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Despite the jaw-dropping numbers, this investment makes sense within the context of Stranger Things' unparalleled reach. The show remains a massive engagement driver for Netflix, often remaining one of the platform’s top-performing series over its multi-year run. With each season, the production—while costly—aims to maintain the franchise’s momentum and viewer loyalty.
The Acolyte: The Gold Standard for Costliness
In stark contrast, The Acolyte—a high-profile Star Wars project—has been reported to have a production budget of around $250 million for what will be a relatively short seven-episode series. This equates to roughly $35 million to $36 million per episode, with each episode estimated to have a runtime of about 30 to 35 minutes.