The Shocking Truth Behind the 9 Most Expensive Streaming Movies Ever Made!

Expensive blockbuster movies are notorious for their high costs. Movies such as “Cleopatra” continue to be iconic in the minds of moviegoers long after their initial release, largely due to their infamous budget overruns. Similar stories can be told about films like “Waterworld”, “John Carter”, and “The Lone Ranger”. It’s not just big-screen movies that have gained a reputation for their costs; what about films exclusively streamed online? I’m not referring to theatrical releases moved to streaming, such as “Soul” or “The Tomorrow War”. Instead, I’m talking about movies created primarily for streaming platforms that ended up being expensive.

It can be challenging to determine or disclose the expenses associated with certain streaming films due to their peculiar release methods and the clandestine operations of these streaming platforms. Often, investing a significant amount in a streaming-only movie is seen as insignificant by large corporations such as Netflix, Amazon, Apple, and others. However, it’s essential to recall that some of the most costly movies ever made for streaming have budgets that would still be substantial compared to theatrical releases alone.

Heart of Stone

2018 marked the debut of Tom Harper’s “Wild Rose” on the film festival circuit. This low-budget drama centered around a Scottish woman aspiring to be a rock star was quite economical. Fast forward a few years, and Harper is now in charge of Heart of Stone, an expensive Netflix original picture featuring Gal Gadot. As with many spy movies, Heart of Stone didn’t come cheap; it cost at least $150 million to produce.

Pinocchio

Unlike most live-action remakes by Disney Animation Studios, “Pinocchio” was not released in cinemas but instead premiered on Disney+. Similarly high-budget productions were also the case with this film. With Tom Hanks playing the lead role and advanced visual effects needed to create a digital character, costs quickly added up. In fact, the production of “Pinocchio” under Robert Zemeckis’ direction ended up costing an impressive $150 million – far more than any other Disney+ original at its inception. Consequently, it’s no wonder that Disney is currently hesitant to invest in similarly expensive projects for the streaming platform.

6 Underground

When you’re funding a movie directed by Michael Bay, you should expect that the spectacular explosions he creates won’t come cheap. This was certainly true for Michael Bay’s first Netflix film, 6 Underground. Starring Ryan Reynolds and featuring numerous intricate action sequences, 6 Underground cost Netflix a substantial $150 million to produce. Admittedly, this is less expensive than the budgets of Bay’s Transformers films which were over $190 million each, but it still required a significant investment from the streaming service.

The Irishman

Martin Scorsese’s contemporary films are famous for their high production expenses. For instance, “The Wolf of Wall Street” was made at a cost of $100 million, while “Killers of the Flower Moon” required a budget of $200 million. Similarly, Scorsese’s 2019 film, “The Irishman,” was produced with a substantial budget of $156 million, a significant portion of which went towards advanced digital effects to make actors like Robert De Niro, Joe Pesci, and Al Pacino appear younger.

Emancipation

In 2017, Will Smith’s movie Bright became the first Netflix original to achieve blockbuster status. It was only natural, then, that his 2022 film Emancipation represented a significant leap in what Apple TV+ was prepared to invest in movies. Initially, it was said that Apple spent $120 million on the project when they acquired it. However, subsequent reports suggest that the actual cost of producing this period drama was $162 million. This is an enormous amount for a grounded drama or even a theatrical Will Smith blockbuster; considering the scale of Emancipation, it’s truly astonishing.

The Rebel Moon Movies

Initially presented as two distinct Netflix productions, Zack Snyder’s “Rebel Moon” was filmed entirely together in a massive production. Later, it was divided into two films due to the demands of Netflix executives. The budget for this expansive sci-fi project totaled $166 million, making it one of the pricier original movies ever produced by Netflix. This cost is lower than what’s typically spent on blockbuster sci-fi films like “Avatar” or “Guardians of the Galaxy,” but it still ranks high among Netflix’s most expensive original productions for this genre.

Red Notice

Due to Universal Pictures and Legendary Pictures deciding not to fund it, the high-profile heist movie starring Dwayne Johnson, Gal Gadot, and Ryan Reynolds, titled “Red Notice“, was ultimately acquired by Netflix. To create this world-traveling blockbuster, Netflix invested a substantial $200 million. With such a large sum of money, Netflix aimed for “Red Notice” to generate a franchise that could be capitalized on for years. Unfortunately, no additional series or films based in the “Red Notice “universe have been produced since then. It appears that even a substantial budget cannot guarantee audience excitement.

The Gray Man

After pouring hundreds of millions into Marvel Cinematic Universe productions, the Russo brothers didn’t shy away from splurging when it came to their debut Netflix film. The 2022 movie “The Gray Man” had a production cost of at least $200 million, with some sources suggesting it was over that amount. It was the intricate action sequences that accounted for this budget, with one particularly complex scene setting back around $40 million to produce.

The Electric State

Although “The Electric State” doesn’t premiere on Netflix until March 2025, its massive production budget is already generating buzz. The latest film by the Russo Brothers is reportedly priced at an astounding $320 million, which is about 60% more than the most economical projections for “The Gray Man’s” budget. If “The Electric State” were a conventional theater release, its budget would surpass that of films like “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice,” “Star Wars: The Last Jedi,” the first “Avatar,” and “Gladiator II,” along with numerous other blockbusters. It’s hard to find a clearer demonstration of the lavish spending habits of streaming services.

2025-01-25 21:10