In the ever-expanding world of entertainment, where budgets can skyrocket, a recent revelation has stirred chaos among Star Wars enthusiasts. According to reports, the latest Disney+ series The Acolyte made headlines for allocating double the budget for each episode, compared to the MonsterVerse movie Godzilla Minus One.
![Dafne Keen in The Acolyte (2024) | Image via Disney+](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/02182115/Screenshot_20240602_144630_IMDb-scaled.jpg)
This news prompted debate and scrutiny from fans across the universe. Considering how brilliant Godzilla Minus One turned out, based on its ridiculously low $15M budget, Star Wars fans now appear upset about The Acolyte. Despite spending around the same or a bit more than $15M on each episode, George Lucas’ fans ponder, where the money went.
The Acolyte’s Ginormous Production Budget Compared to Godzilla Minus One
Delving into a narrative that takes place approximately 100 years before the events of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, Disney and LucasFilm, collaboratively brought their latest series Star Wars: The Acolyte. The 8-episode show has created significant buzz since the premiere of its first two episodes on June 4.
However, while fans were initially intrigued by the epic storytelling of The Acolyte, the recent revelation about its production budget has stirred even more curiosity among Star Wars enthusiasts. According to reports from The New York Times, it indicates that the show had a net budget of $180M for eight episodes, spending an average of $22.5M per episode.
![A still from Disney’s The Acolyte | Disney, LucasFilm](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/13014038/the-acolyte.webp)
While the staggering budget for The Acolyte popped people’s eyes out, Andor Season 1 still championed as the most expensive Star Wars show, with a $250M spend for 12 episodes. Meanwhile, a debate sparked on social media, considering Disney’s substantial investment in The Acolyte compared to the creation of a cinematic behemoth like Godzilla Minus One.
The Stark Difference in Budget Allocation Sparked Discussion and Scrutiny
The massive difference in production budget between the two projects has raised eyebrows and fueled speculation. While both boast dedicated fan bases and deliver unique storytelling, the divergence in budget allocation has ignited discussions and scrutiny regarding the economics of content creation.
According to reports from Dexerto, the iconic MonsterVerse movie, Godzilla Minus One, was shockingly made with an incredibly low budget of $15M. And despite the ridiculously meager production cost, the Kaiju film offered epic action and emotional storytelling to its loyal fans, just as promised.
![A still of Godzilla from Godzilla Minus One | Toho](https://fwmedia.fandomwire.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/02020155/A-still-of-Godzilla-from-Godzilla-Minus-One-Toho-1.jpeg)
Therefore, comparing The Acolyte‘s budget with Godzilla Minus One, in regards to the cinematic brilliance and storytelling, fans were prompted to wonder where Disney’s money went. Although the Star Wars show successfully grabbed people’s attention with its rich history and expansive lore, fans cited the Kaiju film’s groundbreaking visual effects, intricate set designs, and award-winning VFX, top-tier.
And, yet it has zero quality in it at all. Think about that. Where did all the money go?
— 🥷MidnightFenrir🎮 (@MidnightFenrir_) June 13, 2024
now people are calling this show a money laundering scheme. doesn't make sense that they made such a bad show with such a high budget
— @AI_EmeraldApple (@AI_EmeraldApple) June 13, 2024
I’ve enjoyed the Godzilla Minus One and I doubt I can enjoy even a minute of that alphabet mafia abomination.
— Professor Cipollino 🇺🇸 ♰ 🇦🇲 (@Cipollinoian) June 13, 2024
The hell are they spending it on?
— Matt Moylan 🇨🇦 (@LilFormers) June 13, 2024
The Acolyte's budget: $180 million.
With 8 episodes, that's $22.5 million per episode.
Godzilla: Minus One cost $15 million to make.We could've gotten 12 Godzilla: Minus One movies for the price of The Acolyte.
— Dashie 🏳️🌈 (@AdorableDashie) June 13, 2024
Social media platforms thus witnessed a raging debate surrounding The Acolyte’s budget. Fans wondered where the dollars disappeared since the show was nowhere near compared to Godzilla Minus One, which was shot with a budget that was even lower than the Star Wars show’s episodic cost.
Star Wars: The Acolyte is available on Disney+.
Godzilla Minus One is available on Netflix.