Top 5: The most expensive series at a glance
Film studios are investing more and more money in complex series. It is no longer a rarity that some productions cost several million US dollars per episode. We took a closer look at the most expensive series of all time and present them in this practical tip.
5th place: Game of Thrones - by far not the most expensive series
Although "Game of Thrones" is known for reproducing the sets in detail and spending a lot of money on it, the fantasy epic only makes fifth place. In Germany, the series was first shown on November 2, 2011 at the pay TV station TNT series broadcast.
- Content: "Game of Thrones" is a fantasy series that tells of a fictional world. The complex series mainly revolves around the two continents Westeros and Essos. After an argument between the nobles, there is finally an open throne battle.
- Cast: Since "Game of Thrones" always has main characters, there are different casts depending on the season. Peter Dinklage, Emilia Clarke and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau are currently playing together with Kit Harington, Lena Headey and Aidan Gillen.
- Costs per episode: The fifth most expensive series is worth around six million US dollars per episode. The season two episode "Blackwater" is an exception, however, because it cost an impressive eight million US dollars.
- Special features: The fantasy drama is based on a series of books by George RR Martin, which is known under the name "The Song of Ice and Fire". The author of the work even contributed to "Game of Thrones" himself.
- Awards: "Game of Thrones" won a Golden Globe, 14 Emmys and numerous other awards.
4th place: Marco Polo as the most expensive web series
"Marco Polo" is currently the most expensive series of Netflix produced for the web. It has only been available online since December 12, 2014.
- Content: The web series is about the later Venetian dealer Marco Polo, who went to Mongolia with his father when he was young. Through an intrigue, he becomes a subordinate of the ruling Great Khan. He quickly becomes a witness to power games and intrigue in the crumbling Mongolian empire.
- Cast: The series produced by Netzflix includes Lorenzo Richelmy, Benedict Wong and Zhu Zhu alongside Tom Wu, Remy Hii and Rick Yune. The idea comes from John Fusco, who traveled through Mongolia with a horse for research purposes.
- Cost per episode: The first season, with its ten episodes, averaged $ 9 million. A second season is planned.
- Special features: "Marco Polo" was filmed in many real locations, such as in Malaysia or Kazakhstan. Several tons of plastic and silicone were necessary for the impressive sets.
- Awards: "Marco Polo" has not yet received any awards, but it does lead to the cost record for the most expensive series on the web.
Top 3: Rome - tens of millions for an episode
"Rome" - or written in the original "Rome" - also comes third in the ranking for the most expensive series. The historical drama was broadcast for the first time on August 28, 2005, initially on pay-TV and later on RTL 2 and ORF 1.
- Content: The plot of "Rome" is fictional, but historically it is based on the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the empire, which arose under Gaius Iulius Caesar and Emperor Augustus.
- Cast: "Rome" includes actors Ray Stevenson, Kenneth Cranham and Kevin McKidd as well as actresses such as Polly Walker, Lindsay Duncan and Indira Varma. The series was created by directors and screenwriters of other successful series, such as "Six Feet Under" or "Desperate Housewives".
- Cost per episode: There were a total of 22 episodes in two seasons. Each episode is expected to average around $ 10 million.
- Special features: The "Rome" series is particularly detailed when it comes to the scenery and the set. There were many rumors that the series was discontinued due to the high cost, but in retrospect it turned out to be wrong.
- Awards: "Rome" has won seven Emmys, an Irish Film and Television Award and other prizes for the exclusive presentation of the series.
Top 2: Band of Brothers - We were like brothers
"Band of Brothers" is the second most expensive series in the world. The mini-series was released in 2001 and was first broadcast on German television on April 3, 2003 on the pay-TV channel "Premiere Film". In total, the war drama series cost around $ 125 million.
- Content: "Band of Brothers" is based on the book of the same name by historian Stephen E. Ambrose. The series is about World War II between 1942 and 1945. The series tries to shed light on the psychological and moral conflicts from the perspective of ordinary soldiers.
- Cast: "Band of Brothers" includes Damian Lewis, Donnie Wahlberg and Neal McDonough alongside Rick Gomez, Scott Grimes and Matthew Settle. The series was co-produced by Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks.
- Cost per episode: "Band of Brothers" made an incredible $ 12.5 million per episode. 10 episodes were filmed, so the entire production cost $ 125 million.
- Special features: The series was mainly shot in one place, namely in the British Hatfield. Among other things, cityscapes were created and tree trunks equipped with pyrotechnics were detonated.
- Awards: "Band of Brothers" we won six Emmys, a Golden Globe, the PGA Golden Laurel Award and the Peabody Award.
Top 1: The Pacific - currently the most expensive TV series
"The Pacific" is currently the most expensive TV series and is considered an indirect sequel to "Band of Brothers". In Germany, Kabel eins is broadcasting the drama series after it first ran on March 14, 2010 only on the pay-TV channel HBO. The "The Pacific" series was to cost a total of $ 100 million, which was doubled at the end of almost two years of filming.
- Content: The series "The Pacific" is about two US marines who fought against Japanese forces in the Pacific during World War II. The plot is based on two memoirs and many historical events. The individual fates of the soldiers are again in the foreground.
- Cast: The mini-war series includes Joseph Mazzello, Jon Seda and James Badge Dale as well as William Sadler and Josh Helman. A total of six directors and screenwriters were involved in "The Pacific". The series' executive producers were again none other than Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg.
- Cost per episode: "The Pacific" averaged an incredible $ 20 million per episode. So far, not a single series has managed this worldwide.
- Specialties: "The Pacific" was filmed in Australia. From there it went across the country. For this purpose, 90 sets were built and several tons of material, such as earth or volcanic sand, were transported.
- Awards: "The Pacific" won eight Emmys in 2010.
