The 5 most expensive Chinese TV series
Chinese TV series budgets tended to be very small compared to budgets for Chinese movies, but in recent years TV budgets have begun to go up. Some Chinese TV series like Three Kingdoms and All Men Are Brothers even had a budget of over 100 million Yuan. Here are five of the most expensive TV series in China.
1. (New) Three Kingdoms 新《三国》2010
Three Kingdoms is directed by Gao Xixi. It is based on Luo Guanzhong’s classical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The series had a budget of over 180 million Yuan (US$30 million) with an estimated income of 800 million Yuan (US$133.3 million) in total as of May 2012.
2. All Men Are Brothers 新《水浒》 2011
All Men Are Brothers is a Chinese television series adapted from Shi Nai’an’s Water Margin. The series is directed by Kuk Kwok-leung and starring Zhang Hanyu Ray Lui and Li Zonghan. Budget: over 130 million Yuan; Total income: 160 million
3. The Dream of Red Mansions 新《红楼梦》2010
The Dream of Red Mansions is a 2010 Chinese television series directed by Li Shaohong. It is one of the most expensive Chinese TV series at 118 million Yuan The series comprise 50 episodes with a total income of 122 million Yuan.
4. The Legend of Yang Guifei 《杨贵妃秘史》2010
The Legend of Yang Guifei is a Chinese TV series based on the romance between Consort Yang Yuhuan and Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty. The series was directed by You Xiaogang and starred Yin Tao and Anthony Wong as the couple. Budget 60 million; Total income: 63.7 million.
5. My Chief and My Regiment 《我的团长我的团》2009
My Chief and My Regiment is a popular 2009 Chinese TV series directed by Kang Honglei. It is based on the novel of the same name by Lan Xiaolong. Budget: 50 million; Total income: 64.5 million.
But in another website, it says Empress of China (2014) starring Fan Bingbing is the most expensive Chinese series ever produced with US$50 million budget.
Three Kingdoms is my favorite over all based on this story. I did not like Romance of the Three Kingdoms or the Battle of Red Cliff etc. I did watch it before the others so it was the standard for me. I would definitely recommend it to be viewed first though.
3 kingdoms was a particularly nice series to watch, despite some minor weaknesses. Glad they put so much efforts in making the series. Zhen Huan Zhuan, Qiao Jia Da Yuan, etc. are also well-made series.
Do not understand why Yin Tao was cast as Yang Guifei. Or why Peter Ho was cast as Lv Bu/Lu Bu in 3 kingdoms, except for his tall stature.