Boardwalk Empire
The large budget of films is often a major part of the news head up to the release of a movie . gamey price often mean bigger ( not necessarily better ) plastic film , with more special effects , locations , and star power .
telly shows follow a interchangeable formula . high costs are often associated with higher character show - or least a higher quality spectacle . Because of the episodic nature of television , the cost of a idiot box series may run up a swelled poster than any film . While some item such as set or props may diminish over fourth dimension as they only involve to be made once , other expensive item like wage or rating effect are prone to increase as a show gains prominence and needs to retain audiences .
One thing is true , flirt with audiences is a dearly-won business , and to demonstrate , here is Screen Rant’s10 Most Expensive TV Series Ever Made .
10. Terra Nova
Cost : $ 4M / sequence
Fox was ambitious when they order the time - travel / dinosaur sci - fi series to be pick up in 2011 . Possibly due to the attached Steven Speilberg legal tender - of - approving , the connection skipped the stock litmus test trial run of a pilot sequence . or else , they purchased a 13 installment time of year ofTerra Nova , including a two - hour premiere episode that be $ 14 million USD to acquire .
With monumental set , unbelievable amounts of special effects , and throw travel to Australia , the financial encumbrance of the show motivate Fox to cease product after the first time of year . However , with a relatively decent fanbase of about 10 million watcher , the show spent a few years being shit to other connection to carry on the series .
At this point , however , Terra Novais improbable to return to the little screen .
9. Deadwood
price : $ 4.5M / installment
Starring Timothy Olyphant in a Western period drama , HBO committed hard to this series , and kick the bucket so far to build an actual old west Ithiel Town , not just a readiness with building fronts . AsThe New York Timesput it"When one of the residents of the town take a fancy young sign of the zodiac , HBO build up a fancy new theater , from the stone foundations to the lacy drapery . “Featuring computer storage , two public house , stables , and homes , the Ithiel Town of Deadwood cost a small fate to create but gave the show a truly authentic feel .
With all - prison term favorite characters like Sherrif Seth Bullock ( Olyphant ) , Al Swearengen ( Ian McShane ) , Joanie Stubbs ( Kim Dickens ) , and Calamity Jane ( Robin Weigert),Deadwoodoffered a curse - filled , rough around the edges see at biography in the old Dame Rebecca West . Revered by buff , the pricey show bide on the cusp of cancelation in each of it ’s three seasons . Finally , while major subscription drivers likeThe Sopranos , andSex and the Citywere ending , HBO panicked and canceled the series shortly before the third time of year began to air .
Unfortunately , Deadwood(and peer , Rome ) proved to be financial successes after cancelation through the cut-rate sale of DVDs . This " back - end " success has kept the hope of lover active , wish that a internet or studio may be unforced to take the leap and produce the final season ofDeadwood .
8. Boardwalk Empire
Cost : $ 5M / Episode
Borrowing from theDeadwoodschool of doing it real , the pilot episode ofBoardwalk Empirecost $ 18 million to make , as it imply the staring recreation of the 1920s Atlantic City boardwalk . Complete with authentic euphony , cars , clothes , and gunman from the roar twenty dollar bill , the show became famed for its word picture of historical material body and America during the Prohibition - era . tell the news report through the lens of infamous politician / gangster Enoch " Nucky " Thompson ( Steve Buscemi),Boardwalk Empirewas a collision with both viewers and critics .
With famed film producer Martin Scorsese directing the pilot film , and the star - power of Buscemi start the serial publication , the narration of ban era gangs was n’t as easy to toss off asDeadwoodorRome . Having learned their lesson , HBO allowed a full five time of year run ofBoardwalk Empireand yield the writers and producer the chance to end the account on their terms .
7. Frasier
Cost : $ 5.2M / Episode in last time of year
As noted in ourlist of highest bear television set actors , Frasierstarted with the main character & actor , Kelsey Grammer , firmly established with the connection . Therefore , NBC did n’t have the sumptuousness of a few declaration negotiations before Grammer clear a top level remuneration for his role of Dr. Frasier Crane . By the eleventh and last season of the show , Grammer was making $ 1.6 million dollars per episode , or about 30 % of the total budget .
Add to that the cost of Centennial State - stars David Hyde Pierce ( $ 750,000 ) , John Mahoney ( $ 700,000 ) , and Jane Leeves ( $ 367,000 ) and it inflates the total production cost pretty dramatically . Even Moose and Enzo , the dogs who portrayed Eddie , earned $ 10,000 per instalment . compound , the stars took home 66 % of the total per installment budget . No small wonder the show want such a strong investment to keep it on the air .
6. Game of Thrones
Cost : $ 6M / instalment
Often a serial can quote one of a few reason for in high spirits production costs ; distant locations , massive lot , plaster bandage salaries , or special effects . HBO’sGame of Thronescan boldly lay title to conquering all of these issues , as well as require and live up to a need for period dress for the large main cast and even larger number of extras in each battle succession , mob , or city street vista .
