With the rapid growth of streaming services and the rise in popularity of web series, it’s no surprise that some of them have become extremely expensive to produce. From huge budgets for special effects to extravagant sets and expensive actors, these web series certainly bring a lot to the table. So which ones are the most expensive? Which ones have had the biggest budgets? This article will explore the top 10 most expensive web series ever made. Read on to find out more about these amazing productions and how much money was spent on them!
Game of Thrones
Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama television series created by David Benioff and D. B. Weiss for HBO. It is an adaptation of A Song of Ice and Fire, George R. R. Martin's series of fantasy novels, the first of which is A Game of Thrones. The show was shot in Belfast and Iceland for its first season.
The series has been both critically acclaimed and commercially successful, with Game of Thrones setting a record for the most Emmy Award nominations for a primetime cable series in 2016. It broke several pay-television records during its sixth season, becoming the most expensive scripted series per episode ever made, as well as the first to surpass $1 billion in total production costs for a single season. As of March 2019, 58 episodes have aired over eight seasons on HBO.
The show's popularity led to it becoming one of the most pirated shows of all time; according to TorrentFreak's annual index report for 2014, Game of Thrones was the most-pirated TV show that year, while piracy rates continued to rise in following years.
Friends
1. Friends:
One of the most popular and well-known web series of all time is "Friends". The show was incredibly expensive to produce, with a cost of over $10 million per episode. The high price tag was due to the star-studded cast, which included Jennifer Aniston, Courteney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer. The success of the show led to huge salaries for its cast members, with Aniston reportedly earning $1 million per episode in the final season.
The Crown
The first season of The Crown cost Netflix a whopping $130 million. That's more than double the amount spent on House of Cards, and about six times the cost of Game of Thrones' first season.
The high price tag is due to a number of factors, including the show's extensive period sets and costumes, its large cast, and its shooting locations in the United Kingdom.
Despite the high cost, The Crown was a huge success for Netflix. It was nominated for five Golden Globe Awards and won two, for Best Television Series – Drama and Best Actress in a Television Series – Drama (Claire Foy).
If you're looking for an expensive web series to watch, The Crown is definitely worth checking out.
Stranger Things
Stranger Things is one of the most expensive web series ever made. The show was created by the Duffer Brothers and is set in the 1980s. It follows the story of a group of kids who are trying to find their friend who has gone missing. The show has been praised for its acting, writing, and direction.
Westworld
1. Westworld:
HBO's 2016 sci-fi series "Westworld" is the most expensive web series ever made, with an estimated budget of $100 million per season. The show is set in a Western-themed amusement park where guests can experience life in the Wild West through the use of android hosts. It stars Anthony Hopkins, Ed Harris, Evan Rachel Wood, and Thandie Newton.
The Handmaid's Tale
"The Handmaid's Tale" is a dystopian drama series that was released in 2017. It is based on the 1985 novel of the same name by Margaret Atwood. The series was created by Bruce Miller and stars Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne / Offred.
The series is set in a near-future world where fertility rates have plummeted and the totalitarian government controls who can have children. June is one of the few women who are still fertile and she is forced into sexual servitude in order to bear children for the ruling class.
"The Handmaid's Tale" was one of the most expensive web series ever made, with a budget of $100 million. The series was shot in Toronto, Canada and cost an estimated $14 million per episode.
Critics praised the series for its writing, acting, and cinematography. It won eight Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Drama Series, and became the first streaming service to win that award.
Big Little Lies
It is no secret that some of the most expensive web series are also some of the most popular. Here is a look at the top 5 most expensive web series ever made.
1. Big Little Lies – $5 million per episode
Based on the 2014 novel of the same name, Big Little Lies follows the lives of three mothers who are all dealing with different issues. The murder of one of their children’s classmate brings them all together and forces them to deal with their own secrets.
The series was a huge success when it aired in 2017, and it was nominated for 16 Emmy Awards, winning eight. It also won a Golden Globe for Best Television Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television.
2. Game of Thrones – $10 million per episode
Game of Thrones is one of the most popular television series of all time, and it is also one of the most expensive. The fantasy drama follows the lives of several families as they fight for control over the Seven Kingdoms of Westeros.
The show was an instant hit when it premiered in 2011, and it has gone on to win numerous awards, including 47 Emmys and a Golden Globe. It is also one of the most pirated shows on television.
3. The Crown – $13 million per episode
The Crown chronicles the life of Queen Elizabeth II, beginning with her marriage to Prince Philip in 1947 up until present day. The first two seasons follow Elizabeth
Chernobyl
Chernobyl is an HBO miniseries that dramatizes the events of the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster. The series stars Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, and Emily Watson. It was written and directed by Johan Renck.
The series premiered on May 6, 2019, and was met with critical acclaim. The New York Times called it "a masterwork" and "the best drama of the year."
The series has a budget of $40 million dollars, making it one of the most expensive web series ever made.
The Mandalorian
The Mandalorian is a space Western web television series created by Jon Favreau for the streaming service Disney+. It is set in the Star Wars universe five years after the events of Return of the Jedi and follows a lone bounty hunter beyond the reaches of the New Republic.
The first season of The Mandalorian was released on November 12, 2019. The season finale, "Chapter 8: Redemption", aired on December 27, 2019. On December 18, 2019, Disney+ announced that the show had been renewed for a second season, which began filming in early 2020 and is expected to premiere in October 2020.
The series has received critical acclaim, with particular praise being directed towards its visual effects, directing, acting, writing, and music. For its first season, The Mandalorian won four Primetime Emmy Awards out of fifteen nominations, including Outstanding Drama Series—becoming the first live-action Star Wars television series to win an Emmy—and Outstanding Visual Effects.
Conclusion
From Game of Thrones to The Crown, this list of the top 10 most expensive web series ever made showcases the incredible creativity and production value that goes into creating these premium shows. We hope you now have an understanding of what it takes to be one of the most expensive productions on television today, and we also hope you can appreciate just how much money is being invested in making these high-quality stories for us all to enjoy.
