they may be made for the small screen but they’ve got big screen budgets yeah
but they’ve got big screen budgets yeah
but they’ve got big screen budgets yeah I guess you can say that welcome to
I guess you can say that welcome to
I guess you can say that welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting
watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top 10 most
down our picks for the top 10 most
down our picks for the top 10 most expensive TV shows ever made you son of
expensive TV shows ever made you son of
expensive TV shows ever made you son of a bitch
a bitch
a bitch before we begin we’ve got something big
before we begin we’ve got something big
before we begin we’ve got something big in the works so be sure to tune in to
in the works so be sure to tune in to
in the works so be sure to tune in to watch mojo live on may 31st for special
watch mojo live on may 31st for special
watch mojo live on may 31st for special musical performances and much more for
musical performances and much more for
musical performances and much more for this list we’re looking at shows that
this list we’re looking at shows that
this list we’re looking at shows that were made for TV and streaming services
were made for TV and streaming services
were made for TV and streaming services that had huge budgets we’re considering
that had huge budgets we’re considering
that had huge budgets we’re considering the total production budget the reported
the total production budget the reported
the total production budget the reported salaries of the actors and any costly
salaries of the actors and any costly
salaries of the actors and any costly rumored production issues as well as the
rumored production issues as well as the
rumored production issues as well as the overall quality of the series what do
overall quality of the series what do
overall quality of the series what do you want just a moment of your time
you want just a moment of your time
you want just a moment of your time number 10 Boardwalk Empire never let the
number 10 Boardwalk Empire never let the
number 10 Boardwalk Empire never let the truth get in the way of a good story
truth get in the way of a good story
truth get in the way of a good story period pieces tend to have higher
period pieces tend to have higher
period pieces tend to have higher budgets than their contemporary
budgets than their contemporary
budgets than their contemporary counterparts and that’s especially true
counterparts and that’s especially true
counterparts and that’s especially true when your show is on a prestigious
when your show is on a prestigious
when your show is on a prestigious network like HBO this prohibition-era
network like HBO this prohibition-era
network like HBO this prohibition-era gangsters series executive produced by
gangsters series executive produced by
gangsters series executive produced by Martin Scorsese and starring Steve
Martin Scorsese and starring Steve
Martin Scorsese and starring Steve Buscemi is a prime example HBO
Buscemi is a prime example HBO
Buscemi is a prime example HBO reportedly spent 18 million dollars for
reportedly spent 18 million dollars for
reportedly spent 18 million dollars for the pilot of the series and then an
the pilot of the series and then an
the pilot of the series and then an estimated 5 million per episode after
estimated 5 million per episode after
estimated 5 million per episode after that to recreate 1920s Atlantic City and
that to recreate 1920s Atlantic City and
that to recreate 1920s Atlantic City and Nucky Thompson’s bootlegging Empire if
Nucky Thompson’s bootlegging Empire if
Nucky Thompson’s bootlegging Empire if there really isn’t God what do you have
there really isn’t God what do you have
there really isn’t God what do you have given me this mug not only that the
given me this mug not only that the
given me this mug not only that the titular boardwalk costs anywhere from
titular boardwalk costs anywhere from
titular boardwalk costs anywhere from two to five million dollars to build in
two to five million dollars to build in
two to five million dollars to build in an abandoned Brooklyn parking garage
an abandoned Brooklyn parking garage
an abandoned Brooklyn parking garage we’d say that’s worth a drink or two
we’d say that’s worth a drink or two
we’d say that’s worth a drink or two looking for a good time number nine
looking for a good time number nine
looking for a good time number nine terranova each one of you has taken a
terranova each one of you has taken a
terranova each one of you has taken a first step just as I did seven years ago
first step just as I did seven years ago
first step just as I did seven years ago toward a new beginning period pieces are
toward a new beginning period pieces are
toward a new beginning period pieces are one thing but how do you properly budget
one thing but how do you properly budget
one thing but how do you properly budget for a show that takes place in both the
for a show that takes place in both the
