By Daniela Gama
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Netflix is one of the most notorious streaming services, renowned for its willingness to invest in original content and push the boundaries of television production. Throughout the years, several Netflix originals like Stranger Things and The Crown have become beloved favorites, captivating global audiences with their stunning visuals, astounding cast, and gripping narratives.
As the platform continues to pour resources into creating standout series that captivate global audiences, some of them represent Netflix's financial gambles, with budgets rivaling or even surpassing those of major Hollywood blockbusters. From science fiction epics to period dramas, we look back at some of the most expensive Netflix series, ranking them by budget.
10 'The Get Down' (2016–2017)
Budget: $120 Million
Counting on lavish production and historical accuracy, this Netflix show takes audiences back to the Bronx in the 1970s, following a ragtag group of teenagers running wild in the streets. Created by Baz Luhrmann and Stephen Adly Guirgis, The Get Down is one of Netflix's most expensive series, costing a staggering $120 million to produce due to the production challenges it faced, music licensing, hiring of a dance company, and Luhrmann's creative vision.
Throwing fictional characters and real historical figures into the mix, The Get Down provides audiences with great performances—including Justin Smith's as Zeke, and Herizen Guardiola as Mylene—and a gripping storyline that highlights hip-hop's origins with authenticity. On top of its cultural significance, The Get Down thrives in its visual style anchored by Luhrmann's flair, which brings a romantic yet gritty depiction of the time period through vibrant colors and cinematography. Despite its cancelation after one season, the Netflix series is still worth watching for its willingness to take risks on bold projects and ambitious storytelling.
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The Get Down
- Release Date
- August 12, 2016
- Network
- Netflix
- Directors
- Baz Luhrmann
- Writers
- Stephen Adly Guirgis, Baz Luhrmann
WHERE TO WATCH
Streaming
9 'One Piece' (2023–)
Budget: $144 Million
Adapted from the beloved and iconic manga of the same name by Eiichiro Oda, One Piece was one of 2023's most anticipated shows, later becoming a very well-received—by fans and newcomers alike—Netflix hit. The series follows the adventures of the Straw Hat Pirates as they pursue their individual goals together and seek a legendary treasure found and hidden by the former "King of Pirates."
Possibly thanks to its massive production scale, high-quality visual effects, and location shooting, One Piece boasts an impressive budget of approximately $18 million per episode (surpassing even popular series such as Game of Thrones in per-episode costs), totaling $144 million for its eight-episode first season. Released to overwhelmingly positive reviews from general audiences and critics alike, this faithful adaptation defies expectations, succeeding where many others haven't and ultimately proving that live-action anime adaptations can be critically acclaimed and commercially successful with the right approach and respect for its source material.
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One Piece (Live-Action)
TV-14
Action Adventure Fantasy8 10
6/10
- Release Date
- August 31, 2023
- Network
- Netflix
Cast
-
Iñaki Godoy
Monkey D. Luffy
-
Emily Rudd
Nami
- Showrunner
- Matt Owens
8 'Bridgerton' (2020–)
Budget: $168 Million
Adapted from the set of eight period-set, contemporary romance novels by author Julia Quinn, Bridgerton has cemented its place among the best romantic period drama shows of all time. Set in Regency-era England, it follows eight siblings of the powerful titular family as they navigate love, marriage, and societal expectations. Each season focuses on a different sibling's romantic journey, starting with Daphne's (Phoebe Dynevorb) courtship with the Duke of Hastings (Regé-Jean Page).
With three seasons totaling 24 episodes as of 2025, the beloved show has cost Netflix an estimated $168 million, placing Bridgerton as one of the streaming platform's priciest series. Naturally, several factors contribute to its high production costs, ranging from the elaborate sets and costumes (though not always entirely historically accurate), talented cast, and extensive post-production. Providing viewers with a blend of romance, drama, and scandal to keep viewers engaged, this Netflix show is a romance must-see and a defining series of the streaming era.
