Amazon MGM Studios

Overview

Amazon MGM Studios is the combined film and television production entity formed after Amazon acquired MGM in March 2022 for approximately $8.5 billion. The studio operates from The Culver Studios in Culver City, California, a 14-acre, 720,850-square-foot campus with six soundstages totaling 91,263 square feet. Amazon is one of the largest content spenders in the global entertainment industry.

At CinemaCon 2026, the studio reaffirmed its commitment to release at least 15 theatrical films every year by 2027, with 14 titles already lined up for 2026. Kevin Wilson, head of domestic theatrical distribution, reported that the studio's first four 2026 releases grossed over $670 million at the box office, led by Project Hail Mary (March 2026, starring Ryan Gosling), which became one of the top-grossing films of 2026.

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 a library of over 4,000 film titles and 17,000 television episodes, plus ongoing franchises including James Bond and Rocky/Creed.

History

Amazon Studios (2010 to 2021)

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 with 200+ million Prime subscribers.

Key theatrical releases during this period include Manchester by the Sea (2016, acquired at Sundance for $10 million, distributed with Roadside Attractions, won 2 Oscars including Best Actor), The Big Sick (2017, $56 million worldwide), Late Night (2019), and The Aeronauts (2019).

MGM Acquisition (2022 to Present)

Amazon completed its $8.5 billion purchase of MGM in March 2022, bringing the MGM library of over 4,000 films and 17,000 TV episodes, plus the James Bond franchise, the Rocky/Creed franchise, the MGM+ premium channel (formerly Epix), and MGM Television.

Post-acquisition theatrical releases include Air (2023, directed by Ben Affleck), Road House (2024, starring Jake Gyllenhaal), The Beekeeper (2024, starring Jason Statham, $153 million worldwide), Challengers (2024, directed by Luca Guadagnino), The Accountant 2 (April 2025, starring Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal), and Project Hail Mary (March 2026, starring Ryan Gosling).

CinemaCon 2026 and Theatrical Commitment

At CinemaCon 2026, Amazon MGM Studios unveiled its most ambitious theatrical slate to date. Mike Hopkins, head of Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios, stated: "We've delivered results. Four months. Four films. Over $670 million at the box office. And we have nine more on the way." The studio confirmed its commitment to release at least 15 films every year into theaters by 2027.

Courtenay Valenti, head of film at Amazon MGM Studios, emphasized: "While some of our competitors have dipped their toes in and out of the theatrical waters, for us, this isn't a test or an experiment. Our commitment to release at least 15 films every year into your theaters is on schedule."

Studio Operations

The Culver Studios Campus

Amazon MGM Studios operates from The Culver Studios at 9336 Washington Boulevard in Culver City, California. The 14-acre campus totals 720,850 square feet:

The six sound stages range from 5,600 to 34,500 square feet, with ceiling heights up to 46 feet. All stages feature floating wood floors, elephant doors, and high-capacity mechanicals. Lighting and grip equipment is provided on-site by MBS Equipment Company.

The campus was originally built in 1918 by silent movie pioneer Thomas Ince and has hosted productions including Gone with the Wind, Citizen Kane, and E.T. Hackman Capital Partners completed a major modernization that more than doubled the lot's original size.

Stage 15 Virtual Production

Stage 15 at The Culver Studios is a 34,000-square-foot virtual production stage powered by AWS. Originally built in 1940 (host to It's a Wonderful Life and RoboCop), the stage was transformed in 2020 and reopened in 2022 as a virtual production mega-stage:

• LED volume wall: 80 feet in diameter, 26 feet tall, comprising 3,000 LED panels
• Interactive space: 130,700 cubic feet enclosed by the volume
• Motion capture: 100 motion-capture cameras
• Sandbox lab: Two-story building inside the stage for virtual location scouting, performance capture, and green screen compositing
• Secondary LED stage: Smaller second LED stage for close-up compositing
• Mobile LED wall: Available for on-location virtual production

The volume wall enables rapid lighting and backdrop changes, reducing the need to rebuild sets. All footage is sent directly to Amazon S3 storage during production. The stage is operated by the Amazon MGM Studios Virtual Production (ASVP) department.

Divisions

• Amazon MGM Studios: Produces original films and series for Prime Video and theatrical release
• MGM: Manages the MGM library, Bond franchise, and legacy IP development
• MGM+: Premium cable and streaming channel
• MGM Television: Scripted television production company
• Amazon Studios International: Produces local-language content in Europe, Asia, and Latin America
• Prime Video: Global streaming platform with 200+ million Prime subscribers

James Bond Franchise

The James Bond franchise was a primary driver of Amazon's $8.5 billion MGM acquisition. In 2025, Amazon MGM Studios took full creative control of the franchise from the Broccoli family's Eon Productions, ending the family's six-decade stewardship.

