Editorial: 2025 Rewind: Top 5 Costliest OTT series

Lately, OTT platforms are delivering an ultimate experience to audiences from the comfort of their homes. Over the past year, several big-budget web series have entertained viewers across the globe. Shows from various countries stood out for their grand canvas, rich production values, and massive budgets, earning strong audience responses.
Taking 2025 into account, here is the list of the Top 5 web series made on massive budgets, offering spectacular visuals and an action-packed experience across leading streaming platforms.
Top 5 – The Last of Us: Season 2:
This revenge-driven web series was released by the internationally renowned platform HBO. The second season consists of a total of seven episodes and reportedly had a mind-blowing budget of over $125 million (approximately Rs. 1000 crores). In India, the series is available for streaming on Jio Hotstar.
Top 4 – Pluribus: Season 1:
An intriguing sci-fi thriller, Pluribus explores the impact of a mysterious virus that arrives from space and affects humanity, focusing on how a lone woman confronts the unexpected crisis. The series was released on Apple TV on November 7, and the first season alone was reportedly made on a budget of $135 million (around Rs. 1125 crores). With a total of nine episodes, the show found a spot among the highest-rated shows of the year.
Top 3 – Severance: Season 2:
Severance is another American science fiction series that is available for streaming on Apple TV. It revolves around a bizarre company, Lumon Industries. Employees undergo a surgical procedure to separate their professional and personal lives, resulting in two distinct personalities. The story explores the consequences of this unusual experiment.
Season 2, which premiered on January 17, 2025, features a total of episodes and reportedly had a staggering budget of over $200 million (approximately Rs. 1800 crores).
Top 2 – Star Wars: Andor – Season 2:
The Star Wars franchise enjoys immense popularity across the globe, and Andor is one of its most lauded spin-off series. Disney+ streamed the second season, which reportedly cost over $291 million (around Rs. 2400 crores), making it the second most expensive web series of 2025. The series was released on April 22, 2025.
Top 1 – Stranger Things: Season 5:
Stranger Things 5 is undoubtedly the most-awaited and talked-about series of 2025. It marked the final season of the iconic show that gave countless memories to fans over the last nine years. Netflix released a total of eight episodes in three phases, concluding the series on the first day of 2026.
The makers reportedly allocated a shocking budget rarely seen in OTT history. It is said that over $50 million was spent per episode. With a total budget ranging between $400–480 million, the final season alone cost a jaw-dropping Rs. 4300 crores, making it the most expensive web series ever produced.
These five series emerged as the most expensive web shows of 2025, and it is noteworthy that all of them received solid ratings and strong appreciation from audience.The post Editorial: 2025 Rewind: Top 5 Costliest OTT series first appeared on Latest Telugu cinema news | Movie reviews | OTT Updates, OTT.