showrunners spent so much of the budget on things that mattered to the plot, like bringing 20 CGI dragons and an elaborate fantasy world to life.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
DreamWorks
- Budget per episode: $21.7 million
- On air: 2010
- Network: HBO
Steven Spielberg, known for his multimillion-dollar productions, spared no expense to recreate historically accurate battle scenes in "The Pacific." Additionally, co-executive producer Tony To told the Hollywood Reporter that the scene where Eugene Sledge, played by Joseph Mazzello, lands on the island of Peleliu cost $5 million. The scene required 300 actors to stay on an Australian beach for four days.
DreamWorks
- Budget per episode: $21.7 million
- On air: 2010
- Network: HBO
Steven Spielberg, known for his multimillion-dollar productions, spared no expense to recreate historically accurate battle scenes in "The Pacific." Additionally, co-executive producer Tony To told the Hollywood Reporter that the scene where Eugene Sledge, played by Joseph Mazzello, lands on the island of Peleliu cost $5 million. The scene required 300 actors to stay on an Australian beach for four days.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
Marvel Studios
- Budget per episode: $25 million
- On air: 2021
- Network: Disney+
Here's the deal with MCU shows: to make them must-watches for the legions of MCU fans, Disney+ has to ensure the quality is on-par with all of the theatrically released MCU movies. That means sinking millions of dollars into sets, costumes, special effects, and actors' salaries (you can't just swap actors in and out and expect fans to just roll with it, after all). In the case of "WandaVision," showrunners spent a large portion of the budget on 3,010 special effects shots and the complete redecoration of the set for each episode.
Marvel Studios
- Budget per episode: $25 million
- On air: 2021
- Network: Disney+
Here's the deal with MCU shows: to make them must-watches for the legions of MCU fans, Disney+ has to ensure the quality is on-par with all of the theatrically released MCU movies. That means sinking millions of dollars into sets, costumes, special effects, and actors' salaries (you can't just swap actors in and out and expect fans to just roll with it, after all). In the case of "WandaVision," showrunners spent a large portion of the budget on 3,010 special effects shots and the complete redecoration of the set for each episode.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
Marvel Studios
- Budget per episode: $25 million
- On air: 2021
- Network: Disney+
Similarly to "WandaVision," "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" spent a good portion of its budget on special effects and actors' salaries. The series marked the first time Anthony Mackie would play Captain America, and Sebastian Stan reprised his role as Bucky Barnes.
Marvel Studios
- Budget per episode: $25 million
- On air: 2021
- Network: Disney+
Similarly to "WandaVision," "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier" spent a good portion of its budget on special effects and actors' salaries. The series marked the first time Anthony Mackie would play Captain America, and Sebastian Stan reprised his role as Bucky Barnes.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
Disney+
- Budget per episode: $25 million
- On air: 2021
- Network: Disney+
When Disney+ ordered seasons of its 2021 MCU shows ("WandaVision," "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," and "Hawkeye"), it reportedly bought out the backend on all three. Essentially, they purchased all of the backend rights so that the production company (Marvel Studios) could never sell the series into syndication to another network, like ABC or CBS, ensuring you'd have to subscribe to their platform if you ever wanted to see it. Likewise, creators and principal cast members lose potential syndication earnings. Disney paid more upfront for all three projects to compensate for the loss.
Disney+
- Budget per episode: $25 million
- On air: 2021
- Network: Disney+
When Disney+ ordered seasons of its 2021 MCU shows ("WandaVision," "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier," and "Hawkeye"), it reportedly bought out the backend on all three. Essentially, they purchased all of the backend rights so that the production company (Marvel Studios) could never sell the series into syndication to another network, like ABC or CBS, ensuring you'd have to subscribe to their platform if you ever wanted to see it. Likewise, creators and principal cast members lose potential syndication earnings. Disney paid more upfront for all three projects to compensate for the loss.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
Netflix
- Budget per episode: $30 million
- On air: 2016-present
- Network: Netflix
Making the first season of the sci-fi horror series "Stranger Things" look like a 1980s Steven Spielberg movie was costly. Because of the series' limited budget, the show's creators, the Duffer brothers, had to switch up their original ideas, which included changing from a coastal town setting to a minimalist Midwest location.
Netflix
- Budget per episode: $30 million
- On air: 2016-present
- Network: Netflix
Making the first season of the sci-fi horror series "Stranger Things" look like a 1980s Steven Spielberg movie was costly. Because of the series' limited budget, the show's creators, the Duffer brothers, had to switch up their original ideas, which included changing from a coastal town setting to a minimalist Midwest location.
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Halloween display with levitating ‘Stranger Things’ character to reopen after complaint
Amazon Studios
- Budget per episode: $58.1 million
- On air: 2022-present
- Network: Amazon Prime
The most expensive TV series of all time, "The Rings of Power" has a budget of just under $1 billion for its first five seasons. The money is representative of the pure scale of the show—Amazon spent its budget on things like massive physical sets and groundbreaking special effects—and the fact that this is a "passion project" for founder Jeff Bezos. Additionally, Amazon reportedly spent $250 million to obtain the rights to the "Lord of the Rings" appendices from the book series.
Amazon Studios
- Budget per episode: $58.1 million
- On air: 2022-present
- Network: Amazon Prime
The most expensive TV series of all time, "The Rings of Power" has a budget of just under $1 billion for its first five seasons. The money is representative of the pure scale of the show—Amazon spent its budget on things like massive physical sets and groundbreaking special effects—and the fact that this is a "passion project" for founder Jeff Bezos. Additionally, Amazon reportedly spent $250 million to obtain the rights to the "Lord of the Rings" appendices from the book series.
