Amazon Studios has been creeping into the movie theatres in the last few years, through its investment in award-winning indie hits like The Big Sick and Manchester by the Sea.
Following their cinematic runs, those low-budget movies have become a selling point for the company’s Prime Video service.
However, now it seems the company is looking to broaden its appeal by investing in more commercial blockbusters.
A Reuters report says the company is perusing Prime Video content capable of attracting a far wider audience.
Instead of snapping up films with budgets as low as $5 million, the company will chase movies with $50 million budgets.
Related: Netflix vs Amazon
The report says Amazon is still hoping to procure high-end independent movies in the search for awards.
However, a person familiar with the matter, said the firm recently turned down low-budget projects that were similar in stature to The Big Sick, which is performing well during awards season and widely tipped for Oscar nods.
The change in tack is also being felt among the TV projects Amazon is pursuing. The studio is paying a reported $250m for the rights to a TV series based on The Lord of the Rings.
The multi-series prequel will focus on previously unadapted Tolkien works.
Today’s report follows Netflix’s push into self-produced big budget movies. The firm reportedly spent $90 million on Bright, starring Will Smith. However, that film has taken a critical pasting.
Would you prefer Amazon to stick with indie hits, rather than go down the Netflix route? Let us know @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
