10 Most Expensive HBO Series of All Time, Ranked by Budget

Over the last twenty-five years, very few television networks have been as influential as HBO. From Band of Brothers to its other acclaimed shows, the network has fundamentally changed our expectations of television. Naturally, convincing viewers to treat TV series with the same respect they once reserved for movies was challenging, and it definitely required a significant financial investment.

HBO is well-known for producing high-quality, critically acclaimed television shows, and many of its most popular series have achieved success thanks to substantial financial investments. Without those large budgets, HBO’s fantasy and historical dramas wouldn’t be praised and enjoyed as much as they are – they simply wouldn’t be as impressive. Throughout its history, the following ten series represent HBO’s most expensive productions, based on publicly available budget information.

Rome Had an Estimated Budget of $100 Million

Rome aired for two seasons, from 2005 to 2007. The show featured a large cast and was set during a turbulent period – the fall of the Roman Republic and its transformation into the Roman Empire. To pay for its many stars and create a realistic atmosphere, Rome cost around $100 million to produce.

Rome first impressed viewers with its well-developed characters and stunning visuals, including costumes and set design. However, reviews became less positive during the second season. This was reflected in falling audience numbers, which meant the show wasn’t picked up for a third season once its initial two-year contract ended. While the show wasn’t a complete failure in terms of viewers, it was very costly to make – particularly for the time – and the ratings simply weren’t high enough to justify continuing the series.

Vinyl Needed a Budget of $100 Million For its Single Season

Lasting just one season in 2016, Vinyl stands out as an unusual failure for HBO. The show, set in 1970s New York, centered on a record producer struggling with burnout who tries to revive both his label and his love for music. Each episode of Vinyl cost around $10 million to produce, resulting in a total cost of $100 million for its single season.

Vinyl gained some initial attention because of the involvement of well-known creators like Martin Scorsese and Mick Jagger. However, that wasn’t enough to attract a large audience, and the show didn’t really stand out. HBO originally ordered a second season of Vinyl, but quickly changed its mind, deciding the cost of reworking the series wasn’t justified.

Band of Brothers Revolutionized War Dramas With its $125 Million Budget

As a critic, I remember when HBO kicked off the new millennium with a real knockout: the Band of Brothers miniseries back in 2001. Created by the incredible team of Tom Hanks and Stephen Spielberg, this war drama takes a very dramatic look at World War II, focusing on the experiences of the Easy Company within the U.S. Army. It was a huge gamble at the time – the most expensive miniseries *ever* made, costing a whopping $125 million – but it absolutely paid off. Band of Brothers became an instant, massive success, and rightfully so.

Band of Brothers consistently drew a large audience and earned widespread praise from both viewers and critics. The show was celebrated for its powerful and realistic portrayal of the realities of war, its impressive battle sequences, and its consistently excellent directing and visual style. Watching Band of Brothers makes it clear why the production costs were so significant, and why HBO later approved an even more ambitious and costly sequel.

The Last of Us Has Cost $135 Million to Produce Two Seasons

First released in 2023, The Last of Us has quickly become one of HBO’s most popular shows. The series, which is based on the video game of the same title, is a dramatic story set after a zombie apocalypse. It follows Joel and Ellie, two people trying to live through the disaster, as they journey across the country, encounter other survivors, and struggle to stay alive. Currently, The Last of Us has two seasons available, and even before Season 3 is finished, the show has already cost $135 million to make.

Several things explain the large budget for The Last of Us. These include using a well-known story, the involvement of many different production companies, having a major Hollywood star play Joel, and the incredible detail put into creating the show’s post-apocalyptic world. After Season 3 of The Last of Us is finished, it won’t be surprising if the series’ overall budget goes over $200 million.

The Pacific Needed $217 Million to Try and Surpass Band of Brothers

The Pacific first aired in 2010 and was created as a follow-up to Band of Brothers. While featuring a new location and different characters, it explored similar ideas and aims. The war drama miniseries depicted the experiences of a group of U.S. Marines during the Pacific War. Like Band of Brothers, The Pacific consisted of ten episodes, but it cost much more to make – each episode had a budget of $217 million, significantly higher than its earlier counterpart.

Although The Pacific didn’t achieve the same level of cultural impact as Band of Brothers, it was still a well-received series. It attracted a good number of viewers, earned almost unanimous praise from both audiences and critics, and received many award nominations. The positive response to The Pacific paved the way for another similar series, Masters of the Air, which was created several years later. However, Masters of the Air aired on Apple TV+, rather than HBO.

