Amazon MGM Studios

Overview

Amazon MGM Studios is the combined film and television production entity formed after Amazon acquired MGM in 2022 for approximately $8.5 billion. The studio operates from Culver City, California, and produces and acquires content for theatrical release, Prime Video streaming, and the MGM+ premium channel. Amazon is one of the largest content spenders in the global entertainment industry, committing billions annually to original film and television across all genres and languages.

The combined entity brings together Amazon Studios (founded in 2010) and the historic MGM studio (founded in 1924), creating a production and distribution company with both a massive content library and a substantial ongoing production operation.

History

Amazon Studios was established in 2010 as Amazon's original content production arm, initially focused on crowdsourced script development before pivoting to commissioning original television and film. The studio's early film output was modest, but its television operations grew rapidly, producing acclaimed series and establishing Prime Video as a major streaming platform.

Amazon's film ambitions expanded significantly in the late 2010s with larger budgets and more prestigious projects. Key theatrical releases include Manchester by the Sea (2016, acquired at Sundance and distributed in partnership with Roadside Attractions), The Big Sick (2017), Annihilation (2018), Cold War (2018), Coming to America 2 (2021), The Tomorrow War (2021), Being the Ricardos (2021), The Electrical Life of Louis Wain (2021), and Air (2023).

The MGM acquisition brought a library of over 4,000 film titles and 17,000 television episodes, plus ongoing franchises including James Bond and Rocky/Creed. It also brought the MGM+ premium channel (formerly Epix) and MGM Television, a major scripted television production company.

Operations

• Amazon MGM Studios -- produces original films and series for Prime Video and theatrical
• MGM -- manages the MGM library, Bond franchise, and legacy IP
• MGM+ -- premium cable and streaming channel
• Amazon Studios International -- produces local-language content in Europe, Asia, and Latin America
• Prime Video -- global streaming platform with 200+ million Prime subscribers

Business Model

Amazon's content strategy differs fundamentally from traditional studios. Film and television investments are justified primarily by their impact on Prime membership acquisition and retention rather than individual title profitability. This means Amazon can green-light projects that would be considered too risky by traditional studios if they serve subscriber growth objectives.

Amazon releases films through a hybrid model: some titles receive theatrical releases before moving to Prime Video, while others premiere directly on the streaming platform. The company has increased its theatrical commitments following industry pressure and the recognition that theatrical releases drive greater cultural awareness for streaming titles.

What Filmmakers Should Know

Amazon MGM Studios acquires completed films from festivals and develops original projects from script stage. The studio works through talent agencies, producers with existing Amazon relationships, and international sales agents. Amazon's scale means it evaluates projects across a broad range, from micro-budget acquisitions to $100 million-plus productions.

For international filmmakers, Amazon's local-language production operations provide opportunities to develop content for Prime Video's global audience. The studio actively commissions series and films in Spanish, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Hindi, and other languages.

The MGM acquisition adds an additional development pathway through MGM's own production teams and its library of optioned and in-development projects.

See Also

For understanding how streaming distribution models affect filmmakers, see Distribution Deals Explained. To model revenue across theatrical and streaming windows, use the Revenue Forecast Calculator.