TV has evolved a great distance from its humble origins. Once viewed as cinema’s little brother or sister, it has emerged as a force in storytelling in its own right, boasting budgets that compete with—and sometimes surpass—those of Hollywood’s largest blockbusters. Networks and streaming services are pouring eye-watering amounts of money into their highest-profile shows, making them movie-like events that leave us wanting more. Let’s get a closer look at 10 of the costliest TV shows ever produced, and what qualifies them as such epic productions.
1. Andor
The Star Wars franchise has long had big budgets, but Andor goes even larger. The two seasons of the Disney+ show, as reported by Forbes, have a price tag of a whopping $645 million, with the first season alone accounting for $355 million over only 12 episodes. That works out to more than $29.5 million per episode—about $32.3 million adjusted for inflation. Much of the budget was spent on visual effects and production design, which critics raved about. Yet, Andor is the most-watched Star Wars series on the platform.
2. WandaVision (and the rest of the Marvel TV universe)
Marvel’s television foray was never going to be low-key. WandaVision, as well as other Disney+ Marvel series such as The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Loki, and Hawkeye, were all said to have cost approximately $25 million an episode. These series took big-screen spectacle to the small screen with expensive effects, A-list talent, and pricey sets, giving viewers the sort of fully immersive experiences that Marvel audiences have come to demand.
3. The Pacific
When HBO unveiled The Pacific, it raised the bar for war dramas. The 10-episode series sported a whopping $200 million budget, or roughly $20 million an episode. Produced with the support of Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, and scored by Hans Zimmer, the show depicted gruesome WWII fighting in cinematic detail and historical context. It was a gigantic production that set the bar high on what war tales looked like on television.
4. One Piece
Netflix didn’t hold back on the live-action version of the iconic anime One Piece. Season one cost an estimated $17.27 million per episode, one of the platform’s most costly shows. Re-creating the pirate world, superpowers, and crazy adventures involved a lot of visual effects, intricate set design, and an international cast, to say nothing of the production effort.
5. The Last of Us
From the highly regarded video game, HBO’s The Last of Us was a pop culture phenomenon with its emotionally resonant storytelling and production values. Every one of the nine episodes took over $15 million to produce. That went toward creating realistic post-apocalyptic sets, high-level practical effects, and bringing on board a star cast featuring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey.
6. The Sandman
Long considered unfilmable, Neil Gaiman’s The Sandman did ultimately reach the screen in a big way thanks to Netflix—and a hefty investment. The show cost an estimated $15 million per episode. With its lavish fantasy imagery and multi-levelled storytelling, the show was pricey to make. Gaiman even said its continuation hinged significantly on its reception with viewers.
7. Pachinko
Apple TV+ bet everything on Pachinko, a sprawling drama based on Min Jin Lee’s bestseller. At approximately $13 million an episode, the show delivered a sumptuous, visually sensual experience across decades and nations. Its commitment to meticulous historical detail and international storytelling made it one of the most ambitious global dramas on streaming.
8. Band of Brothers
Another Spielberg and Hanks joint effort, Band of Brothers, continues to be a cornerstone of historical television. Premiering in 2001, the miniseries cost $125 million to produce, averaging $12.5 million an episode. Its grounding battle sequences, meticulously set in period, and ensemble cast made it one of the most highly respected war dramas ever produced.
9. Halo
Paramount’s Halo series made the popular video game franchise a reality with a budget of $10 million per episode. The series had plenty of CGI, explosive action sequences, and sci-fi world-building on a grand scale. While reactions to the final product were divided, the scope and ambition could not be ignored.
10. The Witcher
The Witcher became an international hit for Netflix, partly due to Henry Cavill’s Geralt. Every episode was in the region of $10 million to make, with money spent on location shoots, fantasy wardrobe, and intricate visual effects. The success of the show solidified its position as one of Netflix’s flagship titles.
What Makes These Shows So Expensive?
These franchises aren’t expensive for the sake of it. Budgets are fueled by A-list actors, elaborate sets, state-of-the-art effects, and overseas locations. Then there’s pressure to deliver against the high expectations of viewers accustomed to cinematic experiences. For well-established franchises like Marvel and Star Wars, maintaining a consistent quality between movies and shows is paramount, and that doesn’t come without an expense.
How Big Budgets Change the Future of TV
With so much money on the line, studios are taking bigger creative swings, telling stories that span galaxies, generations, and entire worlds. These investments are turning television into a platform for epic, layered storytelling that rivals anything you’ll find in theaters. Not every expensive show is a guaranteed hit, but the trend is clear: TV is no longer just TV—it’s the new frontier for blockbuster storytelling.