Summary

• Netflix is investing heavily in "3 Body Problem," providing an impressive $160 million budget for the highly anticipated sci-fi series.
• The new show by Game of Thrones creators Benioff and Weiss is set to premiere on March 21, 2024, featuring a star-studded cast.
• With a cost of $20 million per episode, "3 Body Problem" holds the record for the highest cost-per-episode of any new Netflix show.

The creators of 3 Body Problem, the latest book adaptation by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, premieres on March 21, 2024, tells an expansive and dense science fiction story that demands the large budget. The new show is the duo's first venture back into television since the controversial final season of Game of Thrones.

Adapted from a 3 Body Problem, such as Jonathan Pryce, Liam Cunningham, and John Bradley, which is set to break financial records.

All episodes of 3 Body Problem season 1 will be released on Netflix on March 21.

3 Body Problem Has The Highest Cost-Per-Episode Of Any New Netflix Show

The executives at Netflix are all-in on Benioff and Weiss making 3 Body Problem a huge hit because their new show has the highest cost per episode of any premiere season in Netflix history. According to the Netflix will be paying somewhere around $160 million for the entirety 3 Body Problem season 1. Below is a look at notable television series and their cost per episode over the last 10 years.

While the price tag is enormous, it is not the highest Netflix has ever paid per episode for one of its shows. Stranger Things season 4 reportedly reached $30 million per episode, but the cost to produce its first season in 2016 was considerably smaller. At the time of Stranger Things season 4 in 2022, the show was also a global blockbuster hit and a property that many considered the flagship of the streaming service. 3 Body Problem represents a big gamble for an international, complex, science fiction story that has not aired in the United States before.

3 Body Problem's Record-Breaking Budget Is An Encouraging Sign

Netflix is clearly betting very big on this new show, just as they have bet big on the partnership and creative efforts of Benioff and Weiss. As with any new show, and especially one with this level of budget and publicity, there is a risk, but this reported budget per episode means 3 Body Problem is getting every chance it can to succeed. The alternative, of course, is that Netflix moves forward with 3 Body Problem but does not allocate the necessary money and resources to make it a hit show, but that does not appear to be the case.

Since it has been developing original programming, Netflix has produced a number of expensive original series. This does not mean all of them have been successful, however. While some series such as Stranger Things, The Crown, The Witcher, and One Piece have been revered by critics and audiences alike, other shows like The Get Down, Marco Polo, and Sense8 were flops and canceled after a short period of time, mainly due to Netflix not being able to justify the massive expense due to small viewership numbers.

Why Netflix Is Spending So Much Money On 3 Body Problem

Netflix spending this much money to produce the first season of 3 Body Problem seems justified based on a number of factors. First of all, production costs have risen exponentially since the last season of Game of Thrones. 3 Body Problem also presents a story that demands high value production, with timelines taking place across the globe and across generations. This is not something Netflix wants to do cheaply, especially since science fiction shows like Stranger Things, Silo, and Severance are more popular than ever.

The Netflix version of 3 Body Problem is the second major time the work has been adapted to the small screen. A Chinese series by the same name premiered in 2023.

There is also, of course, the Benioff and Weiss factor. Netflix signed them to a massive overall deal worth somewhere between $250-$300 million, so the streaming service is going to do everything it can to help them and their projects succeed. The creative duo have stated they would like the series to run four seasons, which could mean a final price tag of around three-quarters of a billion dollars. Even before audiences have a chance to see any of the episodes, Netflix seems committed to this future and making 3 Body Problem one of its most valuable franchises.

Source: The Wall Street Journal, Statista