Amazon Studios shifts focus with big budget movie plans tipped

Amazon Studios is making some big changes, according to sources who say it will be sacrificing some "cheaper" indie content in order to pursue big-budget movies. Assuming this is true, it represents a big shift of focus for the company, which thus far has concentrated on indie work and "high-brow" content aimed at getting it awards and attention from big talent. Now that it has those things, sources say, Amazon's studio division will be making some original blockbuster movies.

Amazon has made some big changes in recent weeks. Former Amazon Studios lead Roy Price is out and filling his void is Amazon Studios COO Albert Cheng. The company recently cancelled plans for three shows: "I Love Dick," "One Mississippi," and "Jean-Claude Van Johnson." All of that may hint at bigger plans behind closed doors, at least according to sources speaking to Reuters.

According to those sources, Amazon is planning to shift its focus to what amounts to popcorn flicks — the kind of movies that probably won't be winning it any awards, but that is likely to appeal to a large audience. The goal behind that move is to lure in more Prime subscribers, according to the sources, though Amazon hasn't commented on the report.

We saw something similar from Netflix in recent weeks when it launched Bright, a cheesy cop-drama fantasy thriller featuring Will Smith. The movie was panned by critics, but that doesn't seem to matter to the company, which has already ordered a sequel. Despite poor critical reviews, the movie excelled at what it was likely meant to be: a fun, easy-to-watch and moderately amusing movie that a bunch of people enjoyed enough to give it a 93% positive rating on Google.

Amazon is yet to offer this variety of original content, however, instead focusing on TV shows and movies more suited for award shows. The company has been successful in those efforts, winning awards for multiple shows and movies. The sources say Amazon Studios will now target movies that have a budget range of around $50 million. How much of the studio's annual budget will go toward these popcorn flicks is still be determined, the sources say.

SOURCE: Reuters