10 Most Expensive Netflix Movies

Ever since Netflix started releasing original movies under its platform, the streaming service has been shelling out more money for these projects. Unfortunately, one of the common denominators of most of Netflix’s most expensive projects is their negative reviews. Critics have overwhelmingly panned most of these films, but that hasn’t necessarily killed them upon arrival. The audience reception differs starkly in many cases, showcasing the divide between critics and viewers when it comes to big-budget action movies. While not all of these works fall into the action genre, most do, as the visual effects and set pieces cost a lot.

A few of these rank among the most expensive movies ever made, with recent projects like The Electric State making waves for their bloated budgets. When it comes to films released directly on streaming services, it’s tough to determine success, as there’s no box office. The profitability of these movies is directly tied to the number of hours watched, and many of these films have garnered hundreds of millions of hours. As Netflix continues to set a precedent for spending big on these enormous projects, it will be interesting to see what they have lined up in the coming years.

10

Bright (2017)

Budget: $90 Million

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Bright

TV-MA

Fantasy

Action

Crime

Thriller

ScreenRant logo

3/10

8/10

Release Date

December 22, 2017

Runtime

118 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot OF Will Smith

    Will Smith

  • Headshot Of Joel Edgerton In The Amazon MGM Studios Los Angeles Premiere Of 'The Boys In The Boat'

    Joel Edgerton

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Though $90 million might not seem like too much compared to the more recent budgets of Netflix’s biggest projects, in 2017, this original sci-fi film being given these resources was significant. Directed by David Ayer and written by Max Landis, Bright combines elements of fantasy with action, creating a contemporary social commentary through its otherworldly setting. Led by Will Smith as Daryl and Joel Edgerton as Nick, an Orc police officer, Bright uses the dynamic between orcs and humans as a metaphor for racism and xenophobia.

The relationship between Daryl and Nick is the emotional heart of Bright, and though it takes a moment to adjust to the rules of the story’s world, Bright manages to capture your attention.

The relationship between Daryl and Nick is the emotional heart of Bright, and though it takes a moment to adjust to the rules of the story’s world, Bright manages to capture your attention. Though Bright was an ambitious project that might have bitten off more than it could chew, it was widely discussed, in part thanks to the large budget and polarizing critical reception. The fact that Bright was one of Netflix’s most viewed projects at the time proves why Netflix is so keen on paying for these big budget movies (via IndieWire).

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Bright (2017)

26%

83%

Source: Vanity Fair

9

The Midnight Sky (2020)

Budget: ~ $100 Million

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The Midnight Sky

PG-13

Sci-Fi

Drama

Fantasy

ScreenRant logo

6/10

Release Date

December 23, 2020

Runtime

122minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Sophie Rundle In The Launch of new ITV AND ITVX drama 'After The Flood' at The Soho Hotel

    Sophie Rundle

  • Headshot Of Kyle Chandler

    Kyle Chandler

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Based on the book Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton, The Midnight Sky is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi movie featuring George Clooney in a leading role. Set after the events of a global disaster, Clooney’s Augustine Lofthouse is one of the few remaining survivors on Earth. Most of the story revolves around his attempts to contact a spaceship returning to Earth to warn them of the conditions on the planet, as well as the bond he forms with a young girl hiding in his base.

Felicity Jones and David Oyelowo lead the cast on the spaceship, anchoring the sci-fi elements of the project. The visual effects are one of the strongest elements of The Midnight Sky, as the film overreaches in terms of metaphor and emotional impact as the story progresses. Though it’s far from Clooney’s best project, he gives a lot to The Midnight Sky, committing to his role as the aging scientist. Since Netflix usually goes for big-budget action movies rather than sci-fi projects, The Midnight Sky offers something different and exciting from the streamer.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

The Midnight Sky (2020)

50%

26%

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

8

Triple Frontier (2019)

Budget $115 Million

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Triple Frontier

R

Action

Adventure

Crime

ScreenRant logo

7/10

7/10

Release Date

March 13, 2019

Runtime

125 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Adria Arjona In The 'The Father Of Bride` Screening

    Adria Arjona

  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Christine Horn

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In a surprising twist, Triple Frontier was generally more popular with critics than audiences, according to major review aggregators like Rotten Tomatoes. This action-adventure flick brings together a crack team with specialized military training who decide to pull off the heist of a lifetime. Ben Affleck, Oscar Isaac, and Pedro Pascal are part of the central crew and bring plenty of charm and grit to the project. Though Adria Arjona is practically the only woman in the tight cast, she holds her own, showcasing her bright future in action.

The heist movie has a formula that can be difficult to crack, as there are many popular and hugely successful additions to the genre.

