What is Amazon Studios in 2026? Everything You Need to Know About How This Major Studio Operates

Hey friend! Have you heard of shows like The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Boys, or The Wheel of Time? What about movies like The Big Sick, Manchester by the Sea, or Coming 2 America?

Well, you may be surprised to learn that the company behind these hit films and series is none other than Amazon!

That‘s right – in addition to delivering packages, Amazon has a major television and movie studio division called Amazon Studios. This studio develops and produces original content exclusively for Amazon‘s streaming service, Prime Video.

If you want all the details on how Amazon Studios works in 2024, what shows they make, how much they spend, whether you can pitch ideas, and more, then you‘re in the right place. Keep reading for a full breakdown!

A Quick History of Amazon Studios

First, let‘s do a quick rundown of how Amazon Studios started:

• Founded in 2010 by Roy Price, a former Disney executive
• Original model: Allowed open submissions from anyone, with pilots chosen by viewers
• Early strategy: Largely crowdsourced development with open script submissions
• Shift in 2015: Closed submissions, moved to in-house development model
• Now: Operates like a traditional studio, with exclusive, big-budget productions

This shift to producing premium originals seems to be paying off. In 2022, Amazon Studios received over 150 Emmy nominations – proof they‘ve established themselves as a creative force!

What Types of Movies and Shows Does Amazon Studios Make?

These days, Amazon Studios develops and produces movies, TV shows, and documentaries exclusively for its Prime Video streaming service.

According to Ampere Analysis, Amazon plans to release around 30 original movies per year. Plus, they‘re expanding their roster of original series every month.

Some examples of their hit shows in production include:

• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel – This comedy-drama about a 1950s housewife turned comedian has won 16 Emmys to date!

• The Boys – A subversive superhero series that satirizes mainstream superhero franchises. It was Prime Video‘s second most-watched show of 2022.

• The Wheel of Time – An epic fantasy based on Robert Jordan‘s novels. The first season had over 1.16 billion minutes streamed worldwide!

• The Terminal List – An action-thriller drama starring Chris Pratt that was watched for over 1.6 billion minutes in its first 5 weeks – a record debut for Prime Video.

On the film side, Amazon Studios has produced movies in many genres like:

• Manchester by the Sea (2016) – A somber, acclaimed drama starring Casey Affleck that earned 6 Oscar nominations.

• The Big Sick (2017) – A hit rom-com starring Kumail Nanjiani and produced by Judd Apatow.

• Brittany Runs a Marathon (2019) – A feel-good comedy starring Jillian Bell.

• The Tomorrow War (2021) – A sci-fi thriller with Chris Pratt that became a #1 streaming hit.

It‘s clear Amazon is willing to take risks on unique stories and concepts. They‘ve also had success acquiring splashy titles like Borat Subsequent Moviefilm and The Tomorrow War to complement their original projects.

By combining buzzy originals with established IP, Amazon Studios offers something for every viewer and keeps audiences engaged.

How Does Amazon Studios Actually Make Money?

You might be wondering – how does spending big on pricey shows and films make financial sense for Amazon?

Well, Amazon Studios in itself is not designed to turn a profit directly. The central goal is to drive more subscriptions to Amazon Prime, where members get access to Prime Video.

As Forbes contributor Scott Mendelson explains:

"Amazon Studios isn’t trying to make money from theaters or streaming rentals and downloads. Nor are they trying to sell ad space on Prime Video. The films and shows are, first and foremost, enticements to either get folks to subscribe to Amazon Prime or not unsubscribe from the service."

More Prime members equals more revenue for Amazon through membership fees, purchases on Amazon.com, etc.

But you‘re probably thinking – just how much does Amazon spend on content? Let‘s break it down:

• In 2021 alone, Amazon spent $13 billion on content for Prime Video and music streaming. That‘s up 40% from 2020!
• For 2022, analysts estimate Amazon will spend over $15 billion on content.
• Comparatively, Netflix spent $17 billion in 2021 and Disney+ spent $8-9 billion.

That‘s a huge content budget! But Amazon keeps expanding it because each buzzworthy original like The Boys brings in new Prime subscribers.

According to Consumer Intelligence Research Partners, Amazon Prime had around 172 million members worldwide as of April 2022. So whatever Amazon is doing, it‘s working!

Step-By-Step: How Does Amazon Develop Original Content?

I‘m sure you‘re curious about the process Amazon Studios uses to find, develop, and produce all these original movies and shows!

Here‘s a quick step-by-step rundown:

1. Creative team generates ideas: Internal teams brainstorm concepts and commission scripts from established writers.

2. Scripts and proposals evaluated: Development execs review proposals and provide notes to create the strongest projects.

3. Pilots and research: For some series, Amazon produces a pilot episode to test the concept before approving a full season.