for a show that takes place in both the future and the prehistoric past this
future and the prehistoric past this
future and the prehistoric past this short-lived but high cost Fox sci-fi
short-lived but high cost Fox sci-fi
short-lived but high cost Fox sci-fi show answered that question the pilot in
show answered that question the pilot in
show answered that question the pilot in which humans in the 22nd century travel
which humans in the 22nd century travel
which humans in the 22nd century travel back to the Cretaceous period to start
back to the Cretaceous period to start
back to the Cretaceous period to start new lives cost 20 million dollars an
new lives cost 20 million dollars an
new lives cost 20 million dollars an unheard-of amount for a network TV
unheard-of amount for a network TV
unheard-of amount for a network TV production each additional episode
production each additional episode
production each additional episode reportedly cost four million a full
reportedly cost four million a full
reportedly cost four million a full million more per episode than your
million more per episode than your
million more per episode than your average Network drama
average Network drama
average Network drama much of these funds went to the sets and
much of these funds went to the sets and
much of these funds went to the sets and the extravagant dinosaur effects hey you
the extravagant dinosaur effects hey you
the extravagant dinosaur effects hey you that thing
that thing
that thing unfortunately Fox’s gamble did not pay
unfortunately Fox’s gamble did not pay
unfortunately Fox’s gamble did not pay off and the overly ambitious series only
off and the overly ambitious series only
off and the overly ambitious series only lasted one 13-episode season think again
lasted one 13-episode season think again
lasted one 13-episode season think again number eight
number eight
number eight The Walking Dead what you know about the
The Walking Dead what you know about the
The Walking Dead what you know about the dead people right you think all that
dead people right you think all that
dead people right you think all that zombie makeup comes cheap the budget of
zombie makeup comes cheap the budget of
zombie makeup comes cheap the budget of AMC’s smash hit has actually been a
AMC’s smash hit has actually been a
AMC’s smash hit has actually been a subject of contention with the
subject of contention with the
subject of contention with the production crew specifically show
production crew specifically show
production crew specifically show developer Frank Darabont left due to AMC
developer Frank Darabont left due to AMC
developer Frank Darabont left due to AMC cutting the budget from 3.4 to 3 million
cutting the budget from 3.4 to 3 million
cutting the budget from 3.4 to 3 million in episode during season 2 still The
in episode during season 2 still The
in episode during season 2 still The Walking Dead remains one of the slickest
Walking Dead remains one of the slickest
Walking Dead remains one of the slickest produced shows on TV with the money
produced shows on TV with the money
produced shows on TV with the money going to create some of the most
going to create some of the most
going to create some of the most creative undead effects ever seen as
creative undead effects ever seen as
creative undead effects ever seen as well as retaining its cast like lead
well as retaining its cast like lead
well as retaining its cast like lead Andrew Lincoln who makes one point for
Andrew Lincoln who makes one point for
Andrew Lincoln who makes one point for four million each season
number 7 Rome I’m a Roman citizen of
number 7 Rome I’m a Roman citizen of noble birth and I order you to cut these
noble birth and I order you to cut these
noble birth and I order you to cut these ropes this was one of the first shows to
ropes this was one of the first shows to
ropes this was one of the first shows to prove that historical epics could work
prove that historical epics could work
prove that historical epics could work on the small screen as long as networks
on the small screen as long as networks
on the small screen as long as networks are willing to spend accordingly not
are willing to spend accordingly not
are willing to spend accordingly not only did the show feature a massive cast
only did the show feature a massive cast
only did the show feature a massive cast it also required incredibly detailed set
it also required incredibly detailed set
it also required incredibly detailed set recreations of ancient Roman locations
recreations of ancient Roman locations
recreations of ancient Roman locations including Roman villas slums and the
including Roman villas slums and the
including Roman villas slums and the forum the daunting production costs
forum the daunting production costs
forum the daunting production costs resulted in HBO and the BBC splitting
resulted in HBO and the BBC splitting
resulted in HBO and the BBC splitting the budget of the show which ended up
the budget of the show which ended up