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Bridgerton
9.4/10
- Release Date
- December 25, 2020
- Directors
- Tom Verica, Tricia Brock
Cast
-
Will Tilston
-
Rege-Jean Page
7 'The Sandman' (2022–2025)
Budget: $165 Million
Although The Sandman has been canceled following Neil Gaiman's allegations and will end with the upcoming Season 2, the series, based on the author's beloved comics, stands as one of Netflix's most ambitious and expensive productions to date. The dark fantasy show follows Dream (Tom Sturridge), the personification of dreams, as he sets about to reclaim his lost equipment upon escaping the year-long imprisonment by a mortal wizard.
Boasting an impressive budget of approximately $15 million per episode, with the first season consisting of 11 episodes, the costly production benefits from lavish visuals and set designs, widely acclaimed for bringing the fantastical world to life. Additionally, the amazing acting performances have also been a standout, with the stars, including Sturridge, receiving praise for their complex portrayals. All in all, despite some challenges, The Sandman has proven to be a success for the streaming platform.
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The Sandman
TV-MA
Horror Fantasy Drama- Release Date
- August 5, 2022
- Showrunner
- Allan Heinberg
Cast
-
Sandra James Young
-
Joely Richardson
-
Sanjeev Bhaskar
-
Donna Preston
6 'Marco Polo' (2014–2016)
Budget: $200 Million
Netflix's ambitious but costly historical epic Marco Polo is also worth mentioning in such a list, considering its high costs. Based on the famed explorer's adventures in Kublai Khan's court in 13th-century China, this sword and sandal drama focuses on Polo's experiences, offering an intriguing blend of fact and fiction.
With a reported total cost estimate of about $200 million, this period drama show was praised for its visuals and production values, even if the series ultimately struggled to attract a large audience and failed to generate the acclaim the platform hoped for. Because of its mixed critical reception and high production costs, which were not justified by viewership numbers, Marco Polo was ultimately canceled. It's worth noting that while it failed to become the global hit that Netflix had envisioned, it still set a precedent for future productions through its ambitious scope and high production values.
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Marco Polo
Not Rated
Drama Adventure- Release Date
- 2007 - 2006
- Directors
- Kevin Connor
Cast
-
BD Wong
Pedro
-
Ian Somerhalder
Marco Polo
-
Desiree Ann Siahaan
Temulun / Kensai
-
Brian Dennehy
Kublai Khan
5 'Sense8' (2015–2018)
Budget: $216 Million
For fans of thought-provoking science fiction series, the Wachowski sisters' Sense8 is the perfect pick. The series illustrates the psychic connection of eight strangers from different parts of the world who suddenly discover they are "sensates," meaning that they can sense and communicate with each other, share knowledge, languages, and skills.
Despite receiving mixed critical reception, Sense8 has developed a passionate, almost cult fanbase and is frequently praised for its diverse representation of cultures, LGBTQ+ characters, and exploration of identity. Its notoriously high production costs are attributed to location shooting—including Germany, the UK, the USA, Mexico, India, and Kenya—set designs and costumes, and international cast. While it was canceled after two seasons due to high costs and insufficient viewership, Sense8 had a lasting impact on TV, pushing boundaries in representation and visibility.
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Sense8
Sci-Fi
Drama- Release Date
- 2015 - 2017
- Showrunner
- Lilly Wachowski
Cast
-
Max Riemelt
-
Jamie Clayton
-
Anupam Kher
4 'Arcane' (2021–2014)
Budget: $250 Million
This epic adult animation show based on the League of Legends universe ran for two seasons from 2021 to 2024, providing fans and those not familiar with the game with a captivating journey set in the steampunk world of Piltover and Zaun. The story, which delves into themes of family and betrayal, mostly follows sisters Vi and Powder (later known as Jinx) as they navigate a societal conflict.