The heist movie has a formula that can be difficult to crack, as there are many popular and hugely successful additions to the genre. With the shadows of iconic projects like Ocean’s Eleven and the Mission: Impossible franchise hanging over its head, Triple Frontier had a lot to live up to. However, its propulsive story and the well-oiled machine of the cast paved the way for moderate success for Triple Frontier, and the gorgeous settings certainly helped create a strong atmosphere.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Triple Frontier (2019)

71%

58%

Source: IndieWire

7

Outlaw King (2018)

Budget: $120 Million

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Outlaw King

R

Action

Biography

Drama

ScreenRant logo

5/10

Release Date

November 9, 2018

Runtime

137 Minutes

Cast

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  • Cast Placeholder Image

    Stephen Dillane

  • Headshot Of Tony Curran

    Tony Curran

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Outlaw King might have cost a lot to make, around $120 million, but it hasn’t been widely discussed since it was released on Netflix in 2018. Other historical drama movies led by Chris Pine, like the fantasy action film Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves, found success after being added to streaming and have increased in notoriety. However, Outlaw King hasn’t had much long-term impact despite its strong cast, with Florence Pugh and Aaron Taylor-Johnson starring alongside Pine.

Though Outlaw King clearly revels in its medieval setting and enjoys showcasing bloody, realistic battles between the English and Scottish armies, its emotional side is somewhat lacking. Though Outlaw King is not considered historically accurate, this doesn’t stop the audience from being immersed in the ancient castles and the vivid design of the sets and costumes. Revisiting Outlaw King today reveals some of the more positive aspects of the film, as it’s clear this large budget was spent on creating a captivating atmosphere.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Outlaw King (2018)

63%

68%

Source: Forbes

6

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)

Budget: $150 Million

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Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F

R

Action

Comedy

Crime

ScreenRant logo

6/10

7/10

Release Date

July 3, 2024

Runtime

118 Minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Eddie Murphy In The Los Angeles premiere of Amazon Prime Video's 'Candy Cane Lane'

    Eddie Murphy

  • Headshot Of Kevin Bacon In The 2024 Tribeca Festival - 'Footloose'

    Kevin Bacon

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Eddie Murphy returned for the fourth installment of the Beverly Hills Cop franchise in 2024 in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. Though the last Beverly Hills Cop movie came out in 1994, the explosive return to Axel’s (Murphy) world still sparked a lot of interest, in no small part due to Murphy’s star power. Directed by Mark Molloy, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is full of nostalgia and appreciation for the original films. However, it’s one of the more genuine recent sequels and revivals that have been hitting the screen in recent years.

Set in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is a welcome return to Hollywood’s home, playing up the connection to the previous films and the city’s long history of cinema.

Without Murphy, there’s no way this $150 million movie would work, as the major action elements are fun, but it’s Murphy’s delivery of the script’s comedic moments that draw us in. Set in Los Angeles, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is a welcome return to Hollywood’s home, playing up the connection to the previous films and the city’s long history of cinema. If Murphy returns for the fifth installment of the franchise, it won’t have much trouble making a splash.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024)

67%

76%

Source: BBC

5

6 Underground (2019)

Budget: $150 Million

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6 Underground

R

Action

Thriller

ScreenRant logo

4/10

Release Date

December 13, 2019

Runtime

128 minutes

Cast

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  • Ryan Reynolds Profile Picture

    Ryan Reynolds

  • Headshot Of Ben Hardy

    Ben Hardy

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Ryan Reynolds has been a mainstay of the action-comedy genre since his performance for a long time, but he’s been everywhere since his 2016 performance in Deadpool. In 6 Underground, Reynolds takes on a different type of role but still retains his characteristic sense of humor. As One, Reynolds assembles a team of vigilantes who come together to bring down a dictator in 6 Underground, and though the premise is slightly outlandish, Netflix committed significant resources.

Directed by Michael Bay, 6 Underground has a lot in common with his other projects, with explosive stunts and over-the-top action sequences that will dazzle the audience, for better or worse. 6 Underground is grounded by its cast, which includes Mélanie Laurent, Adria Arjona, and Dave Franco. Though 6 Underground doesn’t have anything new to add to the action genre, it’s a diverting good time for fans of Bay and Reynolds.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

6 Underground (2019)

36%

60%

Source: IndieWire

4

The Irishman (2019)

Budget: $160 Million

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The Irishman

R

Biography

Drama

Crime

ScreenRant logo

9/10

7/10

Release Date

November 27, 2019

Runtime

210 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Bobby Cannavale In The 'An Evening with EZRA:' A Storytelling and Screening Event

    Bobby Cannavale

  • Headshot Of Jack Huston

    Jack Huston

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Martin Scorsese’s period epic, The Irishman, is one of Netflix’s biggest critical successes when it comes to its most expensive films. Scorsese assembled many long-time collaborators and huge names in the crime genre, including Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, and Joe Pesci. One of the elements of The Irishman that sparked conversation and made it so expensive is the fact that it used de-aging technology on the actors, allowing them to play their characters from young adulthood into old age.

