Top 10 Television Series with the Highest Production Costs

Television has traditionally been viewed as a cost-effective and widely accessible alternative to cinema. However, producing high-quality TV shows is far from inexpensive. Many iconic series have required enormous financial investments, and interestingly, even some less successful shows have had equally hefty budgets.

Jon Favreau's upcoming live-action Star Wars series recently made headlines with its $100 million budget for just the first season. This not only highlights Disney's confidence in the project but also positions it as one of the most costly TV productions to date. Here are 10 other shows that have earned a similar distinction.

1. GAME OF THRONES

Budget: $15 million per episode

It’s no surprise that HBO’s blockbuster fantasy saga leads this list. With extensive filming in breathtaking locations, cutting-edge effects to bring dragons to life, and a cast whose star power has skyrocketed since the show’s debut, the costs have soared. The upcoming final season is set to break records with each episode costing an astonishing $15 million.

2. THE CROWN

Budget: $13 million per episode

To expand its library of original content, Netflix is preparing to raise an extra $2 billion in debt. The streaming giant remains financially robust, thanks in part to hits like The Crown. The show’s meticulous attention to historical accuracy—such as spending $35,000 to replicate Queen Elizabeth II's wedding dress for the premiere—comes at a high price. Each episode, with its opulent costumes and grand sets, costs approximately $13 million.

3. ER

Budget: $13 million per episode

During its heyday, ER—the NBC medical drama that catapulted George Clooney to fame—was a cultural phenomenon. (Even Quentin Tarantino directed an installment.) At its peak from 1998 to 2003, NBC generously funded the series, allowing for a large ensemble cast of rising stars and elevated production values, with each episode costing around $13 million.

4. BAND OF BROTHERS

Budget: $12.5 million per episode

For anyone who has watched Band of Brothers, HBO’s 2001 miniseries chronicling “Easy Company” of the 101st Airborne Division during World War II, its high production cost is no shock. Produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, the series was filmed on location, featured a large ensemble cast, and included historically accurate costumes, sets, and intense battle scenes, culminating in a staggering $12.5 million per episode.

5. THE GET DOWN

Budget: $11 million per episode

Netflix’s strategy targets niche audiences, which can lead to either massive success or significant failures. Baz Luhrmann’s ambitious project The Get Down unfortunately fell into the latter category. With a reported cost of $120 million for its first season, the show featured intricate sets and required substantial payments for the rights to iconic R&B and funk tracks. Although a second part was planned, Netflix canceled it due to lackluster performance.

6. FRIENDS

Budget: $10 million per episode

By its conclusion, Friends had cemented itself as a cultural touchstone for a generation—and its cast capitalized on that. Each of the six main stars earned over $1 million per episode in the final seasons. Despite NBC’s efforts to control production expenses, the total cost per episode still reached around $10 million.

7. THE BIG BANG THEORY

Budget: $9 million per episode

Originally a generic sitcom with questionable humor, The Big Bang Theory evolved into a groundbreaking success for CBS. The show’s seven lead actors renegotiated their contracts, now earning between $750,000 and $1 million per episode. Combined with production expenses, frequent celebrity appearances, and royalties for the Barenaked Ladies’ theme song, each 25-minute episode costs approximately $9 million.

8. MARCO POLO

Budget: $9 million per episode

Netflix had grand ambitions for Marco Polo, a sweeping historical drama chronicling the early adventures of the famed merchant and explorer. The series premiered in December 2014 with a $90 million budget for its initial 10 episodes. Shortly after, Netflix renewed it for a second season with a similar budget, which ultimately became its final season. The show is infamous for leaving Netflix with a $200 million deficit.

9. ROME

Budget: $9 million per episode

In many ways, Rome—a historical drama by John Milius, William J. MacDonald, and Bruno Heller, following two Roman soldiers entangled in pivotal historical events—can be seen as the precursor to Netflix’s risky bet on Marco Polo. Its early success is often credited with paving the way for series like Game of Thrones. While the first season’s popularity justified its $9 million per episode cost, a decline in viewership during the second season led to its cancellation.

10. SENSE8

Budget: $9 million per episode

Despite being the Wachowskis’ most notable work since The Matrix, Netflix had to pull the plug on this sci-fi gem due to its hefty $9 million per episode price tag. The Wachowskis insisted on filming in real locations worldwide, requiring costly permits across nine major cities.