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Amazon MGM Studios

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Amazon MGM Studios
FormerlyAmazon Studios (2010–2023)
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryEntertainment
Predecessors
FoundedNovember 16, 2010; 13 years ago (2010-11-16) (as Amazon Studios)
Headquarters
Culver Studios, Culver City, California
,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Jennifer Salke (CEO)
Products
  • Television production
  • Television distribution
  • Film production
  • Film distribution
ParentAmazon
Divisions
  • Prime Movies
  • Amazon Content Services
  • Amazon MGM Studios Distribution
Subsidiaries
Websiteamazonmgmstudios.com
Footnotes / references
[1][2]

Amazon MGM Studios, formerly Amazon Studios, is an American film and television production and distribution studio owned by Amazon. It was launched in 2010. It took its current name in May 2023 following its merger with MGM Holdings, which Amazon had acquired the year prior.[3]

Productions from this studio, as of September 2023, are primarily distributed through movie theaters under the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) label and Amazon's own streaming media service, Amazon Prime Video.[4]

Alongside Amazon Prime Video, the company constitutes one half of Amazon's membership in the Motion Picture Association (MPA), which it joined on October 1, 2024.

Overview

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Formation and early success (2010–2021)

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Logo of Amazon Studios, used from 2010 to 2019

Scripts for television and films used to be submitted online to Amazon[5] and read by staff; however, the website states they no longer accept submissions. Amazon aimed to review submitted scripts within 90 days (although the process may be longer). If a project was chosen for development, the writer was paid $10,000.[6] If a developed script was selected for distribution as a full-budget movie, the creator was paid $200,000; if it was selected for distribution as a full-budget series, the creator was paid $55,000 as well as "up to 5 percent of Amazon's net receipts from toy and t-shirt licensing, and other royalties and bonuses."[7]

In 2008, Amazon expanded into film production, producing the film The Stolen Child with 20th Century Studios.[8] In July 2015, Amazon announced it had acquired Spike Lee's new film, Chi-Raq, as its first Amazon Original Movie.[9][10][11]

In 2010 Amazon Studios started allowing people to submit screenplays, which Amazon Studios and its customers would vote on. The top scriptwriters were told that they would earn cash prizes. This was named as "the scientific studio" by Jeff Bezos. This program stopped eight years later as submitted scripts were of low quality.[12]

Amazon Studios also released its only comic-book series, Blackburn Burrow, in 2012 as a free download.[13] It contained a survey allowing Amazon to collect feedback to determine whether or not it was worthwhile to make the comic into a film.[13]

Amazon Studios had received more than 10,000 feature screenplay submissions as of September 2012[13] and 2,700 television pilots as of March 2013;[14] 23 films and 26 television series were in active development as of March 2013.[13][6] In late 2016, it reorganized its film division into Prime Movies.[15]

Logo of Amazon Studios, used from 2019 to 2023

On July 27, 2017, it was announced that, starting with the December 2017 release Wonder Wheel, Amazon Studios would be its own self-distributing company. Previously, Amazon Studios had relied on multiple external studios to distribute their projects.[16] The company also acquired global TV rights to The Lord of the Rings for $250 million.[17] However, Amazon still has external distribution clients outside of the United States, such as Elevation Pictures in Canada, as well as Warner Bros. and StudioCanal in the United Kingdom and France.

In April 2018, Amazon Studios announced that they would no longer accept open submissions of screenplays to limit the filmmakers they work with to those whom the studio has established working relationships with and turn away up-and-comers from pitching their projects, deeming them as "unsolicited material" and "not notable and talented enough to work with them."[18]

Acquisition of MGM and rebranding (2021–present)

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In May 2021, Amazon (parent company of Amazon Studios) entered negotiations to acquire Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). On May 26, 2021, it was announced that the studio would be acquired by Amazon for $8.45 billion, subject to regulatory approval, continuing to operate as a label alongside Amazon Studios and Amazon Prime Video.[3] Amazon will continue to partner with United Artists Releasing (MGM and Annapurna Pictures' joint distribution venture), which will continue to operate and release MGM titles theatrically "on a case-by-case basis."

In August 2021, it was reported that Steven Prinz signed an overall TV deal and a first-look deal with the studio.[19] In September 2021, it was reported that Brian Otaño had signed a deal with Amazon Studios.[20] Also in September, Eddie Murphy had signed a first-look film deal with Amazon Studios.[21]

In January 2022, Westbrook signed a multi-year first-look deal with Amazon Studios. That same month, Amazon Studios signed a ten-figure deal with 87North Productions.