Boardwalk Empire Spent Nearly $300 Million Across Five Seasons

Boardwalk Empire aired for five seasons, from 2010 to 2014. This period crime drama is set in the 1920s and wonderfully portrays the time of Prohibition in the United States. It captivated viewers with its compelling stories about politicians, gangsters, and everyday people all trying to navigate a constantly changing world. The show was a consistent hit for HBO, and the network clearly believed investing a $293 million budget in Boardwalk Empire was a worthwhile decision.

Boardwalk Empire started strong, with its first episode costing $18 million to make and being directed by Martin Scorsese. The show remained visually lavish throughout its run-even when Scorsese wasn’t directing-thanks to its beautiful costumes, sets, and impressive cast. Steve Buscemi gave a fantastic performance as the main character, Nucky Thompson, and he was joined by a talented ensemble including Michael Pitt, Kelly Macdonald, Michael Shannon, Charlie Cox, and Michael Kenneth Williams.

The Sopranos Changed Television Forever With Its $300 Million Budget

Running from 1999 to 2007, The Sopranos is widely considered the show that truly established the idea of high-quality television. This crime drama follows a mobster and his family in New Jersey. With its outstanding performances, complex characters, thoughtful themes, and skillful directing, the series demanded to be taken as seriously as any movie. As the most celebrated show of its time, The Sopranos saw its budget grow with each season, ultimately costing around $300 million over its six seasons.

The Sopranos is brilliantly made, and while it isn’t a fantasy or historical show, it clearly had a substantial budget. The talented actors – including James Gandolfini, Lorraine Branco, Edith Falco, and Michael Imperioli – became more costly as the show went on, but they were undoubtedly worth the investment. Also, The Sopranos’ dedication to filming in real locations helped viewers truly connect with and become invested in the complicated lives of its characters.

House of the Dragon Has Already Spent $320 Million Producing its First Two Seasons

Given the massive success of HBO’s Game of Thrones, it made sense for the network to put a lot of money into its prequel, House of the Dragon. The fantasy series first aired in 2022 and currently has two seasons available, with a third one planned. So far, producing the two seasons of House of the Dragon has cost HBO $320 million.

Based on George R.R. Martin’s novel Fire & Blood, House of the Dragon takes place almost 200 years before the events of Game of Thrones, telling the story of the Targaryen family’s decline. Similar to how Game of Thrones was received in its early seasons, House of the Dragon has been praised for its stunning costumes and sets, its detailed directing and visuals, and its excellent actors, including notable performances by Matt Smith, Emma D’Arcy, Milly Alcock, Olivia Cooke, and Steve Toussaint. Naturally, such talented actors come at a cost, as do the impressive, lifelike, CGI dragons that House of the Dragon frequently showcases.

Westworld Needed $455 Million to Bring its Imaginative Vision to Life

Westworld aired for four seasons, from 2016 to 2022. The show uniquely combines Westerns, science fiction, and dystopian themes, and initially focuses on the show’s central setting: a Wild West-style theme park. In this park, wealthy guests can act out their desires using lifelike androids. From the beginning, Westworld was a costly production, and as the series progressed, its budget grew. Ultimately, HBO spent $455 million producing Westworld .

Though Westworld was first praised by critics and gained a loyal fanbase, it wasn’t able to keep up that momentum. Viewership declined significantly with each season, ultimately leading to the cancellation of its fifth planned season. The issue wasn’t the show’s production quality, however. Westworld consistently delivered strong performances from its cast, impressive visuals, and extensive CGI, all supported by a large budget. The core problem was the writing.

Game of Thrones Became a Phenomenon Thanks to Its $630 Million Budget

Airing for eight seasons between 2011 and 2019, Game of Thrones had a much larger budget than any other HBO show. This makes sense, considering it’s also the most popular series ever shown on HBO. Up until recently, Game of Thrones was a major cultural event, and its total budget of $630 million was well-deserved.

Based on George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire novels, Game of Thrones focuses on the powerful families of Westeros and their fight for control. The show received widespread acclaim for nearly everything about its production during its first four seasons, and although the writing started to decline in Season 5, the show remained visually stunning. With a beautifully created fantasy world, a large cast of now-famous actors, and impressive battle scenes and special effects never before seen on TV, Game of Thrones is the fourth most expensive TV show ever made, surpassed only by The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, The Crown, and Andor.

2025-09-30 05:44