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Summary
As the decades go on and television set becomes a bigger , more profitable industry , studio clothe more in new shows , butbigger investments do n’t always make right shows . make TV shows is never precisely cheap . To bring about one show , several team of mass need to be recruited and pay so as to simply pull an idea together , before get actors require , cameraman , inflammation , press , make - up , editing , and so on . The cost rack up quickly , but for the most part , shows can reasonably be made for a couple of one C of thousands of dollars per episode .
As a show go on and the audience builds , it’spossible that the output price will also start to increase , specially as the actors mature in popularity . However , some shows , based on their premise , or ambitious context alone , can cost a fortune from the start . If a show requires across-the-board optical consequence , likemany sci - fi and fancy shows , it ’s probable that the price will be much eminent . But even when a show costs more , it involve to be worth the note value , and some of the most expensive shows on TV just were n’t worth the money to make them .
10Supertrain (1979)
$7 Million For The Pilot
Supertrainwas the most expensive show ever madewhen it ab initio released in 1979 . Reportedly , the first episode alone cost roughly $ 7 million , which is adequate to close to $ 31 million in 2024 . In addition , each of the nine episodes cost around $ 500,000 , and the hardening was worth another $ 1.5 to $ 2 million as well ( viaTHR ) . all in all , that brings the full cost for producing the show up to just shy of $ 50 million on the low end , or $ 5 million per episode on average . Despite the immense budget , the show was a full flop , consume a premise fromThe Love Boatand frame it on a badly conceived train .
9Camelot (2011)
$7 Million Per Episode
Camelotwas a high fantasy series produced for Starz and created by Michael Hirst and Chris Chibnall . The story take after the honest-to-god Arthurian legends , and features immense ambitious sets and several popular stars , including Joseph Fiennes andJamie Campbell - Bower . There were only 10 episodes made at about $ 7 million each ( viaWSJ ) , and while the series was n’t severe , itwasn’t worth the high price tag . Starz never regularize a second time of year , and while no specific reason was given , the high price and the low viewership had to play a part in that decision .
From Vikings to Spartacus , historical series are always admired . These 25 are the better historical TV shows .
8The Lord Of The Rings: The Rings Of Power (2022 - Present)
$715 Million To Make Season 1
The Lord of the Rings : The Rings of Poweris currently the most expensive TV show ever made ( viaWSJ ) . The first season of the showwent considerably over their original budgetof $ 100 - 150 million , but part of that monumental figure did come from the $ 250 million Amazon paid for the rights to the franchise . However , that digit is still the highest ever by some gross profit . The show itself is a dependable show , but it has to be included here because the bod does n’t reflect the overall lineament , with many shows that are substantially better , costing hundreds of millions less .
Set in the Second Age of Middle - earth , The Lord of the Rings : The Rings of Power explore the forging of the iconic rings , the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron , and the epic event leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien ’s classical novels . The serial chronicle the creation of fabled characters and the historic alliance and contention that shape the fate of mediate - earthly concern .
7Citadel (2023 - Present)
$300 Million For Six Episodes
Amazon Prime may be a mega corporation with thick pockets , but if itkeeps spending the way it has on television show , that money will burn up quick . Amazon apply the disc for most expensive TV show withRings of Power , but it also claim the number 2 spot withCitadelin 2023 ( viaCollider ) . The show features a talentedcast led by Richard Madden , Priyanka Chopra Jonas , and Stanley Tucci . Once again , the series has receive middling recap , but unfortunately , the price just does n’t bring up this show to be worth it .
6Inhumans (2017)
$6 - 8 Million Per Episode
While Marvel Studios was still laser concentrate on their film output and left TV to independent small group , Inhumansstruggled to copy any of the magic of the most profitable and elaborated franchise in existence . As a sci - fi serial , the price was always going to be above fair , but the big ensemble shape , dozens of special powers and make an exotic worldcost more thanInhumanswas worthin the end . The series was quickly canceled after just one season , and most of the character disappear , except for Anson Mount , who has since appeared in the MCU for a cameo .
Inhumans is a Superhero television show based on the comedian of the same name originally create by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby . The show was crafted by Scott Buck and stars Anson Mount , Ken Leung , and Serinda Swan . The premise follows a group of Marvel Superheroes known as The Inhumans , including heroes like Black Bolt , Karnak , and Medusa as they vie to protect themselves and the world .
