In the world of T.V. and movie making, money is no object. These days, it seems any OTT or television series worth its salt is shelling out big bucks for high-quality, star-studded productions. Everybody in this epoch likes watching web series or TV series as they serve incredible animations supported by engaging stories.
Series have the capability to fascinate people in fact, they consist of long duration due to tons of episodes, and many movie watchers like this; as they say, series with numerous episodes go at a slow pace that covers every event perfectly.
So what are the most expensive OTT and T.V. series ever made? We’ve got the list right here! From “Game of Thrones” to “The Crown,” these ten shows pulled out all the stops in terms of budgeting. So sit back and prepare to be amazed! Check them out below!
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Those who enjoy fantasy probably know about Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. This is the most expensive OTT/TV series ever made, with a budget of $1 billion. The series is based on J.R. Tolkien’s fantasy novel The Lord of the Rings, which follows a group of humans and elves fighting against evil forces to protect their world from destruction.
It is no secret that OTT/TV series such as Lord of the Rings are among the most famous in history, and they have had a lasting impact on many people around the world. Amazon Studios produced it, and it’s based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s book series called The Lord of the Rings, which was written in 1937 and 1949.
The 2016 Netflix series Stranger Things is a science fiction horror show. During the 1980s, the series takes place and follows a group of children that discover a boy named Will that has been possessed by an interdimensional monster. Season one of the show premiered on Netflix on July 15, 2016 and has since been renewed for two additional seasons.
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With a budget of $30 million per episode, Stranger Things is one of the most expensive shows ever produced—and it shows! The show has received critical acclaim for its visual effects and acting and its unique approach to storytelling.
The first episode of “WandaVision” was released in 2021, immediately becoming the most expensive OTT/TV series ever made. The budget for each episode was $25 million, which is a whopping amount of money.
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The show is a spinoff of the original “Avengers” franchise that focuses on Wanda Maximoff (Elizabeth Olsen) and her husband Vision (Paul Bettany). Wanda is a powerful sorceress with incredible abilities and has long been one of Marvel Comics’ most popular characters.
OTT/TV series about the Pacific War are among the best ever made, given that it was the second-costliest war in human history. But even so, $20 million per episode? That’s a lot of dough!
Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, who also served as executive producers, produced the ten-episode series. It was based on a book by Hugh Ambrose and focused on three Marines: Robert Leckie, Eugene Sledge, and John Basilone. The show won two Emmy awards for Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or Movie and Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Miniseries or Movie.
In addition to its hefty price tag, ‘The Pacific’ is notable for being one of the first major productions filmed in New Zealand after that country expanded its film incentives program in 2007.
Continuing the Game of Thrones franchise, HBO presents House of the Dragon. According to the show’s plot, King Viserys I, Targaryen’s children are battling for control of the Iron Throne during the Targaryen civil war. The story is based on George R.R. Martin’s “Fire and Blood.”
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Ryan Condal and George R. R. Martin created the show, which ran for an entire season and cost $20 million per episode—that’s a whopping $200 million for the entire season! It premiered in 2022, and at that time, it had the highest IMDb rating ever given to an OTT/TV series: 8.6/10. House of the Dragon was also well-received by critics, with 85% of reviewers giving it positive reviews on Rotten Tomatoes.
The sixth most expensive OTT/TV series ever made is Game of Thrones. If you’re a fan of HBO, you’ve probably heard of their hit show, Game of Thrones. This fantasy drama series is based on George R.R. Martin’s best-selling A Song of Ice and Fire series of novels follows several noble families fighting for control over the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos.
The show premiered in 2011 and quickly became one of the most popular television shows. It has won 59 Emmys, including Best Drama Series in 2012, 2015, 2016, and 2019—and it has been nominated for 164 more. The show is known for its impressive sets and costumes, which cost $15 million per episode.
Set in the Star Wars universe, this series is a prime example of how OTT series are becoming more expensive to produce. The Mandalorian is set after the Galactic Empire’s fall and before the First Order’s rise. It follows a lone gunfighter on his journey through the Outer Rim. The show was produced by Jon Favreau, who also directed Iron Man and The Jungle Book. It features an international cast that includes Pedro Pascal, Gina Carano, Carl Weathers, and Werner Herzog.
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The show debuted on Disney’s streaming service in November 2019, with all eight episodes released simultaneously. In addition to its high production budget, The Mandalorian has been praised for its visual effects and use of practical effects over CGI.
In the world of television, many high-budget shows cost millions of dollars. But some of those shows are downright cheap compared to others.
One show that’s probably going to make this list is See, which stars Jason Momoa as a blind man who has been gifted with the ability to see again. The series is about his new life with this ability and how it affects everyone around him.
See was created by Steven Knight (Peaky Blinders) and directed by Francis Lawrence (The Hunger Games). Following its premiere on HBO in January 2019, it has aired three seasons so far. The show was one of the most expensive ever, costing $15 million per episode.
OTT/TV series like The Morning Show is among the most costly productions ever. The show aired on Apple TV+ and was produced by Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, and Steve Carell. The names of the actors featured are Reese Witherspoon, Jennifer Aniston, Steve Carell, and Rose Byrne.
The show’s plot is about a morning talk show that gets caught up in a scandal when one of its hosts is accused of sexual harassment. The story is told through flashbacks before the scandal breaks out.
This medical drama series was one of the most expensive OTT/TV series ever made. It ran from 1994 to 2009 and was produced by Warner Bros. Television. It was created by Michael Crichton, who also served as executive producer for the first four seasons.
John Wells joined the production team in its fourth season and became a regular executive producer following the departure of Crichton. The show focused on life in the emergency room of a fictional county hospital in Los Angeles County, California.
Band of Brothers is our last addition to the list. The series is based on the 1992 non-fiction book Band of Brothers by historian Stephen E. Ambrose. The story of the series will revolve around the events of WW2, and all 10 episodes are super engaging with great graphics and environment.
The series has collected a rating of 9.2/10 on IMDb, and rotten tomatoes have given it a score of 97%. The budget of 12.5 million dollars per episode has made the series the most expensive TV miniseries ever.
People these days want to see high-budget series so that they can experience quality content in exchange for their time, so in this article, we shared some names and basic descriptions of series that are the most expensive series in the industry.
The article comprised of the top 10 most expensive series of all time, including both TV and OTT series. Each series that is mentioned here is defined with a basic description of its story and ratings, followed by its budget. So we hope that binge-watchers liked this article and will consider watching the series.
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As you can see, the OTT/TV series production costs do not stop at just the talent fees. In fact, they are skyrocketing! And with more and more original content coming out each year, it will be interesting to see whether we ever reach an end in terms of production costs.
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