In November 2022, it was announced that Jennifer Salke, in addition to Amazon Studios, will be given full control of MGM's film and television divisions, with Brearton stepping down as COO to become the Vice President of PVS Corporate Strategy for MGM+ and MGM Alternative Television.[22]

In December 2022, Intrepid Pictures signed a multi-year overall television deal with Amazon Studios.[23] The studio is one of the largest employers in Culver City with roughly 2,700 staffing their headquarters and production facilities.[24] In January 2023, Critical Role Productions signed a multi-year overall television and first-look film deal with Amazon Studios.[25]

In March 2023, it was announced in response to the decision to release Air into theaters worldwide instead of Prime Video, that Amazon had shut down United Artists Releasing and folded the distributor's operations into MGM, making Creed III the first film to be distributed by the latter studio itself under Amazon's ownership.[26] Also in March, Joe Quesada signed an exclusive first-look deal with Amazon Studios, and the studio also signed a multi-year first-look film deal with Imagine Entertainment.[27][28]

In May 2023, Amazon Studios created Amazon MGM Studios Distribution, an international film and television distribution unit for Amazon and MGM projects.[29] The distributor's first films were Saltburn, which premiered at the Telluride Film Festival on August 30, 2023, Sitting in Bars with Cake, which was released on Prime Video on September 8, 2023, and A Million Miles Away which was released on Prime Video on September 15, 2023, all 3 films were released through the MGM banner.[30][31] On October 4, 2023, Pablo Iacoviello, the studio's director of monetization for local originals, announced at the TV forum Iberseries & Platino Industria in Madrid that Amazon Studios would merge with MGM Holdings and would be renamed to Amazon MGM Studios itself to reflect this. This would also result in the on-screen 2016 animated Amazon Studios logo designed by Monster Creative being retired, with all film productions going forward, as of September 2023, opening with the 2021 MGM Leo the Lion logo designed by Baked Studios.[32]

In December 2023, Amazon MGM Studios secured a deal with Games Workshop, the creator of Warhammer 40,000, to adapt its characters and stories for film and television. The agreement, involving British actor Henry Cavill as an executive producer and actor, enables Amazon MGM to produce Warhammer 40,000 themed movies and TV shows.[33] In January 2024, Amazon announced hundreds of layoffs across Amazon MGM Studios, Prime Video and Twitch in order to "prioritize our investments for the long-term success of our business, while relentlessly focusing on what we know matters most to our customers," according to Mike Hopkins.[34] In March 2024, beginning with the Prime Video release of the remake of Road House, Amazon MGM Studios kicked off the centennial anniversary celebration of the founding of MGM with a "100 Years" logo variant that will appear on all films produced and released by the studio throughout the year.

In April 2024, Amazon MGM, in collaboration with Fandango at Home, Rotten Tomatoes and iTunes, offered customers a "100 Essential Movies" bundle of 100 films from the MGM library as part of the studio's centennial for a limited time.[35] That same month, they signed a three-year first-look deal with Jake Gyllenhaal's Nine Stories Productions banner, for which they will have a first look on films the latter company intends to produce for theatrical and streaming releases, including a film adaptation of the musical Fun Home.[36]

In July 2024, the company announced the revival of United Artists after more than a decade of dormancy as a label, entering a multi-year partnership with Scott Stuber, former Chief of Film at Netflix and Vice Chairman at Universal Pictures. Under the deal, Stuber will produce films under his newly formed production company for United Artists, with Stuber involved with all projects released by the freshly revived banner.[37]

In September 2024, it was announced that Amazon MGM and Prime Video would join the MPA as its seventh member starting October 1, the second non-studio to do so after Netflix in 2019; this would also mark a return to the MPA for MGM after it lost membership in 2005 following a buyout led by Sony Pictures.[38]

Accolades

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In 2015, Transparent was the first show produced by Amazon Studios to win a major award and the first show produced by a streaming media service to win the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy (a.k.a. "Golden Globe for Best Series").[39]

In 2017, for Manchester by the Sea, Amazon Studios became the first streaming media service to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture;[40] the film was nominated for a total of six Academy Awards, winning two: Best Actor for Casey Affleck and Best Original Screenplay for Kenneth Lonergan.

The film The Salesman (2016) won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film; it was directed by Asghar Farhadi and distributed in the US by Amazon Studios.[41]

In 2018, the period comedy-drama television series The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, starring Rachel Brosnahan, won two Golden Globe Awards (Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy and Best Actress – Musical or Comedy for Brosnahan) and five Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series and Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series for Brosnahan.