Though it isn’t Netflix’s most successful project, it demonstrated that the streaming service could be a haven for big-budget artistic works and iconic directors.

Though The Irishman isn’t one of Martin Scorsese’s highest-grossing movies of all time, it received numerous nominations and honors throughout awards season. Clocking in at three and a half hours long, The Irishman is an epic in many senses, requiring a significant time commitment from the audience. Though it isn’t Netflix’s most successful project, it demonstrated that the streaming service could be a haven for big-budget artistic works and iconic directors.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

The Irishman (2019)

95%

86%

Source: Inc

3

Red Notice (2021)

Budget: $200 Million

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Red Notice

PG-13

Action

Comedy

Crime

ScreenRant logo

5/10

3/10

Release Date

November 12, 2021

Runtime

118 minutes

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Ritu Arya In The Netflix Screening Of `Umbrella Academy`

    Ritu Arya

  • Ryan Reynolds Profile Picture

    Ryan Reynolds

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Full of mystery, intrigue, and international art thievery, Red Notice features big names, with Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot leading the cast. With a budget somewhere between $160 and 200 million, Red Notice made waves for its budget back in 2021, even if Netflix has outdone itself since then. Like many of its contemporaries, Red Notice blends action with comedy, poking fun at itself and the tropes of the genre along the way.

There’s good reason to expect a sequel to Red Notice, as the stars and the franchise have long-term legs, considering the performance of the film, and it’s reportedly still in production. Though there haven’t been many updates, Red Notice made a splash on Netflix when it was released in 2021, and a sequel would likely do the same. With fast-paced action sequences and big set pieces, the globe-trotting movie takes the viewer all over the world and does a better job justifying its budget than some of Netflix’s other works.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Red Notice (2021)

37%

92%

Source: Forbes

2

The Gray Man (2022)

Budget: $200 Million

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The Gray Man

Not Yet Rated

Thriller

Action

ScreenRant logo

7/10

10/10

Release Date

July 15, 2022

Runtime

122 minutes

Cast

See All

  • Headshot aOf Ana De Armas In The 29th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards.

    Ana De Armas

  • Headshot Of Alfre Woodard In The Netflix`s LA World Premiere Of `The Gray Man`.

    Alfre Woodard

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Ryan Gosling anchors the Russo Brothers’ blockbuster action movie, The Gray Man, which cost Netflix around $200 million. Centering on a conflict between the CIA agent Sierra Six (Gosling) and Lloyd Hansen (Chris Evans), a former agent tracking him down, The Gray Man is a classic action-packed thrill ride. Though critical reception of The Gray Man was mixed to poor, audiences were much more open to Netflix’s blockbuster, likely thanks to its star-studded cast.

The Gray Man was popular enough that Netflix has plans for The Gray Man 2, though the project is still in the development stage.

Based on the book by Mark Greaney, The Gray Man is similar to popular contemporary series like Reacher or The Night Agent, which have also performed well for their streaming services. The Gray Man was popular enough that Netflix has plans for The Gray Man 2, though the project is still in the development stage. However, it will be interesting to see how much Netflix is willing to pay for the sequel after the success of the first movie and the recent big-budget films.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

The Gray Man (2022)

45%

90%

Source: IndieWire

1

The Electric State (2025)

Budget: $320 Million

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The Electric State

Adventure

Sci-Fi

ScreenRant logo

4/10

29

8/10

Release Date

March 14, 2025

Director

Anthony Russo, Joe Russo

Cast

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  • Headshot Of Millie Bobby Brown In The Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

    Millie Bobby Brown

    Michelle

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    Chris Pratt

    Keats

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Netflix’s most recent and most expensive original movie, The Electric State, stars Millie Bobbie Brown and Chris Pratt and is directed by the Russo Brothers. The Russos were also behind Avengers: Endgame, which had a budget of $356 million, possibly more, setting a precedent for Marvel. It will be interesting to see what The Electric State‘s long-term performance is and if Netflix will get enough streams to warrant such a bloated budget. So far, things aren’t looking good, as The Electric State opened to a harsh critical reception.

Millie Bobby Brown in The Electric State next to Thanos in Avengers: Endgame

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It’s easy to wonder how The Electric State became so expensive, but multiple factors contributed to the final result. With so many big names attached, complex visual effects, and significant reliance on CGI, The Electric State was a massive undertaking, even by Netflix’s high standards. Though it isn’t unprecedented for Netflix to have produced such an expensive movie, compared to its other projects, The Electric State is a big swing. However, if audiences respond more positively to Netflix’s recent project, there may still be hope for The Electric State.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

The Electric State (2025)

17%

66%

Source: Forbes

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