the budget of the show which ended up costing 9 million dollars an episode
costing 9 million dollars an episode
costing 9 million dollars an episode Rome was a pioneer in putting epic
Rome was a pioneer in putting epic
Rome was a pioneer in putting epic stories on television something that HBO
stories on television something that HBO
stories on television something that HBO would go on to explore with future shows
would go on to explore with future shows
would go on to explore with future shows you’re sweating now some day destroy me
you’re sweating now some day destroy me
you’re sweating now some day destroy me number 6 friends
big budgets aren’t just the standard for
big budgets aren’t just the standard for sprawling prestige dramas sometimes if a
sprawling prestige dramas sometimes if a
sprawling prestige dramas sometimes if a show has a talented enough cast much of
show has a talented enough cast much of
show has a talented enough cast much of its cash winds up committed to keeping
its cash winds up committed to keeping
its cash winds up committed to keeping them around this was the predicament NBC
them around this was the predicament NBC
them around this was the predicament NBC found themselves in with this must-see
found themselves in with this must-see
found themselves in with this must-see TV staple why do bad things happen
TV staple why do bad things happen
TV staple why do bad things happen two good people as the six leads rose to
two good people as the six leads rose to
two good people as the six leads rose to popularity with the show the cast
popularity with the show the cast
popularity with the show the cast maintained equal salaries which towards
maintained equal salaries which towards
maintained equal salaries which towards the end of the series was a substantial
the end of the series was a substantial
the end of the series was a substantial sum for the final two seasons Aniston
sum for the final two seasons Aniston
sum for the final two seasons Aniston Cox Kudrow LeBlanc Perry and Schwimmer
Cox Kudrow LeBlanc Perry and Schwimmer
Cox Kudrow LeBlanc Perry and Schwimmer were all getting paid 1 million dollars
were all getting paid 1 million dollars
were all getting paid 1 million dollars per episode jacking up the show’s
per episode jacking up the show’s
per episode jacking up the show’s otherwise modest budget and making
otherwise modest budget and making
otherwise modest budget and making friends one of the most expensive
friends one of the most expensive
friends one of the most expensive sitcoms ever produced okay should we get
sitcoms ever produced okay should we get
sitcoms ever produced okay should we get some coffee
some coffee
some coffee sure we’re number five the get down
sure we’re number five the get down
sure we’re number five the get down thank you so much icarly breathe I like
thank you so much icarly breathe I like
thank you so much icarly breathe I like you so much feel like I got with a
you so much feel like I got with a
you so much feel like I got with a visual wonder like Baz Luhrmann at the
visual wonder like Baz Luhrmann at the
visual wonder like Baz Luhrmann at the helm of the show you know it’s gonna be
helm of the show you know it’s gonna be
helm of the show you know it’s gonna be settled with a Hollywood level budget
settled with a Hollywood level budget
settled with a Hollywood level budget indeed his Netflix project is one of the
indeed his Netflix project is one of the
indeed his Netflix project is one of the most expensive shows ever made
most expensive shows ever made
most expensive shows ever made especially for a streaming service I
especially for a streaming service I
especially for a streaming service I hand you the magic the mystery the
hand you the magic the mystery the
hand you the magic the mystery the opening grasshopper the shows recreation
opening grasshopper the shows recreation
opening grasshopper the shows recreation of 1970s New York as well as lavish
of 1970s New York as well as lavish
of 1970s New York as well as lavish musical numbers have given the show a
musical numbers have given the show a
musical numbers have given the show a price tag of 10 million dollars an
price tag of 10 million dollars an
price tag of 10 million dollars an episode resulting in 120 million dollars
episode resulting in 120 million dollars
episode resulting in 120 million dollars for the 12 episode first season which is
for the 12 episode first season which is
for the 12 episode first season which is just 10 million less than Luhrmann’s
just 10 million less than Luhrmann’s
just 10 million less than Luhrmann’s most expensive film Australia the
most expensive film Australia the
most expensive film Australia the world’s dying of thousand heart attacks
world’s dying of thousand heart attacks
world’s dying of thousand heart attacks we seal them up three minutes at a time
we seal them up three minutes at a time
we seal them up three minutes at a time although unconfirmed it’s been rumored
although unconfirmed it’s been rumored
