The Electric State is the most expensive Netflix original film in later media reports, but its reported budget is disputed: The New York Times put the cost at over $275 million in 2025, while Hindustan Times reported $320 million, attributing that figure to Deadline. Neither is an audited Netflix all-time figure. The ranking below puts those newer estimates beside the older, more consistent May 2022 worldwide ranking.
Which Netflix movie has the biggest reported budget?
The Electric State (2025) leads the available later reporting. A March 2025 New York Times report said Netflix spent over $275 million to make the film. Hindustan Times reported a $320 million figure, attributing it to Deadline. The sources do not reconcile the difference, and it is not clear that they use the same accounting scope. Treat both as reported estimates, not confirmed or directly comparable production totals.
![Roma (The Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41c6fo3uhtL._SL160_.jpg)
Netflix describes The Electric State as an adaptation of Simon Stålenhag’s illustrated novel. The film’s reported costs also illustrate why a headline budget may not mean production spending alone: The New York Times said costs ballooned in part because of special effects and upfront bonuses to stars and directors. Netflix’s adaptation page is at Netflix Tudum.
Netflix movies with the highest reported budgets
The table combines the newer reports on The Electric State with Statista’s older worldwide ranking. Statista’s page was published May 12, 2023, but the ranking period is May 2022; it is not a current all-time list. Amounts are nominal US dollars, not adjusted for inflation.
#1 Best Overall
| Film | Release year | Reported budget | Source and qualification |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Electric State | 2025 | Over $275 million; also reported as $320 million | The New York Times (2025) reported over $275 million. Hindustan Times (2025) reported $320 million, attributing the figure to Deadline. Estimates conflict and their scopes are not reconciled. |
| The Gray Man | 2022 | $200 million | Statista’s worldwide ranking for May 2022, published in 2023; TheWrap also reported $200 million in 2023. |
| Red Notice | 2021 | $200 million | Statista’s worldwide ranking for May 2022, published in 2023; TheWrap also reported $200 million in 2023. |
| The Irishman | 2019 | $160 million | Statista’s May 2022 ranking, published in 2023. TheWrap reported $150 million in 2023, so published estimates differ. |
| 6 Underground | 2019 | $150 million | Statista’s worldwide ranking for May 2022, published in 2023; TheWrap also reported $150 million in 2023. |
| Outlaw King | 2018 | $120 million | Statista’s worldwide ranking for May 2022, published in 2023. |
| Triple Frontier | 2019 | $115 million | Statista’s worldwide ranking for May 2022, published in 2023. |
| The Mitchells vs. The Machines | 2021 | $110 million | Statista’s worldwide ranking for May 2022, published in 2023. |
| Bright | 2017 | $106 million | Statista’s worldwide ranking for May 2022, published in 2023. |
| The Midnight Sky | 2020 | $100 million | Statista’s worldwide ranking for May 2022, published in 2023. |
| Army of the Dead | 2021 | $90 million | Statista’s worldwide ranking for May 2022, published in 2023. |
Statista’s full ranking is titled “Most expensive Netflix original long features ever worldwide 2022, by budget” and appears at Statista. TheWrap’s December 2023 comparison is at TheWrap. The New York Times reported on Netflix’s film spending and The Electric State in March 2025 at The New York Times; Hindustan Times reported the $320 million estimate at Hindustan Times.
Why reported movie budgets do not line up
Publishers may use different budget scopes
A reported budget may describe production costs or a broader total, and the sources do not consistently define the figures. The New York Times’ account of The Electric State mentions effects work and upfront bonuses; it does not explain how its estimate compares with the $320 million figure attributed to Deadline.
Estimates can change or conflict
The Irishman is a clear example: Statista lists $160 million, while TheWrap reports $150 million. Those are separate published estimates, not a basis for averaging them into a supposedly exact number. Likewise, the two figures reported for The Electric State should remain distinct.
The older ranking has a cutoff
Statista’s ranking covers worldwide Netflix original long features in its May 2022 ranking period. It cannot establish the order of every film released afterward. Netflix has not published a comparable current all-time movie-budget ranking in the sources cited here, so this is a reported-budget comparison rather than a definitive Netflix ledger.
Recommended Free Tools
Rank #3
What the rankings tell you—and what they do not
The older ranking placed The Gray Man and Red Notice jointly at $200 million, ahead of The Irishman and 6 Underground. When The Gray Man premiered, Netflix Tudum called it “Netflix’s biggest movie yet” on July 22, 2022; that was a statement about the moment, not a current all-time claim. Its release coverage is at Netflix Tudum.
A large reported budget does not establish whether a film was profitable, a good investment, or successful on Netflix. The sources here do not provide Netflix’s internal title-level costs, revenue, or economics, and viewing figures alone would not settle those questions.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- DVD + Blu-ray Combo
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
