Netflix's latest blockbuster, The Electric State, directed by the Russo brothers, is now the streaming platform’s most expensive production. Based on the critically acclaimed 2018 illustrated novel, the sci-fi film unfolds in an alternate 1990s America, where a civil war between humans and robots has left society in ruins. The story follows a young girl on a journey to find her missing brother, accompanied by a mysterious robot and a smuggler.

Despite an all-star cast featuring Millie Bobby Brown, Chris Pratt, Stanley Tucci, Giancarlo Esposito, Ke Huy Quan, and Woody Harrelson, The Electric State has received overwhelmingly negative reviews. With an abysmal 21% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, the film’s massive $320 million budget seems like a questionable investment, raising concerns about Netflix’s spending strategy.

The Electric State—One of the Most Expensive Movies Ever Made

With a staggering $320 million budget, The Electric State ranks as the 13th most expensive film in history. Unlike other high-budget productions that belong to established franchises like Star Wars, the MCU, and Pirates of the Caribbean, The Electric State is a standalone movie without a theatrical release, making its financial viability even more uncertain.

Top 15 Most Expensive Movies Ever Made:

Star Wars: The Force Awakens – $447 million

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom – $432 million

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker – $416 million

Fast X – $379 million

Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides – $379 million

Avengers: Age of Ultron – $365 million

Avengers: Endgame – $356 million

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness – $351 million

Avatar: The Way of Water – $350 million

Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania – $330 million

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny – $326 million

Avengers: Infinity War – $325 million

The Electric State – $320 million

The Marvels – $307 million

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End – $300 million

Why The Electric State Had Such a Massive Budget

A combination of costly CGI, an A-list cast, and the Russo brothers' reputation for high-budget productions contributed to the film’s enormous costs. While the duo successfully directed Avengers: Endgame and Avengers: Infinity War, their recent independent projects, such as Cherry and The Gray Man, failed to impress critics. Despite this track record, Netflix still bet big on their latest venture.

High Budget Doesn’t Guarantee a Great Film

While Netflix likely anticipated The Electric State would be a sci-fi blockbuster, early reviews suggest otherwise. The film is drawing comparisons to other high-budget Netflix originals like Red Notice and Heart of Stone, which, despite topping viewership charts, were quickly forgotten due to lackluster storytelling.

Given its poor reception, The Electric State is unlikely to spark a franchise, making its $320 million budget look increasingly unjustified.

The Downside of High-Budget Streaming Movies

One of the biggest concerns surrounding The Electric State is how such excessive spending impacts Netflix’s overall content strategy. Instead of pouring $320 million into a single film, the platform could have financed multiple lower-budget productions. Many of the critically acclaimed movies at the 2025 Academy Awards, such as Anora and The Brutalist, were made for under $10 million, proving that creativity trumps expensive CGI.

How High-Budget Streaming Films Could Hurt Subscribers

With no theatrical release, Netflix won’t recoup its investment through box office earnings. Instead, its primary revenue source remains subscriptions. Historically, Netflix has raised prices to offset such costly projects, meaning films like The Electric State could lead to yet another price hike for subscribers.

Conclusion: A Costly Misstep for Netflix

While Netflix continues investing in blockbuster-style productions, The Electric State serves as a cautionary tale. Rather than spending hundreds of millions on a single film with mixed reviews, the platform might be better off diversifying its investments into smaller, high-quality projects that can leave a lasting cultural impact.