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Amazon MGM Studios

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Amazon MGM Studios,formerlyAmazon Studios,is an Americanfilmandtelevisionproductionanddistributionstudio owned byAmazonlaunched in 2010. It took its current name in May 2023 following its merger withMGM Holdings,which Amazon had acquired the year prior.[3]

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
Footnotes / references
[1][2]

Productions from this studio, as of September 2023, are primarily distributed throughmovie theatersunder theMetro-Goldwyn-Mayerlabel and Amazon's ownstreaming mediaservice,Amazon Prime Video.[4]

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 intofilm production,producing the filmThe Stolen Childwith20th Century Studios.[8]In July 2015, Amazon announced it had acquiredSpike 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" byJeff 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 releaseWonder 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 toThe Lord of the Ringsfor $250 million.[17]However, Amazon still has external distribution clients outside of the United States, such asElevation Picturesin Canada, as well asWarner Bros.andStudioCanalin 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 acquireMetro-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 andAmazon Prime Video.[3]Amazon will continue to partner withUnited Artists Releasing(MGM andAnnapurna 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 Murphyhad signed a first-look film deal with Amazon Studios.[21]

In January 2022,Westbrooksigned a multi-year first-look deal with Amazon Studios. That same month, Amazon Studios signed a ten-figure deal with87North 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 forMGM+and MGM Alternative Television.[22]

In December 2022,Intrepid Picturessigned 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 Productionssigned 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 releaseAirinto theaters worldwide instead of Prime Video, that Amazon had shut down United Artists Releasing and folded the distributor's operations into MGM, makingCreed IIIthe first film to be distributed by the latter studio itself under Amazon's ownership.[26]Also in March,Joe Quesadasigned an exclusive first-look deal with Amazon Studios, and the studio also signed a multi-year first-look film deal withImagine Entertainment.[27][28]

In May 2023, Amazon Studios created Amazon MGM Studios Distribution, an internationalfilm and television distributionunit for Amazon and MGM projects.[29]The distributor's first films wereSaltburn,which premiered at theTelluride Film Festivalon August 30, 2023,Sitting in Bars with Cake,which was released on Prime Video on September 8, 2023, andA Million Miles Awaywhich 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 inMadridthat Amazon Studios would merge withMGM Holdingsand 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 MGMLeo the Lionlogo designed by Baked Studios.[32]

In December 2023, Amazon MGM Studios secured a deal withGames Workshop,the creator ofWarhammer 40,000,to adapt its characters and stories for film and television. The agreement, involving British actorHenry Cavillas an executive producer and actor, enables Amazon MGM to produceWarhammer 40,000themed movies and TV shows.[33]In January 2024, Amazon announced hundreds of layoffs across Amazon MGM Studios, Prime Video andTwitchin 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 ofRoad House,Amazon MGM Studios kicked off thecentennial anniversarycelebration 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 withFandango at Home,Rotten TomatoesandiTunes,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 withJake Gyllenhaal'sNine Stories Productionsbanner, 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 musicalFun Home.[36]

In July 2024, the company announced the revival ofUnited Artistsafter more than a decade of dormancy as a label, entering a multi-year partnership withScott Stuber,former Chief of Film atNetflixand Vice Chairman atUniversal 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]

Accolades

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In 2015,Transparentwas the first show produced by Amazon Studios to win a major award and the first show produced by astreaming mediaservice to win theGolden Globe Award for Best Television Series – Musical or Comedy(a.k.a. "Golden Globe for Best Series" ).[38]

In 2017, forManchester by the Sea,Amazon Studios became the first streaming media service to be nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Picture;[39]the film was nominated for a total of sixAcademy Awards,winning two:Best ActorforCasey AffleckandBest Original ScreenplayforKenneth Lonergan.

The filmThe Salesman(2016) won theAcademy Award for Best Foreign Language Film;it was directed byAsghar Farhadiand distributed in the US by Amazon Studios.[40]

In 2018, theperiodcomedy-dramatelevision seriesThe Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,starringRachel Brosnahan,won twoGolden Globe Awards(Best Television Series – Musical or ComedyandBest Actress – Musical or Comedyfor Brosnahan) and fivePrimetime Emmy Awards,includingOutstanding Comedy SeriesandOutstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Seriesfor Brosnahan.

