HBO’s R-Rated Historical Epic With A $200M Budget Is Better Than Any Movie Version

Published Oct 3, 2026, 3:30 PM EDT Zach Moser has been writing for ScreenRant since 2022, covering movies, classic TV, and streaming TV. His areas of expertise cover a wide range of genres with a particular interest in horror and drama, and the conversations around the TV and film industry. When he's not covering the latest film releases or chronicling the latest season of a new show, he's writing humor pieces for McSweeney's Internet Tendency, Slackjaw, and Points In Case or working on short stories and his second novel. HBO has an R-rated epic series that was one of its most expensive at the time, and the network put its $200 million budget to good use, making the best Rome-centric production ever. In the early days of HBO, the network was putting out shows that vaulted over the series on other networks in terms of quality, and often, budget. HBO was unafraid to spend big on its series, and it nearly always paid off, with an incredible streak of shows that all rank among the best series ever. Even in 2026, you can probably count on one hand the number of shows in its original library list that aren't worth watching. Even their unfinished series are worth checking out. Rome is one of the most expensive series that HBO ever produced, with an eye-popping $100 million spent on the first 12-episode season. A second season followed, and though the budget behind season 2 isn't confirmed, the size and scope of season 2 suggests it had a similar production cost. The series, set in Ancient Rome, centers around two members of the Roman legions, Lucius Vorenus (Kevin McKidd) and Titus Pullo (Ray Stevenson), who have a front-row seat to Julius Caesar's (Ciarán Hinds) overthrow of the Roman Republic. From this vantage point, we watch the transition of Rome into an Empire, following a large swathe of historical figures. The series moves from Central Europe to Rome to Egypt as the story goes on. Beyond the violent battles, political scheming, and sexual escapades, Rome tells the story of what happens to people who have spent their lives waging war, returning to a world they no longer know or are accustomed to. HBO’s Rome Is The Best Screen Version Of How The Roman Republic Fell photo: Franco Biciocchi / © HBO / Courtesy: Everett Collection HBO's Rome is the definitive screen version of the fall of the Roman Republic. It would probably be the definitive version of the fall across any medium if it were not for a playwright named William Shakespeare. Still, that is no small feat for Rome, which competes with such films as Spartacus, 1953's Julius Caesar, and 1963's Cleopatra. Even within that lauded company, Rome stands above. Rome covers everything about the period, from the major events everyone knows to the minutiae they might not. Most importantly, Rome contextualizes the fall of Rome, using citizens to showcase how this major event actually affected the people who lived through the period. Rome’s Record-Breaking Budget And All-Star Cast Deliver The Goods Rome's triumph is that it makes a story we likely only know from history books and grand dramas into something legible from our modern perspective. There are big moments, of historical figures making grand proclamations, but there are also small details that breathe life into the story and color it. What we learn is that while the fall of Rome may have been a massive event for the people at the top of Roman society, it did not present much more change and turmoil to the lives of everyday citizens than they were generally forced to experience. Lucius experiences the career advancements that come with the overturn of a system; Titus learns to ply his violent trade in a new Rome where the rules are little less clear. Life goes on in Rome; the series uses its massive budget and incredible ensemble cast to craft a world that feels wholly lived in and real. Take away the robes and diction, and this could be any modern major city in the middle of political upheaval. Rome brings reality to events and a time period that we are usually asked to understand with sweeping stories and fantasy-level heroes and villains. Release Date 2005 - 2007-00-00 Creator(s) John Milius, William J. MacDonald, Bruno Heller