Stranger Things season 4 is big enough to warrant being split into two parts, and it appears Netflix has invested heavily in the next chapter of the hit series. According to a new report, Stranger Things season 4 operated on a budget that makes it one of the most expensive TV shows ever made.
Stranger Things season 4 has been a long time coming, as fans have been waiting for the story to continue since 2019. Earlier this year, fans learned Stranger Things will end with season 5, meaning the two-volume fourth chapter will mark the beginning of the end of the saga.
According to a report by the Wall Street Journal, Stranger Things season 4 cost $30 million per episode. With the fourth chapter consisting of 9 episodes, Netflix has therefore spent over a quarter of a billion dollars for the entire season. For comparison's sake, Marvel Studios' original series for Disney Plus are each believed to have a budget of approximately $100-$150 million per season. Stranger Things season 4 would need to look to Amazon's upcoming Lord of the Rings series to find a show investing more per season, as the first chapter of the Middle-Earth adventure is set to cost the streamer $465 million.
At this point, little is known about the story of Stranger Things season 4, which is to be expected from the mystery show. However, the Stranger Things season 4 trailer hinted at a new monstrous villain that will undoubtedly contribute to the show's hefty price tag. Plus, fans likely need not be reminded that David Harbour's Jim Hopper is being held captive in Russia while the Hawkins gang is now spread across the United States, meaning the series will be expanding beyond the small-town setting of previous seasons.
Speaking of Harbour, perhaps Stranger Things season 4's costly budget shouldn't be a surprise to fans. In the past, Harbour compared Stranger Things season 4 to Lord of the Rings, though he was specifically talking about the journey his character takes when the show returns.
Considering Netflix recently suffered a significant subscriber drop, the streamer is no doubt hoping its investment in Stranger Things season 4 will draw more eyeballs back. Then again, it could be argued that die-hard Stranger Things fans, knowing the new season is right around the corner, weren't the subscribers who left Netflix.
Stranger Things season 4 premieres on Netflix on May 27, 2022.
Source: Wall Street Journal