United Artists Releasing'sWomen Talkingearned a nomination for Best Picture at the95th Academy Awardsand won the award forBest Adapted Screenplay.

In 2023,Orion Pictures'American Fictionearned Amazon MGM Studios its first win for thePeople's Choice Awardat theToronto International Film Festivalfollowing the studio's rebrand.[41]The film went on to receive five nominations at the96th Academy Awards;including Best Picture, and won the award for Best Adapted Screenplay.[42]

Assets

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See also:MGM Holdings § Assets

Film production and distribution

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Logos ofMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer,United Artists,andOrion 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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  • MGM+
    • MGM+ Marquee
    • MGM+ Hits
    • MGM+ Drive-In
    • MGM+ On Demand
  • ScreenPix
    • ScreenPix Action
    • ScreenPix Westerns
    • ScreenPix Voices
    • ScreenPix On Demand
  • Impact(joint venture withComcast)
  • Telecine(Brazilian joint venture withCanais Globo,Walt Disney Studios,Paramount PicturesandUniversal Pictures)
    • Telecine Action
    • Telecine Cult
    • Telecine Fun
    • Telecine Pipoca
    • Telecine Premium
    • Telecine Touch
    • Telecine Productions
    • Telecine On Demand
    • Telecine Play
  • MGM Sci-Fi (Roku linear channel)

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,andList of MGM Television programs