5Joey (2004 - 2006)
Matt LeBlanc Earned $15 Million Per Season
WhenFriendsended , the pickle left by the show was too much to bare , and so the mesh immediately start a spin - off star Joey , calledJoey . The series did n’t feature anyone else from the original show , and essentially attempt to copy the formula with a new cast , but the legerdemain ofFriendscame from the alchemy and the cast . consider the show was elementary enough , with no need for special effect , it could have been made quite cheaply , butMatt LeBlanc carry on earning close to what he made for the original show , makingJoeyunsustainable from the start ( viaMirror ) .
What has actor Matt LeBlanc done since his time as Joey Tribbiani on Friends ? Here are his major film and television set roles since the NBC show ended .
4The Get Down (2016 - 2017)
$16 Million Per Episode
An ambitious project by Netflix and Baz Luhrmann , The Get Downset out to be a historic and industrious retelling of how a financially break seventies New York gave birth to hip - hops , punk , and disco music euphony . To be authentic , many impressive advisors were hire to improve the show ’s authenticity , but the price to make it ballooned beyond being feasible ( viaDeadline ) . After just 11 episode , which cost approximately $ 180 million , the show was laid to residual .
3Hemlock Grove (2013 - 2015)
$4 Million Per Episode
Horror pic are notoriously some of the cheapestand quickest projects to do to a high criterion . However , whenNetflix set aside a $ 45 million dollar budget for the first seasonofHemlock Grove(viaCNET ) , it forebode a better overall ware at the destruction . The serial fight to bring in the viewership that Netflix want , and after just 3 season , the show was canceled . The series had a lot of potential and bear on to have a craze following , but without drawing in audiences , it was n’t worth the budget to the streaming behemoth .
Set in small-scale - town Pennsylvania , Hemlock Grove explores the lives of the titular town ’s residents as they deal with a series of unknown , vicious murders . Two young men , Roman Godfrey and Peter Rumancek , set out to bring out what is actually go on while dealing with their various supernatural secrets . The series stars Bill Skarsgård , Landon Liboiron , Famke Janssen , Penelope Mitchell , Lili Taylor , and Dougray Scott .
2Marco Polo (2014 - 2016)
$9 Million Per Episode
Just a class later , Netflix had the same trouble again with a historical dramatic event mark in the Mongol Empire . Marco Polocost over doubleHemlock Grove’sbudget at $ 9 million per episode(viaBusiness Insider ) , and appears to have been even less appealing as it was canceled after the second season . The series had expensive sets and legions of extra , but it did n’t replicate the success of appearance likeGame of Throneswhich it was trying to compete against .
1Terra Nova (2011)
Finally , Terra Novawas an ambitious sci - fi mysteryseries from Fox which saw a chemical group of pioneers transmit back to a unexampled home out from their chop-chop dying habitation planet to set up a new settlement . The series appeared to have a bright , orphic secret plan with beautiful options , and dinosaurs roaming free in the ground . However , the monetary value of making each instalment sour the studiosand when the viewership was n’t meeting expected value ( viaLA Times ) , the serial was fleetly canceled after time of year 1 . The series had a solid stamp and premise , but the price shred set a target on the show ’s back .
After seeing their satellite on the brink of wipeout , the Shannons syndicate is sent 85 million years in the past to link a colony , Terra Nova , which is attempting to rebuild a novel civilisation . However , the colonists also have to defend themselves against dinosaurs and other prehistoric creature that peril their newfangled path of aliveness .
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
Set in the Second Age of Middle-earth, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power explores the forging of the iconic rings, the rise of the Dark Lord Sauron, and the epic events leading up to the stories in J.R.R. Tolkien’s classic novels. The series chronicles the creation of legendary characters and the historic alliances and rivalries that shape the fate of Middle-earth.
Inhumans is a Superhero television show based on the comic of the same name originally created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. The show was crafted by Scott Buck and stars Anson Mount, Ken Leung, and Serinda Swan. The premise follows a group of Marvel Superheroes known as The Inhumans, including heroes like Black Bolt, Karnak, and Medusa as they vie to protect themselves and the world.
Set in small-town Pennsylvania, Hemlock Grove explores the lives of the titular town’s residents as they deal with a series of strange, brutal murders. Two young men, Roman Godfrey and Peter Rumancek, set out to uncover what is actually going on while dealing with their respective supernatural secrets. The series stars Bill Skarsgård, Landon Liboiron, Famke Janssen, Penelope Mitchell, Lili Taylor, and Dougray Scott.
After seeing their planet on the brink of destruction, the Shannons family is sent 85 million years in the past to join a colony, Terra Nova, which is attempting to rebuild a new civilization. However, the colonists also have to defend themselves against dinosaurs and other prehistoric creatures that threaten their new way of life.
