Amazon buys MGM for $8.45 billion, plans to 'reimagine' films and shows
The studio behind the James Bond series is getting a new owner: the name's Bezos. Jeff Bezos.
Amazon announced Wednesday it's acquiring Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for $8.45 billion, the company's second-largest acquisition ever behind its purchase of Whole Foods for $13.7 billion, Variety reports. The deal is still subject to regulatory approval.
Founded in 1924, MGM is the studio behind film franchises like Rocky and, most notably, the James Bond series, as well as TV shows like The Handmaid's Tale. MGM's upcoming movies also include Ridley Scott's House of Gucci and the next film from Paul Thomas Anderson. Amazon on Wednesday touted the studio's "vast catalog" of films from 12 Angry Men to Legally Blonde, citing plans to dig into the library and "reimagine" certain properties.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
"The real financial value behind this deal is the treasure trove of [intellectual property] in the deep catalog that we plan to reimagine and develop together with MGM's talented team," Mike Hopkins, Senior Vice President of Prime Video and Amazon Studios, said. "It's very exciting and provides so many opportunities for high-quality storytelling."
This is just the latest example of a multibillion dollar merger involving a company hoping to gain an advantage in the ongoing streaming wars, and The New York Times wrote that by buying MGM, Amazon will be "bolstering Prime Video at a time when the biggest old-line studios are becoming less willing to license their libraries to outside streaming services."
The deal comes less than five months before the highly-anticipated next Bond film, No Time to Die, is set to debut in the United States. But Variety previously reported that insiders believe Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, who have creative control over the Bond series via their company Eon Productions, would "likely nix any plans to debut Bond films on Amazon's streaming service Prime Video and would insist on a theatrical release."
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
Swiss bliss: Chenot Palace Weggis takes wellness to the next level
The Blend Heath retreat on Switzerland's Lake Lucerne offers a mid-winter reset
By Felix Bischof Published
-
Earth's mini-moon was the moon all along
Under the radar More lunar rocks are likely floating in space
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: February 4, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Chinese AI chatbot's rise slams US tech stocks
Speed Read The sudden popularity of a new AI chatbot from Chinese startup DeepSeek has sent U.S. tech stocks tumbling
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US port strike averted with tentative labor deal
Speed Read The strike could have shut down major ports from Texas to Maine
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden expected to block Japanese bid for US Steel
Speed Read The president is blocking the $14 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel by Japan's Nippon Steel, citing national security concerns
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judges block $25B Kroger-Albertsons merger
Speed Read The proposed merger between the supermarket giants was stalled when judges overseeing two separate cases blocked the deal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Rupert Murdoch loses 'Succession' court battle
Speed Read Murdoch wanted to give full control of his empire to son Lachlan, ensuring Fox News' right-wing editorial slant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Bitcoin surges above $100k in post-election rally
Speed Read Investors are betting that the incoming Trump administration will embrace crypto
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Enron mystery: 'sick joke' or serious revival?
Speed Read 23 years after its bankruptcy filing, the Texas energy firm has announced its resurrection
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
US charges Indian tycoon with bribery, fraud
Speed Read Indian billionaire Gautam Adani has been indicted by US prosecutors for his role in a $265 million scheme to secure solar energy deals
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published