Films

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Main articles:List of Amazon MGM Studios filmsandList 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.Archivedfrom the original on April 4, 2019.RetrievedFebruary 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.Archivedfrom the original on 8 November 2021.Retrieved19 February2020.
  3. ^abSpangler, Todd; Lang, Brent (May 26, 2021)."Amazon Buys MGM, Studio Behind James Bond, for $8.45 Billion".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on January 25, 2022.RetrievedMay 26,2021.
  4. ^Perez, Sarah (May 2, 2012)."Amazon Studios Now Funding Original Content Series For Amazon Video Service".TechCrunch.Archivedfrom the original on April 19, 2019.RetrievedMay 2,2012.
  5. ^"FAQ".Studios.Amazon.Archivedfrom the original on 2018-01-19.Retrieved2018-02-05.
  6. ^abMoyer, Edward (June 23, 2012)."Amazon's 'Studios' effort picks first TV shows to develop".CNET.Archivedfrom the original on June 24, 2012.RetrievedJune 23,2012.
  7. ^West, Kelly (May 2, 2012)."Amazon Studios Invites TV Writers To Submit Comedy And Children's Series Ideas".Cinema Blend.Archivedfrom the original on May 4, 2012.RetrievedMay 2,2012.
  8. ^Graser, Marc (February 21, 2008)."Amazon, Fox nursing 'Stolen '".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on February 26, 2008.RetrievedFebruary 21,2008.
  9. ^"Amazon Studios acquiring Spike Lee film as its 1st release".The Denver Post.The Associated Press.July 15, 2015. Archived fromthe originalon July 16, 2015.RetrievedJuly 15,2015.
  10. ^Barnes, Henry (2015-07-16)."Spike Lee's Chiraq gets Amazon release – and Oscars push".The Guardian.Archivedfrom the original on 2018-02-28.Retrieved2018-02-27.
  11. ^Kharpal, Arjun (2015-07-16)."Spike Lee directs Amazon's first ever movie".CNBC.Archivedfrom the original on 2018-02-28.Retrieved2018-02-27.
  12. ^Stone, Brad (2021).Amazon unbound: Jeff Bezos and the invention of a global empire.New York: Simon & Schuster. p. 143.ISBN978-1-9821-3261-3.
  13. ^abcdFritz, Ben (September 12, 2012)."Amazon Studios going into comics".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on September 22, 2012.RetrievedSeptember 12,2012.
  14. ^Vanderbilt, Tom (March 28, 2013)."The Nielsen Family Is Dead".Wired.Archivedfrom the original on March 28, 2013.RetrievedMarch 28,2013.
  15. ^Andreeva, Nellie (17 October 2016)."Amazon Studios Comedy Chief Joe Lewis Adds Drama Oversight, Morgan Wandell To Head International Productions".Deadline.Archivedfrom the original on 16 June 2020.Retrieved19 February2020.
  16. ^"Amazon Moves Into Self-Distribution With Woody Allen's 'Wonder Wheel' (EXCLUSIVE)".Variety.27 July 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 10 September 2017.Retrieved29 September2017.
  17. ^"Amazon's $1bn bet on Lord of the Rings shows scale of its TV ambition".The Guardian.November 21, 2017.Archivedfrom the original on October 10, 2020.RetrievedOctober 18,2020.
  18. ^Spangler, Todd (April 14, 2018)."Amazon Studios Shuts Down Open Script-Submission Program".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on November 8, 2018.RetrievedNovember 8,2018.
  19. ^Otterson, Joe (2021-08-17)."Amazon Inks Overall TV Deal, First-Look Film Deal With Development Executive Steven Prinz".Variety.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-08-18.Retrieved2021-08-18.
  20. ^Cordero, Rosy (2021-09-01)."Amazon Studios Inks Overall Deal with TV Scribe & Playwright Brian Otaño".Deadline.Archivedfrom the original on 2021-09-02.Retrieved2021-09-02.
  21. ^D'Alessandro, Anthony (September 22, 2021)."Eddie Murphy Signs Three-Picture & First-Look Film Deal With Amazon Studios".Deadline Hollywood.Archivedfrom the original on September 22, 2021.RetrievedSeptember 22,2021.
  22. ^"Amazon's Jennifer Salke Gains Control of MGM Film, TV Operations".The Hollywood Reporter.30 November 2022.Archivedfrom the original on 30 November 2022.Retrieved30 November2022.
  23. ^Andreeva, Nellie (December 1, 2022)."'The Haunting' & 'Midnight Mass' Duo Mike Flanagan & Trevor Macy Ink Overall TV Deal With Amazon Studios ".Deadline Hollywood.Archivedfrom the original on December 5, 2022.RetrievedDecember 5,2022.
  24. ^Sakoui, Anousha (December 7, 2022)."Amazon Studios unveils massive virtual production stage, deepening ties to Culver City".Los Angeles Times.Archivedfrom the original on 2022-12-12.Retrieved2022-12-12.
  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.Archivedfrom the original on January 25, 2023.RetrievedJanuary 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.Archivedfrom the original on March 4, 2023.RetrievedMarch 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.Archivedfrom the original on May 8, 2023.RetrievedMay 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)."SaltburnReview: A ViciousTalented Mr. Ripley' Knockoff From the Director ofPromising Young Woman".Variety.Retrieved2023-09-01.
  32. ^de la Fuente, Anne Marie (October 3, 2023)."Amazon Studios Now Called Amazon MGM Studios, Executive Pablo Iacoviello Reveals in Iberseries Keynote".Variety.RetrievedOctober 3,2023.
  33. ^"Amazon to make Warhammer 40,000 shows and movies".BBC News.2023-12-19.Retrieved2023-12-19.
  34. ^Weprin, Alex (10 January 2024)."Amazon Cutting Hundreds of Jobs at Prime Video and Amazon MGM Studios".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved11 January2024.
  35. ^Sharpe, Josh."Fandango at Home and Rotten Tomatoes Celebrate MGM with 100 Film Collection".BroadwayWorld.Retrieved2024-05-17.
  36. ^Galuppo, Mia (2024-04-02)."Jake Gyllenhaal's Nine Stories Signs First-Look Deal with Amazon MGM".The Hollywood Reporter.Retrieved2024-05-17.
  37. ^Fleming, Mike Jr (26 July 2024)."Scott Stuber Closes Deal To Revive United Artists".Deadline Hollywood.Retrieved26 July2024.
  38. ^"Amazon Announces Fourth Quarter Sales Up 15% to $29.33 Billion"(XBRL).United States Securities and Exchange Commission.January 29, 2015.Archivedfrom the original on March 12, 2019.RetrievedAugust 27,2017.
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  40. ^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.Archivedfrom the original on December 31, 2020.RetrievedAugust 10,2019.
  41. ^"'American Fiction' wins People's Choice award at Toronto Film Festival ".AP News.2023-09-17.Retrieved2024-01-04.
  42. ^"Oscars 2024: The complete list of winners at the 96th Academy Awards".Al Jazeera.Retrieved2024-06-18.
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