Despite the fact that high-quality TV shows have long found their viewers and are in great demand, they are treated with slight neglect. It is believed that these "stars" should shine in the movies, because movies can reveal all their talents.
But now such series are being shot that can compete with them in quality, a lot of money is being spent on them. And these investments are justified, because the most expensive series in the world often become the most sought after. We will talk about them in more detail. Please note that the price is for 1 episode of the series, and not for all seasons, and the release date of the first season is indicated in brackets.
List
- 10. Underground Empire (2010), $ 5 million
- 9. Camelot (2011), $ 7 million
- 8. Modified carbon (2018), $ 7 million
- 7. Alienist (2018), $ 7.5 million
- 6. Marco Polo (2014), $ 9 million
- 5. Rome (2005), $ 10 million
- 4. Friends (1994), $ 10 million
- 3. Crown (2016), $ 13 million
- 2. Ambulance (1994), $ 13 million
- 1. Game of Thrones (2011), $ 15 million
10. Underground Empire (2010), $ 5 million
American series in which only 5 seasons. Its premiere took place in 2010, and the final episode in 2014. It shows 1920, America during the Prohibition.
The main character, Thompson, has connections with local criminals and with some government officials. Nothing prevents him from organizing an underground trade in alcohol, but he was not the only one who would like to receive fabulous profits from it.
To shoot the series "Boardwalk Empire”, The Atlantic City of 1920s, which was built in New York, was very accurately recreated. It took 18 million dollars to shoot the premiere series, of which 5 million was spent on building a city block.
Great attention was paid to details, the whole interior was copied with great accuracy, even a boardwalk was made - 91.2 m. Martin Scorsese, who worked on the first series, made sure that the boards were the same size as in Atlantic City. But about 5 million were spent on each series in the future.
9. Camelot (2011), $ 7 million
A stunningly beautiful series with brilliant cast and grandiose historical scenery. The basis of the series "Camelot»Became the legend of King Arthur. About 7 million were spent on each series.
He could have become popular, but the creators of the series, Chris Chibnell and Michael Hurst, were out of luck. 2 months after the premiere, “Game of Thrones” was released, its ratings immediately skyrocketed, and Camelot went unnoticed. It was announced that 2 seasons will not be.
8. Modified carbon (2018), $ 7 million
The science fiction television series, which premiered in 2018, was then extended for season 2. He talks about the Earth of the future, the XXVII century, when people achieved immortality, loading their consciousness onto special carriers.
TV series "Modified carbon"Is considered high-budget, for 1 series it takes from 6 to 7 million dollars. This is one of the most expensive projects in Netflix history.
Another feature of the series is a high level of quality of special effects, visually it is not inferior to such a picture as “Blade Runner 2049”.
7. Alienist (2018), $ 7.5 million
Crime drama, a thriller based on the book of writer Caleb Kara. The premiere took place in 2018, then it became known that the continuation of the series "Alienist", Taken from the book" Angel of Darkness. " A lot of money was also spent on its production.
The events of the series take place in 1896. At this time, all New Yorkers are scared by a series of brutal murders of children. It seems that some kind of ritual is being performed. Several people investigate crimes: Theodore Roosevelt, Alien psychologist Laszlo Kreitzler and journalist John Skyler Moore.
6. Marco Polo (2014), $ 9 million
A historical American series about the life of the Venetian merchant Marco Polo. 2 seasons were filmed, in 2016 it was closed. The first season of the series was ordered by Netflix. There are only 10 episodes in it, for the shooting of which 90 million dollars were spent, i.e. 9 million for each series. The costs were justified because It turned out a dynamic, rich, intriguing and exciting series.
«Marco Polo"- one of the most powerful, well-placed historical series, but not as advertised as others.
5. Rome (2005), $ 10 million
A large-scale historical television series, for the first season of which (12 episodes), a colossal amount for those times was allocated - 100 million. The main shooting took place in the vicinity of Rome, where the buildings of the ancient Roman capital, even the slums, were recreated. The area occupied by the scenery was record-breaking - 5 acres. Unfortunately, most of the scenery disappeared during a fire in 2007.
TV series "Rome"Talks about the most important historical events that took place in 52 BC, talks about 22 years of civil and war wars, about heroes and legendary figures.
The first season of the television series was able to win 4 Emmys, the second - 3, and other awards were received. It was one of the most difficult and expensive projects of 2005 on television. Almost 10 million went to each series. It was because of the high cost that they decided to limit themselves to 2 seasons, although there could be 3 or even 5 of them.
For the shooting, we made 40 leather cuirasses for commanders, 250 tunics from metal ringlets, each of which weighed 15 kg. In total, 4 thousand suits and 1250 pairs of shoes were used. Even the scenery was carefully worked out: wall paintings, statues, buildings - all this was recreated on the basis of the ruins.
4. Friends (1994), $ 10 million
«Friends»The most popular series of the 1990s, which made all of its actors world-famous stars. About 20 thousand were paid to the actors, then still unknown to anyone, for shooting the pilot episode. But every year their income grew, and in 2002 they already received 1 million per episode.
For 10 seasons, everyone who starred in the leading roles earned at least 100 million. By 2002, about 9 million had to be spent on one episode of the series. And all because the main actors moved to the very top of the Hollywood hierarchy, became the highest paid stars and their career did not depend on the continuation of the series. Only respectable fees could interest them.
3. Crown (2016), $ 13 million
A dramatic series telling about the British royal family, about her life in the middle of the twentieth century. The first season consisted of 10 episodes, they spent 156 million. In 2017, season 2 was shown, in 2019 - 3 and 4, a total of 6 seasons is planned to be removed.
The creators of the series decided not to skimp. The queen’s wedding dress, which was shown on the screen for only 9 minutes, took 37 thousand people. They worked on it for 7 weeks, but it was an exact copy of the dress of Queen Elizabeth, in which she married in 1947. Per copy crowns also paid 37 thousand dollars.
2. Ambulance (1994), $ 13 million
In the series "Ambulance»15 seasons that came out from 1994 to 2009. He talks about the hospital ward in Chicago. He was nominated for an Emmy Award 124 times, won 23 awards.
From 1998 to 2002, 13 million dollars were given for each series, and from 2002 to 2005 - 9 million each. This huge amount appeared for a reason. American star George Clooney agreed to star in this medical drama, but in order to keep him, he had to significantly raise his fee. In 1999, he still left the series after season 5, but Ambulance had already become popular and was able to hold out for another 10 seasons.
1. Game of Thrones (2011), $ 15 million
One of the most popular TV series, which has 8 seasons. They came out from 2011 to 2019. The first season of this series also required large investments, about 60 million, i.e. about 6 million. The second season cost the creators 70 million, part of the money (2 million) went to a large-scale battle at Chernovodnaya.
Further, the amounts only increased: for 3-5 seasons, about 80-90 million were spent, and for 6 - 100 million, i.e. 10 million each. The last, 8th season, was a record, for one episode it was necessary to pay 15 million. The budget was eaten by the fees of the leading actors, each of whom received up to 300 thousand dollars per episode, and in the final season - 500 thousand. But this the amount is still less when compared with the same "Friends."
Huge money went to the shooting itself, because in scale, they approached the level of the Hollywood blockbuster. But, it was worth it because The series has become one of the most profitable projects.