although unconfirmed it’s been rumored that it frequently went over-budget with
that it frequently went over-budget with
that it frequently went over-budget with sources claiming that it climbed to 16
sources claiming that it climbed to 16
sources claiming that it climbed to 16 million per episode or roughly 192
million per episode or roughly 192
million per episode or roughly 192 million dollars total yeah what you
million dollars total yeah what you
million dollars total yeah what you trying to be king yeah set it I’m trying
trying to be king yeah set it I’m trying
trying to be king yeah set it I’m trying to be king
to be king
to be king number four Marco Polo holy oil from the
number four Marco Polo holy oil from the
number four Marco Polo holy oil from the pontiff who wishes to spread
pontiff who wishes to spread
pontiff who wishes to spread Christianity throughout my lands it’s
Christianity throughout my lands it’s
Christianity throughout my lands it’s just not the same Pope who has called me
just not the same Pope who has called me
just not the same Pope who has called me the spawn of Satan here’s another
the spawn of Satan here’s another
the spawn of Satan here’s another Netflix original though not one
Netflix original though not one
Netflix original though not one successful enough to justify the huge
successful enough to justify the huge
successful enough to justify the huge amounts of cash spent on it the
amounts of cash spent on it the
amounts of cash spent on it the historical drama about its titular
historical drama about its titular
historical drama about its titular Explorer required lavish sets and
Explorer required lavish sets and
Explorer required lavish sets and costumes to recreate the period setting
costumes to recreate the period setting
costumes to recreate the period setting of late 13th century China which
of late 13th century China which
of late 13th century China which resulted in Netflix paying ninety
resulted in Netflix paying ninety
resulted in Netflix paying ninety million dollars for the entire sea
million dollars for the entire sea
million dollars for the entire sea a huge number for any TV show
a huge number for any TV show
a huge number for any TV show unfortunately the series debuted to
unfortunately the series debuted to
unfortunately the series debuted to middling reviews and while it made it to
middling reviews and while it made it to
middling reviews and while it made it to a second season Marco Polo’s journey
a second season Marco Polo’s journey
a second season Marco Polo’s journey ended shortly after that thankfully for
ended shortly after that thankfully for
ended shortly after that thankfully for Netflix this poor investment is more an
Netflix this poor investment is more an
Netflix this poor investment is more an exception than the rule
number three er a medical drama seems
number three er a medical drama seems like an unlikely candidate for such a
like an unlikely candidate for such a
like an unlikely candidate for such a list but then again few series have held
list but then again few series have held
list but then again few series have held the title of most-watched series in the
the title of most-watched series in the
the title of most-watched series in the country or included a young George
country or included a young George
country or included a young George Clooney in order to maintain high
Clooney in order to maintain high
Clooney in order to maintain high ratings and to keep their star player on
ratings and to keep their star player on
ratings and to keep their star player on board
board
board NBC bumped the per episode budget from 2
NBC bumped the per episode budget from 2
NBC bumped the per episode budget from 2 million dollars to a whopping 13 million
million dollars to a whopping 13 million
million dollars to a whopping 13 million for seasons four through six the
for seasons four through six the
for seasons four through six the investment was later known by some as
investment was later known by some as
investment was later known by some as the half a billion dollar blunder
the half a billion dollar blunder
the half a billion dollar blunder costing NBC a whopping four hundred and
costing NBC a whopping four hundred and
costing NBC a whopping four hundred and forty million dollars still er stayed in
forty million dollars still er stayed in
forty million dollars still er stayed in the top 5 in ratings during that time
the top 5 in ratings during that time
the top 5 in ratings during that time though Clooney checked out at the end of
though Clooney checked out at the end of
though Clooney checked out at the end of the fifth number to the crown my name is
the fifth number to the crown my name is
the fifth number to the crown my name is Lizabeth
long live Queen Elizabeth it’s only
long live Queen Elizabeth it’s only fitting that a show about the royal
fitting that a show about the royal
fitting that a show about the royal family ends up being jaw-droppingly
family ends up being jaw-droppingly
