The Most Epic Fantasy and Sci-Fi Website

Stranger Things Season 4 Reportedly Has a Whopping Budget of $30 Million Per Episode


There's a lot of excitement right now for the fourth season of Stranger Things, especially since it's been three years since the third season premiered and, based on the trailer that they released recently, it looks like it's going to be the biggest and most epic season yet given the scope of the story. Now, it looks like we are getting a clearer picture now on how big the season will be as it appears that it is now also the series' most expensive yet.

A recent report from Wall Street Journal revealed that the fourth season of Stranger Things carries a budget of $30 million per episode which is significantly higher than the previous season which only had a budget of less than $10 million per episode.

However, Netflix hasn't confirmed these numbers. It is unknown why the season has a higher price tag although it's been speculated that it might be due to the longer production schedule, additional costs due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the salary increases of the cast.

If that was indeed the season's reported budget, it easily makes it one of the most expensive seasons of television yet.

To give you an idea about how unusually high the budget is, the final season of Game of Thrones reportedly had a budget of $15 million each episode while the MCU TV shows on Disney+ have a reported budget of $20 to 25 million per episode.

The Mandalorian, meanwhile, is said to have cost around $100 million for its entire first season. As for the other hit Netflix show The Crown, it has a reported budget of $13 million per episode.

Comparing it to the other popular shows, the fourth season of Stranger Things certainly costs more than any of them although it is not as close to the budget of the upcoming The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power as it reportedly costs around $462 for its first season alone.

click to enlarge

So what does it say about the quality of the upcoming season? Well, it does mean that we should expect top-notch production values with high-quality visual effects and production design that will make the season have a cinematic feel.

There is also a chance that we will never recognize its unusually high budget when we watch the upcoming season, but nevertheless, we can see that they put a lot of work into crafting the season and make the long wait worthwhile.

The fourth season of Stranger Things' logline reads:

"It’s been six months since the Battle of Starcourt, which brought terror and destruction to Hawkins. Struggling with the aftermath, our group of friends are separated for the first time – and navigating the complexities of high school hasn't made things any easier. In this most vulnerable time, a new and horrifying supernatural threat surfaces, presenting a gruesome mystery that, if solved, might finally put an end to the horrors of the Upside Down."

Also Read: Stranger Things Creators Drops Huge Update on Potential Spinoff Projects

The first volume of Stranger Things Season 4 is set to be released on May 27 while the second volume will be released five weeks later on July 1 on Netflix. You can check more details about the upcoming season here.

For more articles like this, take a look at our Netflix and Geek Culture page.