Notably , the pilot installment of the serial publication be $ 10 million to make , mostly the costs of establish the many sets used in the serial publication . However , the installment had to be part reshot before airing , as some important character , including matriarch Catelyn Stark , were recast once HBO picked up a season of the extensive series .
fortunately for HBO and the fans , much of the budget is underwritten by Northern Ireland Screen , a government office tax with upgrade Northern Ireland . Because of the added pressure the part gets from the show ’s monumental charm , an initial $ 15 million investment into the serial has come back an estimate $ 100 million in added tourist revenue .
5. Camelot
price : $ 7M / Episode
Timing , not investment , have the downfall of this Starz serial publication . With a form made up of recognizable histrion admit Joseph Fiennes ( Enemy at the Gates , American Horror Story ) , Jamie Campbell Bower ( TwilightSaga , Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows ) , and Eva Green ( Kingdom of Heaven , Casino Royale ) , the Arthurian origin show receive great promotion and expert pre - launch reviews .
Unfortunately , the premiere episode send only two months before HBO juggernautGame of Thronesstarted and viewers in want of knights and play seemed ready to hold off for the George R. R. Martin serial . As with all other flow play mentioned , sets , costume , and transport proved to be a substantial burden on the budget , and without ratings to mate , Starz opted to cancelCamelotafter the first season .
4. Marco Polo
Cost : $ 9M / Episode
LikeGame of Thrones , Camelot , andRomedemonstrate , produce a show in another period can be a costly enterprise . When contain component of culture entirely strange to the output , asMarco Polodoes with Kublai Kahn ’s Mongolia of the 1200s , costs can rise even quicker . Experts , materials , and proficiency vulgar to western producers may not be applicable for the product , and expensive specialists may be required .
With a budget of $ 90 million for the 10 instalment 1st time of year , Marco Polowas a considerable gamble for Netflix , which is fund solely on small monthly subscription . Confident in its achiever so far ( tracking numbers for Netflix are in camera hold ) , Netflix has set up a second season of the show for button in 2016 . With sets establish , the per instalment toll will likely diminish jolly over the next few year .
3. Friends
Cost : $ 10M / Episode in final season
Comedies are often much cheaper than dramas due to few sets , smaller stamp , and shorter episode lengths . However , Friendsfaced a particular fiscal obstruction seldom encountered in Hollywood : headliner - powered corporate bargaining .
inscribe into negotiations after early on , almost predatory , contracts , the casting of protagonist band together and necessitate to be paid at the same rate . This deal made work together more harmonious , but it also meant that , as the mold rise in fame , salaries rose across the add-in .
By the final season , Friendswas the biggest show on TV , and stars David Schwimmer , Jennifer Aniston , Matthew Perry , Lisa Kudrow , Courteney Cox , and Matt LeBlanc were some of the biggest names in the world . With each star earning $ 1 million per installment , 60 % of the per episode toll went to their paychecks , and without cancellation , the show likely could n’t have been able to yield another beat of pay talk .
2. Rome
monetary value : $ 10M / Episode
OverlappingDeadwoodby a time of year , HBO was in the touch-and-go position of airing two political program with massive production budget , without the standard advertising money commonly found on most connection and cable television stations . Luckily forRome , HBO partnered with the BBC , who contributed 15 % of the toll of the first time of year for right to ventilate the computer programme in the UK .
An enormous vital succeeder , Romewon seven Emmys , was nominate for two golden globes , and was well receive by both critic and historiographer . The show last to great lengths to recreate ancient Rome , with a massive readiness in Italy , a crew of hundred , and immense numbers of extra . These details added up , and HBO seek to kept a tight reign on the output .
After two seasons , it was no longer justifiable to extend output , and the show was canceled . The narrative pace of the second time of year picks up well , as the writers attempt to wrap up the chronicle in a special time frame . After filming fill in in 2007 , fire destroyed a portion of the multi - million dollar hardening . There was Bob Hope that the remaining ancient Roman set could be reused in the future for aRomefeature film or as a stage set on other yield to recoup some of the sinful price build it .
There have been rumors of a Rome film to cap off the series , but considering the blast , the high cost of the original series , and the good decade that has passed since its closing curtain , it is less and less likely that the world of Lucius Vorenus and Titus Pullo will be seen again .
1. ER
Cost : $ 13M / Episode ( 1998 - 1999 )
Credited with launch George Clooney ’s life history , ERwas a vast drama hit for NBC in the 90 ’s and was the biggest hour on idiot box during that clock time . Created byJurassic Parkwriter Micheal Crighton , the emergency medical nature of the series permit for major guest stars on a even basis and monumental ratings .
Coming off two record - setting seasons in 1996 and 1997 , NBC was faced with the hypothesis of losing one of the meshing ’s major stars , George Clooney , to an inevitably massive movie career , having already starred inBatman & Robin . To keep on him and keep the ratings high , NBC accord to an enormous two - yr budget to pay the pay of the prominent hurl while maintaining the explosive nature of the " special event " type episodes .
Cited as a major mistake in tv set set , the show fall behind 15 % of its rating from season 4 to season 5 , and Clooney did end up leaving the show in 1999 . fortuitously for sports fan , the budget receded and allow the show to continue until 2009 , its 15th season .
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Did we omit any super - expensive television set show ? Let us acknowledge below !
