Boardwalk Empire, 2010
The pilot for HBO’s sprawling Prohibition-era drama was once rumored to cost as much as $50 million, but more reasonable estimates place it closer to $18 million. With executive producer Martin Scorsese directing the episode, one can assume money was of little concern. In any case, it paid off: Scorsese won the Emmy for “Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series” for the episode, and the series garnered another 17 nominations in its first season.
