As we all know, in January 2015, Amazon Studio, the e-commerce giant, announced that they start shooting and acquiring original feature films for release. Also Amazon announced plans to debut movies in theaters first and then on Prime Video. Ted Hope, as an independent producer of creative development for Amazon Original Movies, aimed to make about 12 original films per year with mid‑budget dramas and comedies (from $5 million to $25 million per project). Amazon's strategy shifted from streaming-only content toward full‑length features, competing for prestige alongside traditional studios.
Because Netflix moved decisively into movies as well
Earlier in October 2014 Netflix announced a four‑film deal with Adam Sandler. He was paid to produce and star in a slate of original comedies for the service. The Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon sequel, The Green Legend (later released as Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny on Netflix in 2016), was announced to be released Netflix and by the Weinstein Company.
At the same moment, Amazon’s move into TV production had already begun. 2015 ceremony shows the growing impact of streaming providers. The online retailer’s series had just earned two Golden Globes. The Globe's success helped pay attention to Amazon’s film and TV ambitions and foreshadowed additional high‑profile projects to appear.
Next year was announced by Woody Allen that he would create his first TV series for Amazon (debuting Crisis in Six Scenes in 2016). The series premiered on Amazon Prime Video on September 30, 2016.
From 2015, Amazon’s film ambitions rose into one of the industry’s most consequential shifts. Amazon released in 2016 Manchester by the Sea. Studio got multiple Academy Award nominations. That movie shows that Amazon is absolutely able to compete for prestige films, even if it is limited theatrical windows.
Expanding Amazon’s film and TV catalog and IP potential came with Amazon’s 2021 acquisition of MGM on sum of about $8.45 billion. MGM’s library counted thousands of titles and iconic franchises, and the deal positioned Amazon to scale both theatrical releases and streaming offerings. Integrating MGM’s legacy with Amazon’s streaming and production facilities, Amazon realized its films and TV operations under the Amazon MGM Studios. As the company expanded its global content presence, they also got strategic rights deals, including collaborations around James Bond and other franchises.
2023–2024: the combined Prime Video and Amazon MGM operation continued to rise with further structural changes and a push into high‑profile cinematic releases. As part of the expanded integration in year 2023 - MGM joined Prime Video and Amazon Studios. Amazon announced in 2025 its plans to expand its theatrical plans, aiming to release more long films each year. Amazon also aimed to increase its theatrical distribution compared to streaming, with plans to release at least 14 products in theaters in the near term and reach higher amount yearly totals in future years.
Today, Amazon’s strategy spans both film and television. They continued to push a high‑profile, globally distributed slate, trying to cover all, from prestige dramas to genre entertainments. This evolution from 2015’s theater‑first film plan to an IP‑driven entertainment empire shows that Amazon bet on being a central hub for high‑quality content across viewing mediums and platforms.