Beast Games vs Squid Game: Budgets compared between the two shows

MrBeast's latest Amazon Prime Video collaboration Beast Games draws clear inspiration from Netflix's popular TV series, Squid Game. In Squid Game, 456 participants compete for a significant monetary reward, mirroring the 1,000 contestants in Beast Games who strive for a $5 million prize, the largest in reality television history. Both shows operated large budgets and this article will compare the two.

Overall, the staggering $100 million budget for Beast Games — excluding prize money and extravagant giveaways like a Lamborghini and a private island — is nearly five times the $21.4 million spent on the first season of Squid Game.

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Breaking down the budget differences between MrBeast's Beast Games and Netflix's Squid Game

In terms of sets, Squid Game, produced in South Korea, had a budget of approximately $21.4 million. The production involved elaborate sets replicating various game arenas but was confined to traditional television series constraints.

Beast Games, on the other hand, was a more large-scale reality competition featuring 1,000 contestants. A significant portion of the budget was allocated to constructing "Beast City," a custom-built environment costing over $14 million that provided accommodation and facilities for participants.

Apart from the city, the show offers a grand prize of $5 million — the largest single prize in television history— and additional rewards totaling over $15 million distributed throughout the series.

In terms of locations, the Netflix show was filmed in South Korea, where production costs, including labor and set construction, are generally lower compared to Western countries.

Beast Games, on the other hand, took place at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and Downsview Park Studios in Toronto, involving higher logistical expenses, including international travel, accommodation, and higher labor costs.

MrBeast's show also broke multiple records, and one of them was for having an unprecedented number of cameras to capture the extensive competition, setting a new record for the most cameras used simultaneously in a production.

Therefore, the production utilized advanced technology, including a record number of cameras and microphones, to capture the large-scale competition, significantly increasing equipment and operational costs. Squid Game, however, did not require extensive technological infrastructure beyond standard television production.

All these factors, combined with Beast Games' interactive and immersive nature, contribute to the significant budget difference. The show's innovative approach requires substantial investment in production design, participant management, and technological infrastructure to deliver a high-quality viewer experience.

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