Highlights
- Amazon Prime Video has added a slew of DC movies to its catalog, including classics like Batman (1989), Joker, and Wonder Woman, in addition to new releases like The Batman.
- This move by Prime Video is seen as a bold step in the right direction, as streaming platforms adapt to maximize fan interest and profits, unlike Disney's focus on prioritizing its own IP.
- Despite the new DC additions, Prime Video still needs to work on its original content, as evidenced by the disappointing reception of Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which was a major investment for the company.
Several DC movies were added to Amazon Prime Video's catalog to bolster its already stacked offerings. Some of the additions, which were added without much extra fanfare, are considered classics by many.
Prime Video is one of the oldest streaming services, having existed in some form or the other since 2006, with its modern iteration offering a wide range of exclusive content from Amazon, MGM Studios, projects licensed as Amazon Originals, content from other providers, live sports services, special content, and more. The platform even hosts some foreign content and is one of the best sites for streaming anime online, in addition to its robust contemporary content library.
With the streaming business in flux and streamers working on new strategies to maximize fan interest and profits, Prime Video has taken what fans might call a step in the right direction. The streamer adding a slew of DC titles, both from the near-defunct DCEU and beyond, to its content library alongside its promised new additions for September, which includes a whooping 320+ film titles, as confirmed by ComicBook. Most titles joining the Prime Video roster aren’t exclusive, as they won’t leave their rightful home on Warner Bros. Discovery's Max streaming platform.
The crossover of DC content to Amazon's platform isn’t shocking, with Warner Bros. and Amazon already having closed a deal to develop new DC animated content. However, the caliber of films being brought on is unexpected. In addition to the critically acclaimed 2022 release The Batman, Prime Video is also getting Batman (1989), Batman Returns, Batman Forever, Batman & Robin, Joker, Watchmen, Wonder Woman, Wonder Woman 1984, Aquaman, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Justice League, Black Adam, Constantine, DC League of Superpets, V for Vendetta, Shazam!, and Catwoman.
Amazon's approach to the volatile streaming market seems to be swelling the ranks of its must-see movie catalog to complement its other offerings. This is antithetical to Disney's method, which prioritizes Disney-owned IP and cost-cutting. The company even canceled the Spiderwick Chronicles series and trimmed down its expectations for new Marvel and Star Wars projects. The hope is that reducing the ambitious number of new projects will result in better quality control and allow the highly valuable IPs to put out stellar shows that could draw in audiences like Game of Thrones did in its prime.
Amazon Prime Video might have gotten some metahuman reinforcements, but the company will still have to dig deep and work on its original content. On that front, the disappointing reception to The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, which indicated that fans weren’t motivated to keep watching, is a major issue the company needs to address, as the company spent a record-breaking sum to secure the rights to the IP and on production costs for its first season.
Source: ComicBook