The Price of Prestige: Unpacking the Most Expensive TV Shows Ever Made

When it comes to television, we often think of it as a more affordable alternative to the big screen. However, with the rise of streaming services and the increasing demand for high-quality content, the cost of producing TV shows has skyrocketed. From the cast salaries of Friends to the production value of Game of Thrones, we delve into the most expensive TV shows ever made.

The cost of TV production

Friends: The Original Million-Dollar Cast

Who would have thought that a show with minimal CGI and post-production would make it to the list of most expensive TV shows? The answer lies in the cast’s salaries. David Schwimmer, who played Ross, negotiated a new salary when the show was becoming more popular. Instead of just negotiating for himself, he gathered his four other castmates to negotiate together. By the last season, they were being paid a million dollars for each episode. That meant half of the $10 million expense only went to them.

The Friends cast, one of the highest-paid in TV history

The Witcher: A Fantasy Epic

It’s no surprise that Netflix’s adaptation of the popular novel and video game series is chock-full of CGI and exotic locations, justifying its hefty expenditure. On top of that, Henry Cavill was reported to have raked in more than a million dollars per episode when Season 2 came around. The show is currently set to return for two more seasons, this time with Liam Hemsworth taking over as Geralt of Rivia.

The Witcher, a fantasy epic with a hefty price tag

The Crown: A Royal Affair

Peter Morgan’s historical drama chronicled the late Queen Elizabeth’s ascension to the throne, stopping short of her death in 2022. The expenses were directed mostly to the attention to detail, like the sets and costumes worn by the cast. It’s reported, for example, that Elizabeth’s wedding dress in the first episode cost $37,000 to recreate. The price is well-justified since the show was nominated for many costume design awards during its run.

The Crown, a royal affair with a hefty price tag

Game of Thrones: The Epic Fantasy

HBO’s adaptation of George R.R. Martin’s fantasy epic is, unsurprisingly, one of the most expensive shows the network has ever made. Its special effects, locations, and the eventual rise to stardom of many of its cast members skyrocketed the expense of each episode from $5 million in the first season to $15 million in the last season. Unfortunately, no one likes to talk about the last season, which is considered one of the most disappointing finales in TV history.

Game of Thrones, an epic fantasy with a hefty price tag

WandaVision: A Marvelous Expense

Wanda and Vision’s make-believe life that traversed through many eras of TV history wasn’t easy to make nor was it cheap. Since it’s an MCU show, there’s no shortage of special effects and CGI, which just ramps up the expense, but you also have A-list Hollywood actors Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany headlining the series.

WandaVision, a Marvelous expense

Stranger Things: A Nostalgic Ride

What started out as The Duffer Brothers’ passion project that was basically just them geeking out about what made their childhood awesome has now become a worldwide phenomenon. Netflix started them out with around $6 million per episode in Season 1, but as storylines continued to develop and things got more ambitious, the expenses also started to ramp up. That seems justified though because the show is one of the most highly acclaimed and anticipated Netflix originals with its fifth season set to be released in 2025.

Stranger Things, a nostalgic ride

The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power

Here’s how expensive this show is: it cost more to make than the original Lord of the Rings trilogy combined. The astronomical $60 million price tag on each episode is just one of its pricey expenditures. Amazon reportedly shelled out $250 million just to obtain the rights for the show, beating HBO and Netflix. The company wanted the rights so badly that CEO Jeff Bezos was also included in the negotiations. With the second season set to drop this year, the series has three more seasons left if it continues with its original plan, and costs will probably just get higher and higher.

The Lord of the Rings, a pricey adaptation

The cost of producing TV shows has skyrocketed in recent years, and it’s clear that these shows are no exception. With the rise of streaming services and the increasing demand for high-quality content, it’s likely that we’ll see even more expensive TV shows in the future.