United Artists Releasing's Women Talking earned a nomination for Best Picture at the 95th Academy Awards and won the award for Best Adapted Screenplay.

In 2023, Orion Pictures' American Fiction earned Amazon MGM Studios its first win for the People's Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival following the studio's rebrand.[42] The film went on to receive five nominations at the 96th Academy Awards; including Best Picture, and won the award for Best Adapted Screenplay.[43]

Assets

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See also: MGM Holdings § Assets

Film production and distribution

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Logos of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, United Artists, and Orion Pictures, the studio's primary film units.

Television

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  • MGM Television
    • MGM Alternative Television
    • MGM International Television
    • MGM On Demand
    • MGM/UA Television
  • Big Fish Entertainment LLC
    • Half Moon Pictures
  • Evolution Media (Evolution Film & Tape, Inc.)
  • Gato Grande Productions (joint venture with Mexican entrepreneurs Miguel Aleman and Antonio Cué)
  • Lightworkers Media
  • Orion Television

Channels

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Others

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Productions library

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Further information: List of libraries owned by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Television series

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Main articles: List of Amazon Prime Video original programming, List of ended Amazon Prime Video original programming, and List of MGM Television programs

Films

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Main articles: List of Amazon MGM Studios films and List of Amazon Prime Video original films

References

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  1. ^ Lumb, David (February 10, 2018). "NBC's Jennifer Salke is the new Amazon Studios chief". Engadget. Archived from the original on April 4, 2019. Retrieved February 15, 2018. Her predecessor, Roy Price, resigned in October 2017
  2. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (17 October 2016). "Amazon Studios Comedy Chief Joe Lewis Adds Drama Oversight, Morgan Wandell To Head International Productions". Deadline. Archived from the original on 8 November 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  3. ^ a b Spangler, Todd; Lang, Brent (May 26, 2021). "Amazon Buys MGM, Studio Behind James Bond, for $8.45 Billion". Variety. Archived from the original on January 25, 2022. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
  4. ^ Perez, Sarah (May 2, 2012). "Amazon Studios Now Funding Original Content Series For Amazon Video Service". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on April 19, 2019. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  5. ^ "FAQ". Studios.Amazon.com. Archived from the original on 2018-01-19. Retrieved 2018-02-05.
  6. ^ a b Moyer, Edward (June 23, 2012). "Amazon's 'Studios' effort picks first TV shows to develop". CNET. Archived from the original on June 24, 2012. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
  7. ^ West, Kelly (May 2, 2012). "Amazon Studios Invites TV Writers To Submit Comedy And Children's Series Ideas". Cinema Blend. Archived from the original on May 4, 2012. Retrieved May 2, 2012.
  8. ^ Graser, Marc (February 21, 2008). "Amazon, Fox nursing 'Stolen '". Variety. Archived from the original on February 26, 2008. Retrieved February 21, 2008.
  9. ^ "Amazon Studios acquiring Spike Lee film as its 1st release". The Denver Post. The Associated Press. July 15, 2015. Archived from the original on July 16, 2015. Retrieved July 15, 2015.
  10. ^ Barnes, Henry (2015-07-16). "Spike Lee's Chiraq gets Amazon release – and Oscars push". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 2018-02-28. Retrieved 2018-02-27.
  11. ^ Kharpal, Arjun (2015-07-16). "Spike Lee directs Amazon's first ever movie". CNBC. Archived from the original on 2018-02-28. Retrieved 2018-02-27.
  12. ^ Stone, Brad (2021). Amazon unbound: Jeff Bezos and the invention of a global empire. New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 143. ISBN 978-1-9821-3261-3.
  13. ^ a b c d Fritz, Ben (September 12, 2012). "Amazon Studios going into comics". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 22, 2012. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
  14. ^ Vanderbilt, Tom (March 28, 2013). "The Nielsen Family Is Dead". Wired. Archived from the original on March 28, 2013. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
  15. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (17 October 2016). "Amazon Studios Comedy Chief Joe Lewis Adds Drama Oversight, Morgan Wandell To Head International Productions". Deadline. Archived from the original on 16 June 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  16. ^ "Amazon Moves Into Self-Distribution With Woody Allen's 'Wonder Wheel' (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. 27 July 2017. Archived from the original on 10 September 2017. Retrieved 29 September 2017.
