Game of Thrones is the most expensive television series ever produced to date, and this explains why. Every episode of the series received “special” treatment, with breathtaking visuals, a lavish production design, and stunning cinematography, with an average cost of around 6 million USD per episode for seasons 1 to 5. However, for season 6, the budget has increased to as much as 10 million USD per episode.
While every moment in the series is valuable, a few episodes have truly transcended boundaries, leaving audiences in awe. Below, we will take a look at the 5 most expensive episodes of Game of Thrones.
5. “Mother’s Mercy” (S05E10)
The season 5 finale is particularly noteworthy, mainly due to the dramatic scene involving Cersei’s walk of atonement. In reality, this scene was filmed on location in Dubrovnik, Croatia (which served as the backdrop for King’s Landing), and it was a highly challenging task. The entire film crew had to relocate to a different part of the city, and 200 security personnel were hired to ensure that no local residents could accidentally witness the scene featuring actress Lena Headey. The total cost for this scene included a 4-day filming permit, standard crew expenses, and compensation for local residents affected during the 4-day shoot. This scene is considered one of the most expensive in “Game of Thrones,” using very little VFX (visual effects) aside from digitally merging Lena’s face onto the body of a body double.
4. “Hardhome” (S05E08)
This episode is notable for its minimal use of VFX and is the most expensive episode in the series to date. The last 20 minutes of season 5 episode 8 took 4 weeks to film. When this episode aired, it became one of the most expensive episodes ever, costing around 7 to 10 million USD to produce. Actor Kit Harington even mentioned that he had not participated in any scenes requiring significant CGI in “Game of Thrones.”
3. “Blackwater” (S02E09)
Season 2 episode 9 showcases the incredible quality of “Game of Thrones” with its iconic “Battle of Blackwater.” Audiences were treated to a cinematic experience following the struggle at King’s Landing against Stannis Baratheon’s forces, including scenes of ships ablaze from the wildfire. Notably, this episode cost around 8 million USD to produce, and both showrunners David Benioff and D.B. Weiss had to plead with HBO for additional funding.
2. “The Watchers on the Wall” (S04E09)
Directed by Neil Marshall, who also directed the episode “Blackwater,” “The Watchers on the Wall” focuses intensively on the battle at Castle Black, reportedly costing even more than the “Blackwater” episode. The filming process lasted 4 weeks and featured numerous CGI elements, including giants, mammoths, and over 200 extras. This episode remains one of the most expensive in “Game of Thrones” as it was shot during season 6.
1. “Battle of the Bastards” (S06E09)
Although the budget remains undisclosed for this particular episode, it is widely regarded as the most expensive episode in the series to date. Featuring a crew of 600 people, 500 extras, 160 horses, 25 stunt performers, and 4 camera crews, the battle scene between Jon Snow’s forces and Ramsay Bolton in “Battle of the Bastards” reportedly cost around 10 million USD. This estimate does not include additional costs for other scenes such as the Meereen battle and Daenerys Targaryen’s CGI dragon.
According to Moviepilot
