Founded in 1972, HBO—now known as Max—has long redefined television with its lavish budget and cinematic storytelling, rivaling films in production quality and scale while also pioneering a new era of boundary-pushing, premium content that reshaped the landscape of modern television.
From fantasy shows likeGame of Thronesto crime dramas likeThe Sopranos,HBO’s priciest productions reflect its commitment to prestige. Below, we rank the 10 most expensive HBO shows, highlighting their budgets and cultural impact. It’s worth noting that, considering that some of the budgets for the most beloved streaming platform’s shows—such asSuccessionandTrue Detective—are not fully available, we do not feature them in this ranking.
10’Rome' (2005–2007)
Budget: $100 Million
The perfect pick for sword and sandal media enthusiasts,Romeimmerses audiences in its historically accurate storytelling, recounting the lives of both illustrious and ordinary Romans. Set in the last days of the Roman Republic, this detailed and entertaining period drama is a must-see, especially forfans of ancient Rome.
Whilethe series was sadly canceled due to its unsustainable costs and declining viewership,Romeis nonetheless a show worth checking out—particularly for fans of historical epics looking to watch an excellent depiction of the time, including key historical figures such asJulius CaesarandMark Antony. Although there is no exact budget for season two, season one’s production alone had anestimated budget of $100,000,000.
9’Vinyl' (2016)
Created bybeloved filmmaker Martin ScorsesealongsideTerence Winterand music iconMick Jagger,Vinylillustrates the music scene in 1970s New York. The plot follows a record executive who tries to promote American Century, his music label, amidst changing times.
The first and only season’s budget wasa huge $100 million, excluding the money they spent on marketing and advertising. Considering the show’s weak ratings (about 750 thousand for the premiere) and the lack of improvement over time, it’s not surprising that the streaming service also droppedVinyl(though they did renew it in the first place). With a high-profile creative time and ambitious production scale,Vinylwas one of the most expensive and lavish shows on the streaming platform.
8’The Last of Us' (2023–)
Budget: $135 Million
StarringPedro PascalandBella Ramseyin the lead roles,The Last of Ustakes place after a global pandemic destroys civilization, focusing on a hardened survivor who takes charge of a teen girl who may be humanity’s last hope in a world devastated by a deadly fungal outbreak.
Adapted from the video gameof the same name, the critically acclaimed show has naturally drawn significant viewership from both gamers and newcomers, leading to season 3 being confirmed well ahead of season 2’s April 2025 premiere. This is not the least surprising, considering that not only is it an incredibly produced show, itgenuinely provides audiences with an absorbing and gripping narrative on top of memorable characters. Considering that several sources have reported abudget between $10 and $15 millionper episode,The Last of Uscertainly ranks among the most expensive HBO productions.
The Last Of Us
7’Band of Brothers' (2001)
Budget: $125 Million
Widely regarded as one of the best—if not the very best—war shows of all time,Band of Brothersis a historical epic following the story of Easy Company of the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division and their mission in World War II Europe, from Operation Overlord to V-J Day. Its ensemble cast counts on incredible talents likeDamian Lewis,Scott Grimes,Neal McDonough, andMichael Cudlitz.
With renowned directorSteven Spielbergand A-list starTom Hanksas executive producers,this HBO production is among the most expensive on the platform,averaging $12.5 million per episode. It’s not difficult to grasp why, at the time, it was the most costly TV miniseries ever to have been made by any network: whether it was Spielberg andTom Hanks' involvement, production scale, or historical accuracy, this beloved war epic demanded unparalleled resources.
Band of Brothers
6’The Pacific' (2010)
Budget: Over $217 Million
Much like its predecessor,The Pacificwasn’t exactly a bargain bin production. Featuring a top-notch cast includingJoseph Mazzello,Jon Seda, andRami Malek, the HBO original dazzled audiences with its historical fidelity and ambitious production values. Based on the accounts of Marines in World War II, this 10-part miniseries depicts, through their eyes, the intertwined journeys of three U.S. Marines in the Pacific Theater.
Itcost about $217 millionto make the most expensive miniseries of all time. Although it’s arguably not on the same level asBand of Brothers,The Pacificis a period-accurate seriesthat is nonetheless nothing short of phenomenal, delivering a visceral and unflinching portrayal of the Pacific Theater through meticulous attention to detail.