Bond 26 Development

• Director: Denis Villeneuve (announced June 2025)
• Screenwriter: Steven Knight (creator of Peaky Blinders)
• Producers: Amy Pascal and David Heyman
• Executive producer: Tanya Lapointe
• Status: Auditions for the next Bond actor officially began in mid-2026, with Amazon stating: "The search for the next James Bond is under way"
• Theatrical commitment: Mike Hopkins confirmed Bond 26 will receive a theatrical release: "I would be shocked if that were any different with James Bond in the future"
• Timeline: Hopkins described the project as being "in the bottom half of the first inning," indicating the film is still several years from release

No release date, cast, or plot details have been announced. Daniel Craig's final Bond film, No Time to Die (2021), grossed $774 million worldwide.

2026 to 2027 Theatrical Slate

Amazon MGM Studios' confirmed theatrical releases:

Business Model

Content Strategy

Amazon's content strategy differs 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 greenlight projects that traditional studios would consider too risky if they serve subscriber growth objectives.

Theatrical vs. Streaming

Amazon releases films through a hybrid model:

• Theatrical releases: Commercial titles receive theatrical runs before moving to Prime Video. The studio has increased its theatrical commitments significantly, from sporadic releases in 2022 to 14 films in 2026 and 15+ annually by 2027.
• Prime Video premieres: Some titles premiere directly on the streaming platform without a theatrical window.
• MGM+: Premium cable and streaming channel for library content and select original programming.

Local-Language Production

Amazon Studios International produces content in Spanish, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Hindi, and other languages for Prime Video's global audience. This provides opportunities for international filmmakers to develop content with Amazon's resources and global distribution.

What Filmmakers Should Know

How to Pitch Amazon MGM Studios

Amazon MGM Studios does not accept unsolicited submissions. Projects enter development through:

1. Talent agencies: CAA, WME, UTA, and ICM agents pitch to Amazon's development executives
2. Established producers with existing Amazon relationships
3. International sales agents presenting at film markets
4. Festival acquisitions: Amazon acquires completed films at Sundance, Cannes, Toronto, and Venice

Amazon's scale means it evaluates projects across a broad range, from micro-budget acquisitions to $100 million-plus productions. The studio's content strategy allows for riskier greenlights than traditional studios if projects serve Prime subscriber growth.

Budget Ranges

Amazon MGM Studios funds productions across a wide budget spectrum:

• Festival acquisitions: $2 to $25 million for domestic or worldwide rights
• Mid-budget theatrical: $20 to $80 million for commercial titles (The Beekeeper, The Accountant 2)
• Tentpole theatrical: $100 million plus for franchise and event films (Project Hail Mary, Masters of the Universe)
• Streaming originals: $5 to $50 million for Prime Video-exclusive films

MGM Library Development

The MGM acquisition provides an additional development pathway through the studio's library of 4,000+ films. Amazon actively develops new projects based on MGM IP including James Bond, Rocky/Creed, RoboCop, Pink Panther, and Stargate. Filmmakers with established representation can pitch new takes on library titles through MGM's development team.

House Style & Genre Focus

Amazon MGM Studios combines MGM's legacy (James Bond, Rocky/Creed, RoboCop, Pink Panther) with Amazon's original content strategy. The studio's slate spans big-budget tentpoles (Project Hail Mary, Masters of the Universe), prestige dramas (Nickel Boys, After the Hunt), sci-fi adventures, and family franchises. Following the MGM acquisition, Amazon has committed to releasing at least 15 theatrical films per year by 2027, with 14 titles already lined up for 2026.

The studio's content strategy differs 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 allows Amazon to greenlight projects that traditional studios would consider too risky if they serve subscriber growth objectives. The studio's first four 2026 releases grossed over $670 million at the box office, led by Project Hail Mary (March 2026, starring Ryan Gosling).

Amazon MGM has taken full creative control of the James Bond franchise from the Broccoli family's Eon Productions. Denis Villeneuve is attached to direct Bond 26, with Steven Knight writing and Amy Pascal and David Heyman producing. The studio also develops new projects based on the MGM library of 4,000+ films. Budgets range from $2 to $25 million for festival acquisitions, $20 to $80 million for mid-budget theatrical titles, and $100 million+ for tentpole franchise films.

Watch: Trailers & Behind the Scenes

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. For budgeting productions targeting Amazon's budget ranges, use the Indie Film Budget Calculator.