5 Most Expensive Netflix Movies (Did Anyone Actually Watch Them?)

by

Netflix essentially created the streaming system that all major media companies are now trying to copy. By changing from sending DVDs through the mail to becoming a global leader in on-demand shows and movies, the company completely altered how people watch entertainment. Although strong competitors like Disney+ and HBO Max have joined the market, creating the so-called “streaming wars,” Netflix is still a leading player. Its main strength in this competition is a constant stream of original shows and movies, which keeps viewers subscribed and makes the monthly cost worthwhile. Because of this, Netflix has become a very productive studio, creating films and series at a rate never seen before.

Achieving this level of success requires a substantial investment. Netflix spends billions of dollars each year on its content, with a large amount going towards creating big-budget original movies meant to draw in and keep a huge worldwide audience. This constant flow of funding is intended to produce high-profile, star-studded films that create excitement and become major talking points. However, it’s very difficult to determine the precise budget for any particular Netflix project. The company is known for keeping its data private, rarely sharing specific numbers unless it benefits their public image. Therefore, while we know the spending is incredibly high, figuring out the exact return on investment for Netflix’s most expensive films is often based on careful estimates and what people in the industry are saying. More information can be found on their investor relations page. It’s a complex equation.

5) Back in Action

Getting a well-known actor to come out of retirement is usually costly, and this played a big role in the budget for Back in Action. The action-comedy, which saw Cameron Diaz return to acting after being away for ten years, reportedly cost the streaming service $158.9 million. A large part of this expense went towards paying Diaz and her co-star, Jamie Foxx. It’s said that Diaz earned $22.5 million for her work on the film. Critics didn’t like the movie very much, giving it a score of only 28% on Rotten Tomatoes. However, viewers enjoyed it, and Back in Action had a very successful start, attracting 46.8 million views during its opening weekend – the biggest debut for an English-language film on the service in almost three years.

4) The Irishman

Martin Scorsese’s large-scale gangster film, The Irishman, was a major move for Netflix, demonstrating its desire to compete with established film studios for the best actors and filmmakers. The movie’s budget reportedly rose to between $159 million and $250 million, which is unusually high for a story focused on characters. This expense was due to the innovative and complex visual effects used to make the film’s famous stars-Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci-appear younger over many years. The investment was clearly intended to create a high-quality, respected film, and it succeeded. The Irishman received widespread praise from critics and earned ten Academy Award nominations, including one for Best Picture. The film also attracted a large audience; Netflix reported that 64 million households watched it within the first four weeks, which is impressive for a movie that’s three and a half hours long.

3) Red Notice

Costing around $200 million to produce, Red Notice was made with a broad, worldwide audience in mind. Most of the budget was spent on its three big stars – Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot – each of whom earned at least $20 million for their roles. While critics found the film – a fast-paced action-comedy set around the world – to be predictable and lacking originality, viewers strongly disagreed. After its release, the movie received a remarkable 92% audience score on Rotten Tomatoes, proving how much appeal its stars had. Furthermore, Red Notice became a huge hit for Netflix, breaking viewing records to become the platform’s most-watched original film. It racked up 148.72 million hours of viewing time in its first weekend alone, and over 277.9 million hours in its first ten days. It took four years and the surprising success of Kpop Demon Hunters for Netflix to release a film that surpassed Red Notice in popularity.

2) The Gray Man

Netflix spent $200 million on The Gray Man, hoping to create a new spy series similar to James Bond. This large cost was due to the film’s high-profile cast and crew. Starring Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans-who reportedly each made $20 million-the movie was directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, known for their successful work with the Marvel Cinematic Universe. A considerable amount of the budget was also used for elaborate action scenes and filming in various locations throughout Europe. Critics had a mixed reaction, often finding the story predictable, though they generally praised the action. Viewers were more receptive, probably attracted by the famous actors and impressive visuals. The film did very well, quickly becoming the most popular title on Netflix worldwide and racking up 88.55 million viewing hours in its first weekend. It was the top film in 84 countries, and Netflix has now announced plans for both a sequel and a spin-off, suggesting they believe the investment was worthwhile.

1) The Electric State

Netflix’s biggest financial risk so far is the science fiction film The Electric State, directed by the Russo Brothers. It reportedly cost a huge $320 million to make. This makes it not only the most expensive film Netflix has ever produced, but one of the priciest movies in history. The high cost is due to several factors, including the salaries of the lead actors, Millie Bobby Brown and Chris Pratt, the Russo Brothers’ directing fees, and the complex visual effects needed to create the film’s unique, vintage-future setting. Unfortunately, this large investment hasn’t paid off as hoped. The Electric State received negative reviews from critics. Even more worrying for Netflix, it was only watched by 25 million people in its first week. Considering its enormous budget, this is a major letdown, especially when compared to the opening week numbers of other expensive films like The Gray Man, and significantly less than the debut of Red Notice.

What Netflix film with a large budget do you believe provided the best value for the money? Share your thoughts in the comments below and become part of the discussion now in the ComicBook Forum!

https://comicbook.com/movies/news/netflix-movies-need-rewatch-donnie-darko-the-perfection/embed/#

Read More

2025-10-05 17:17