4. Series pickup: If research and data support the project, Amazon greenlights a full season with a budget.

5. Casting: For new series, the casting process starts to attach stars and talent.

6. Production: Amazon partners with production companies to produce the full series over several months.

7. Marketing and distribution: Trailers, ads, and PR drum up anticipation before the release on Prime Video.

8. Analysis and renewal: Based on viewership and reception, Amazon decides whether to renew a show for more seasons.

So in summary, Amazon develops originals like any major studio – through extensive research, testing, and iteration guided by data. Of course, having an endless content budget helps!

How Many Awards Has Amazon Studios Won?

A sure sign that Amazon Studios has cemented its status in Hollywood is the number of awards its original content has won already.

Some examples:

• Fleabag won 6 Emmys and a Golden Globe for Season 2.

• The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has won 16 Emmys and 3 Golden Globes to date.

• Manchester by the Sea earned two Oscars and over 220 other awards.

• Cold War (2018) won 3 Academy Awards, including Best Director.

In total, Amazon Studios productions have won 48 Emmy Awards, along with Oscars, Golden Globes, and more. And they rack up new nominations every year, establishing Amazon as an awards season powerhouse.

So even though they‘re a "newer" studio, it‘s clear Amazon is already producing content that appeals to audiences and critics alike.

Does Amazon Studios Accept Open Submissions?

Now, you may be wondering:

"What if I have an amazing idea for a show or movie? Can I just submit my idea directly to Amazon Studios?"

Unfortunately, at this point, Amazon Studios does not accept open submissions of any kind.

They briefly had an open submission policy from 2010-2018 where anyone could submit scripts, pilots and full proposals for consideration. However, only a handful of projects made it to air.

Some reasons they likely ended open submissions:

• Harder to find quality projects efficiently when accepting so many blind submissions
• Reading through thousands of scripts was time-consuming
• Without reputation, submissions were inherently riskier

Instead, today Amazon develops projects from:

• In-house ideas: Creative execs and internal teams generate ideas

• Experienced creators: Established writers, directors, producers pitch concepts

• Production partners: Companies with Amazon deals like Blumhouse and Legendary Pictures

So in 2024, you can no longer directly submit scripts or ideas to Amazon, unfortunately. The best bet to get your project made by Amazon Studios is teaming up with a producer, production company, or entertainment attorney who can advocate for your idea.

But the fact that Amazon empowers experienced artists with huge budgets shows they still take bold creative risks – just with industry veterans at the helm!

Where Are the Amazon Studios Offices Located?

You may be wondering where exactly the Amazon Studios team operates.

The headquarters and main offices are located in Culver City, California on the historic Culver Studios lot.

Fun fact: The Culver Studios has been used for movie and TV productions since 1918, well before Amazon existed!

Some shows filmed on this lot include _The Matrix Reloaded, Westworld, _and The Heartbreak Kid.

Amazon Studios moved onto the Culver City lot in 2017 and now occupies:

• A 280,000 square foot space

• The historic Culver Studios Mansion

• The original Bungalows

In addition to Amazon Studios, this LA location houses:

• IMDb offices

• Prime Video offices

• Amazon‘s consumer division

There are around 700 Amazon employees total on this studio lot!

Amazon Studios also has a European production hub based in London, UK.

How Many Employees Work at Amazon Studios?

Currently, Amazon Studios employs around 225 development executives, creative execs, writers, producers and support staff.

The majority of these employees are based in the Los Angeles headquarters. Others work out of Amazon Studios‘ London office to manage European productions and talent.

Some key executives and leadership at Amazon Studios include:

• Jennifer Salke – Head of Amazon Studios

• Vernon Sanders – Television Co-Head

• Albert Cheng – COO and Television Co-Head

• Julie Rapaport – Co-Head of Movies

• Ted Hope – Co-Head of Movies

• Joseph Patel – VP of Development

As Amazon Studios continues growing its content slate, they‘ll need to keep expanding their ranks by hiring writers, production coordinators, marketers, and other roles.

Exciting time to join a studio on the rise!

When Was Amazon Studios First Founded?

Amazon Studios was first founded in late 2010 by Roy Price, a former Disney executive.

Price led the studio for its first five years. Early on, Amazon Studios tried a crowdsourced development model where they‘d accept open script submissions.

After uneven results, they shifted to more traditional in-house development led by experienced Hollywood veterans.

In just over a decade after launch, Amazon Studios has quickly evolved into a respected producer of premium films and shows – quite an impressive feat!

The Bottom Line

There you have it – the full lowdown on Amazon Studios in 2024!

To quickly recap:

• Founded in 2010, now creates prestige originals for Prime Video

• Makes about 30 movies and many shows per year with a huge budget

• Operates like a traditional studio led by industry veterans

• Doesn‘t accept open submissions – develops projects in-house

• Has already won tons of awards, aiming for more!

So while Amazon Studios no longer sources unknown creators, they empower proven talent to bring ambitious projects to life for global audiences.

I hope this overview gave you a peek inside how Amazon now competes creatively in Hollywood. And next time you watch an original movie on Prime Video, you‘ll know Amazon Studios is the talent behind the camera!

Let me know if you have any other questions!