The Pacific
5’Boardwalk Empire' (2010–2014)
Budget: $293 Million
Widely considered one of the most historically absorbing and accurate television shows ever made, this gangster epic created by TerenceWinter and starringSteveBuscemifollows an Atlantic City politician playing both sides of the law by conspiring with gangsters during the Prohibition era.
Boardwalk Empire’s opening episode alonecost a mind-melting $18 million. Additionally,each episode reportedly cost $5 million, making it one of the most expensive HBO shows. Now considered one of the best gangster shows of all time — oftentimes recommended to fellowPeaky Blindersenjoyers—the Emmy-winning seriesbenefits from a strong cast and creative team, well-developed characters and acting performances, as well as detailed Prohibition-era costumes, set design, and an undeniably immersive cinematography.
Boardwalk Empire
4’The Sopranos' (1999–2007)
Budget: Over $300 Million
When the subject is iconic gangster series,The Sopranosis too, an obvious pick. Starring the late, incredibly talentedJames Gandolfini, thisDavid Chaseseries follows New Jersey mob boss Tony Soprano as he deals with personal and professional issues in his home and business life. As they start taking a toll on his mental state, Tony seeks professional help.
AlthoughThe Sopranos' budget varied significantlyacross its six-season run—with per-episode costs rising from $2 million in the early seasons to $6–7 million by the final season—it is safe to say that it is one of HBO’s most expensive projects. Its scale, ambition, extended filming, and location shots are certainly a part of why it was such a costly production, but also an undeniably beloved one. At the end of the day, the critically acclaimed series paved the way for prestige television, inspiring shows likeBreaking BadandMad Menby prioritizing character-driven narratives, morally ambiguous characters, and elevated production standards.
The Sopranos
3’House of the Dragon' (2022–)
Budget: $320 Million
Blending political drama with action and adventure,House of the Dragonis the prequel to the fantasy epicGame of Thrones, chronicling the rise and fall of House Targaryen. Set 172 years before Daenerys' birth, the series explores the dynasty’s zenith under Jaehaerys the Wise and its collapse.
House of the Dragonhas swiftly established itself as one of the most expensive HBO shows, with the first season costing $16 million per episode, and the second seasonrumored to reach $20 millionper episode despite a reduced eight-episode order. Considering its ambitious CGI—including the dragon battles—sprawling sets, and location filming in Portugal and Spain,House of the Dragon’s high costs come as no surprise. With that being said, the series justifies its high budget, delivering breathtaking visuals and immersive worldbuilding.
House of the Dragon
2’Westworld' (2016–2022)
Budget: $455 Million
Created byLisa JoyandJonathan Nolanand based on the film of the same name,Westworldisa dystopian epic seriesset in the 2050s. The story illustrates a technologically advanced themed amusement park in the Wild West, populated by android “hosts.” The park caters to high-paying guests who may indulge their wildest fantasies.
The fact thatWestworld’s first season remains the most watched out of all seasons of any HBO original series is a testament to its greatness, as it continues to captivate audiences despite its decline in quality and viewership later on. While its budget varies significantly across its four seasons,Westworldhas become one of the platform’s most expensiveprojects thanks to the location shooting, actor contracts, and CGI demands. No doubt, this HBO original is a must-see for science fiction enthusiasts who enjoy brainy and thought-provoking narratives.
1’Game of Thrones' (2011–2019)
Budget: $1.5 Billion
Game of Thronestakes the crown as HBO’s most iconic and influential series, redefining fantasy television with its epic storytelling, layered characters, and groundbreaking production quality. Naturally, it is also the most expensive show out of all. Based on the bestselling fantasy book series byGeorge R.R. Martin, it follows the brutal power struggles between noble families, set against the backdrop of war and an impeding supernatural threat.
AlthoughGame of Thrones' final season has gathered mixed reviews, the series remains a trailblazing phenomenon on television, with its immersive worldbuilding being a standout element. Made on abudget of a whopping $1.095 billionthanks to its location filming, award-winning crew and cast, and larger-than-life action sequences, the iconic fantasy show has captivated global viewers with its political drama and epic battles, solidifying its place asone of the most ambitious and expensive shows in TV history.