Now regarded as the biggest—and certainly most expensive, with a $250 million budget—animated show of all time, Arcane stands out as an incredibly beloved series of its genre, featuring groundbreaking visual style blending 2D and 3D techniques, a layered narrative with amazing character arcs, and stellar voice performances. It has set the standard for animated television and video game adaptations, cementing its place as one of Netflix's most ambitious original productions.
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Arcane
TV-14
Action AdventureSci-Fi
Animation8 10
10/10
- Release Date
- 2021 - 2023
- Showrunner
- Christian Linke, Alex Yee
Cast
-
Hailee Steinfeld
-
Ella Purnell
3 'The Witcher' (2019–)
Budget: $268 Million
While Netflix's ambitious fantasy epic has faced some challenges, including an upcoming re-cast and significant changes to the source material, The Witcher is still a relatively treasured series in its category. The plot focuses on a brooding professional monster hunter (Henry Cavill) for hire as he navigates a medieval-inspired world and unearths his strong connection with Ciri (Freya Allen), a princess of a recently conquered country.
With Season 4 starring Liam Hemsworth releasing this year, this adaptation of the book series by Polish author Andrzej Sapkowski has become one of the most expensive Netflix series, featuring a total investment (for the first two seasons) of about $268 million. Anchored by a visually striking worldbuilding, The Witcher benefits from amazing acting performances, high-quality fight choreographies, action scenes, impressive visual effects, and production design that justify its high costs.
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The Witcher
10/10
- Release Date
- December 20, 2019
- Network
- Netflix
Cast
-
Tom Canton
-
Maciej Musial
- Showrunner
- Lauren Schmidt Hissrich
2 'Stranger Things' (2016–)
Budget: $470 million
It's not for no reason that Stranger Things has become an unmatched fan-favorite in the science fantasy genre. Featuring an incredibly talented ensemble cast and a captivating blend of genres, the series centers on the residents of the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, mostly focusing on a group of friends as they are plagued by a hostile alternate dimension known as the Upside Down, after a nearby human experimentation facility opens a gate.
Stranger Things has captivated audiences not only through its genuinely absorbing narrative but also the nostalgic 1980s atmosphere and references, which revived interest in the decade's pop culture and fashion. While Season 1’s estimated budget was $6 million per episode, Season 2’s was $8 million, and Season 3’s was less than $10 million, the fourth season saw a significant rise, becoming the streamer's most expensive show per episode at $30 million. Whether it was due to its increased scope that featured multiple storylines across different locations, its astounding visual effects, or cast salaries, the fan-favorite show has easily become one of Netflix's most expensive of all time.
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Stranger Things
13 9.8/10
- Release Date
- 2016 - 2024
- Showrunner
- Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer
Cast
-
Finn Wolfhard
-
Joe Keery
1 'The Crown' (2016–2023)
Budget: Estimated $648 Million
Consisting of six seasons spanning almost six decades, The Crown begins shortly before the wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Philip Mountbatten, ending with the 2005 wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles. The series chronicles the life of Queen Elizabeth II from the 1940s to modern times, going through the events that shaped Britain.
Notorious for its extravagant and elaborate sets and costumes (including a $35,000 recreation of Queen Elizabeth's wedding dress), it's only natural that The Crown is the overall most costly Netflix show of all time thus far, featuring a $648 million budget, considering that the first five seasons were reportedly $504 million and Season 6 would add around $144 million to the budget. The critically acclaimed show features high-quality visual effects, cinematography, and an incredibly talented, rotating A-list cast—featuring Claire Foy, Olivia Colman, and Imelda Staunton as the late Queen—changing every two seasons to depict different eras.
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The Crown
TV-MA
Biography
Drama History- Release Date
- 2016 - 2022
- Writers
- Peter Morgan
Cast
-
Claire Foy
-
Olivia Colman
-
Imelda Staunton
-
Matt Smith
NEXT: The Most Expensive TV Series Ever Made, Ranked
- TV
- Netflix
- The Crown
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