family ends up being jaw-droppingly expensive another Netflix period drama
expensive another Netflix period drama
expensive another Netflix period drama the crown had a budget estimated to be
the crown had a budget estimated to be
the crown had a budget estimated to be in the ballpark of one hundred and
in the ballpark of one hundred and
in the ballpark of one hundred and thirty million dollars just for the
thirty million dollars just for the
thirty million dollars just for the first season of ten episodes if accurate
first season of ten episodes if accurate
first season of ten episodes if accurate that makes it the most expensive TV show
that makes it the most expensive TV show
that makes it the most expensive TV show in history it’s mad once again the
in history it’s mad once again the
in history it’s mad once again the massive budget comes as a result of
massive budget comes as a result of
massive budget comes as a result of incredible period detail which includes
incredible period detail which includes
incredible period detail which includes such things as a realistic recreation of
such things as a realistic recreation of
such things as a realistic recreation of Buckingham Palace and roughly 20,000
Buckingham Palace and roughly 20,000
Buckingham Palace and roughly 20,000 costumes lucky for Netflix the gamble
costumes lucky for Netflix the gamble
costumes lucky for Netflix the gamble paid off as the show received strong
paid off as the show received strong
paid off as the show received strong reviews and viewership earning itself
reviews and viewership earning itself
reviews and viewership earning itself the greenlight for season two it’s a
the greenlight for season two it’s a
the greenlight for season two it’s a notice that we both made and that we
notice that we both made and that we
notice that we both made and that we intend to keep before we unveil our
intend to keep before we unveil our
intend to keep before we unveil our number one pick here are some honorable
number one pick here are some honorable
number one pick here are some honorable mentions
mentions
mentions it’s gonna work it’s happening we’re
it’s gonna work it’s happening we’re
it’s gonna work it’s happening we’re gonna get off of this island
gonna get off of this island
gonna get off of this island we’ll celebrate when we’re home sir I am
we’ll celebrate when we’re home sir I am
we’ll celebrate when we’re home sir I am having a digestive crisis and must focus
having a digestive crisis and must focus
having a digestive crisis and must focus on suppressing its expression was not
on suppressing its expression was not
on suppressing its expression was not only known for her producing prowess but
only known for her producing prowess but
only known for her producing prowess but also for her warmth the kindness and her
also for her warmth the kindness and her
also for her warmth the kindness and her gentle spirit number one Game of Thrones
other shows may cost more but there’s no
other shows may cost more but there’s no show on television that gets a better
show on television that gets a better
show on television that gets a better bang for its buck than HBO’s epic
bang for its buck than HBO’s epic
bang for its buck than HBO’s epic fantasy drama in season one it may do
fantasy drama in season one it may do
fantasy drama in season one it may do with a total estimated budget of between
with a total estimated budget of between
with a total estimated budget of between fifty and sixty million dollars but
fifty and sixty million dollars but
fifty and sixty million dollars but after receiving a budget increase for
after receiving a budget increase for
after receiving a budget increase for season two’s epic battle episode
season two’s epic battle episode
season two’s epic battle episode Blackwater the price tag for the show
Blackwater the price tag for the show
Blackwater the price tag for the show steadily grew with seasons two through
steadily grew with seasons two through
steadily grew with seasons two through five costing anywhere from six to eight
five costing anywhere from six to eight
five costing anywhere from six to eight million dollars an episode by season six
million dollars an episode by season six
million dollars an episode by season six it was ten million the high costs are
it was ten million the high costs are
it was ten million the high costs are put to good use though as the show
put to good use though as the show
put to good use though as the show features incredible effects for elements
features incredible effects for elements
features incredible effects for elements like the White Walkers dragons and huge
like the White Walkers dragons and huge
like the White Walkers dragons and huge battle scenes as well as a stellar cast
do you agree with our picks check out
do you agree with our picks check out these other great clips from WatchMojo
these other great clips from WatchMojo
these other great clips from WatchMojo and subscribe for new videos every day
”
Be First to Comment