  17. ^ "Amazon's $1bn bet on Lord of the Rings shows scale of its TV ambition". The Guardian. November 21, 2017. Archived from the original on October 10, 2020. Retrieved October 18, 2020.
  18. ^ Spangler, Todd (April 14, 2018). "Amazon Studios Shuts Down Open Script-Submission Program". Variety. Archived from the original on November 8, 2018. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  19. ^ Otterson, Joe (2021-08-17). "Amazon Inks Overall TV Deal, First-Look Film Deal With Development Executive Steven Prinz". Variety. Archived from the original on 2021-08-18. Retrieved 2021-08-18.
  20. ^ Cordero, Rosy (2021-09-01). "Amazon Studios Inks Overall Deal with TV Scribe & Playwright Brian Otaño". Deadline. Archived from the original on 2021-09-02. Retrieved 2021-09-02.
  21. ^ D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 22, 2021). "Eddie Murphy Signs Three-Picture & First-Look Film Deal With Amazon Studios". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 22, 2021. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  22. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (30 November 2022). "Amazon's Jennifer Salke Gains Control of MGM Film, TV Operations". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  23. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (December 1, 2022). "'The Haunting' & 'Midnight Mass' Duo Mike Flanagan & Trevor Macy Ink Overall TV Deal With Amazon Studios". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 5, 2022. Retrieved December 5, 2022.
  24. ^ Sakoui, Anousha (December 7, 2022). "Amazon Studios unveils massive virtual production stage, deepening ties to Culver City". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2022-12-12. Retrieved 2022-12-12.
  25. ^ Petski, Denise (January 25, 2023). "Amazon Studios Inks Overall TV & First-Look Film Deal With Critical Role, Sets 'Mighty Nein' Animated Series As First Project". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 25, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2023.
  26. ^ McClintock, Pamela (March 5, 2023). "Box Office: Michael B. Jordan's 'Creed III' Wins Title With Historic $58.6M Opening". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 4, 2023. Retrieved March 5, 2023.
  27. ^ Cordero, Rosy (March 30, 2023). "Amazon Studios Signs Marvel's Former EIC Joe Quesada To Exclusive First-Look Deal". Deadline Hollywood.
  28. ^ Vlessing, Etan (March 31, 2023). "Imagine Moves First-Look Deal From Apple to Amazon". The Hollywood Reporter.
  29. ^ Whittock, Jesse (May 8, 2023). "Amazon MGM Studios Distribution To Launch At LA Screenings". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on May 8, 2023. Retrieved May 10, 2023.
  30. ^ Cordero, Rosy (September 22, 2022). "'Sitting In Bars With Cake': Bette Midler, Ron Livingston, Aaron Dominguez & Rish Shah Among 12 Rounding Out Cast Of Amazon Rom-Com".
  31. ^ Debruge, Peter (2023-09-01). "Saltburn Review: A Vicious Talented Mr. Ripley' Knockoff From the Director of Promising Young Woman". Variety. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  32. ^ de la Fuente, Anne Marie (October 3, 2023). "Amazon Studios Now Called Amazon MGM Studios, Executive Pablo Iacoviello Reveals in Iberseries Keynote". Variety. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  33. ^ "Amazon to make Warhammer 40,000 shows and movies". BBC News. 2023-12-19. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  34. ^ Weprin, Alex (10 January 2024). "Amazon Cutting Hundreds of Jobs at Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
  35. ^ Sharpe, Josh. "Fandango at Home and Rotten Tomatoes Celebrate MGM with 100 Film Collection". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  36. ^ Galuppo, Mia (2024-04-02). "Jake Gyllenhaal's Nine Stories Signs First-Look Deal with Amazon MGM". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2024-05-17.
  37. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr (26 July 2024). "Scott Stuber Closes Deal To Revive United Artists". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  38. ^ Johnson, Ted (19 September 2024). "MPA Adds Amazon Prime Video and MGM Studios As Newest Member". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 19 September 2024.
  39. ^ "Amazon.com Announces Fourth Quarter Sales Up 15% to $29.33 Billion" (XBRL). United States Securities and Exchange Commission. January 29, 2015. Archived from the original on March 12, 2019. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
  40. ^ "The Snubs and Surprises of the 2017 Oscar Nominations". Vulture. 24 January 2017. Archived from the original on 1 October 2021. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  41. ^ Jaafar, Ali; Fleming, Mike Jr. (May 18, 2016). "Amazon Acquires Asghar Farhadi's 'The Salesman', Partnering With Cohen Media Group On Domestic – Cannes". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 31, 2020. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  42. ^ "'American Fiction' wins People's Choice award at Toronto Film Festival". AP News. 2023-09-17. Retrieved 2024-01-04.
  43. ^ "Oscars 2024: The complete list of winners at the 96th Academy Awards". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-06-18.
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