Making a show in Westeros is no joke — there are dragons and battles, princes and princesses, gold coins and iron throne. Therefore, one can only imagine the production budget helmed by Game of Thrones. But what if we say that Taylor Sheridan surprisingly beat the HBO show with his Western spin-off 1923?
While David Benioff and D.B Weiss’ Game of Thrones overall performed better than 1923, Taylor Sheridan significantly surpassed the show’s budget with his Western drama. Speaking with Deadline, the showrunner notified fans of the amount he sought for 1923, compared to the HBO show’s average budget per episode.
HBO’s Game of Thrones is Deemed as One of the Most Expensive Shows
Adapted from George R.R Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire, David Benioff and D.B Weiss helmed Game of Thrones is indeed one of the best TV shows of all time since it often prevails on the top of the list of most-watched series of all time. Starring Kit Harington as Jon Snow, Emilia Clarke as Daenerys Targaryen, alongside a grand ensemble cast, the HBO show captivated audiences throughout its 8-season journey.
Bringing George R.R Martin’s vision alive, and creating a world where dragons and white-walkers exist, Game of Thrones became an alluring watch for its massive fan base. Although the last season turned controversial because of the choices made by the showrunners, the fantasy series overall witnessed unprecedented popularity and appreciation.
But how much did it actually cost David Benioff and D.B Weiss to create a grand piece of artwork like Game of Thrones? Well, considered one of the most expensive shows ever made, the final season of the HBO series cost approximately $15M per episode, as per Variety reports. Whereas, the initial seasons and episodes cost the network somewhere around $6M.
Therefore, after a cumulative 73 episodes spanning the eight seasons of Game Of Thrones, the production cost stands somewhere between $57M – $60M, which certainly seems a lot, considering it’s a TV series.
Taylor Sheridan’s 1923 Surpassed Game of Thrones’ Production Budget
For a long time HBO’s Game of Thrones, not only prevailed as one of the best shows ever made but also etched its name as one of the most expensive TV series of all time. But surprisingly, the show set in Westeros began facing dominating competition after Taylor Sheridan released his Yellowstone spin-off 1923.
Starring prestigious ensembles including Harrison Ford and Helen Mirren, the universe based on the Dutton Ranch in 1923 quickly surpassed Game of Thrones in the aspect of the production budget. Although the HBO series undoubtedly remains one of the best and most-watched series of all time, Taylor Sheridan told Deadline, how his spin-off beat Benioff and Weiss’ show in the money game.
“I would argue that 1883 was the most expensive first season of a TV show ever made. [1923] was much more expensive. Much more expensive. I don’t know what the Game of Thrones budgets were, but I don’t know how they could have been more than this.”
“[Paramount] will add episodes because I need it to tell the story. You think about when you talk about a show that’s costing $22 million an episode and you just asked for eight more episodes, I didn’t do very good in math in school, but I can multiply eight and three and add a bunch of zeroes and realize I just asked for 150 million dollars.”
Not just Game of Thrones, Taylor Sheridan’s 1923 apparently cost more than the first three seasons of the Kevin Costner-led production Yellowstone.
1923 is available on Paramount+.
Game of Thrones is available on Max.
