While autonomous is a big word to use in regards to MGM’s addition to Amazon, we’re told that the shopping site/streamer’s m.o. toward its new studio acquisition is that if business is working, don’t mess with it. MGM via UAR grossed over $323M at the domestic box office last year, its biggest pics being Bond movie No Time to Die with $160.8M, and what is still the highest grossing adult-dramatic movie of the pandemic, House of Gucci with $53.8M. All in, No Time to Die made over $774M WW, of which Universal handled the overseas distribution and marketing. Of late, MGM/UAR’s Channing Tatum movie Dog, geared at female audiences, has been a box office sleeper with $50.1M to date. There are at least eight to ten theatrical releases planned for MGM/UAR this year. Amazon hasn’t distributed a movie for quite some time adhering to a theatrical window; most of their titles over the last two years have debuted on Prime and in select cinemas on the same weekend with grosses going unreported to the press.
We’re hearing that those movies in production or nearing production will continue to do so; however, it’s still TBD regarding those movies that are still in development.
De Luca and Burnett were also in attendance at the MGM town halls; Salke and COO Albert Cheng were present at the Amazon one. During the MGM meeting, it was a welcomed tone, with sizzle reels played from upcoming Amazon and MGM product, and a lot of excitement generated about the two companies coming together. Similarly, the brief Amazon Studios presentation welcomed MGM staffers to the company and showed an MGM trailer. Resources for staffers on both sides were listed for them to ask questions related to the acquisition.
