Is Amazon Studios a subsidiary of Amazon?

Amazon Studios is not a separate legal subsidiary. It is a production division within Amazon.com Inc., operating under the Amazon MGM Studios brand following the 2022 acquisition of MGM Holdings. All assets, IP, and financial results are consolidated within Amazon's accounts.

Is Amazon Studios publicly traded?

Amazon Studios has no separate stock listing. Amazon.com Inc. trades on NASDAQ under AMZN and GOOGL. Investors who own AMZN shares hold an indirect stake in Amazon Studios as part of the overall company.

When was Amazon Studios established?

Amazon Studios was established in 2009 as Amazon's internal film and television development operation. It produced its first major award-winning content in 2014 with Transparent. The studio was substantially expanded through the acquisition of MGM Holdings in March 2022 for approximately $8.45 billion.

Who founded Amazon Studios?

Amazon Studios was created as an internal division of Amazon.com Inc. Roy Price served as head of Amazon Studios from 2004 to 2017. Jennifer Salke became head of Amazon Studios in 2018 and continues to lead the division as of 2026.

What is Amazon Studios' market position?

Amazon Studios is one of the largest content producers in the US entertainment industry by spend. Prime Video holds approximately 21 to 22% of US streaming time. Amazon Studios has produced Oscar-winning films and Emmy-winning series. Its most direct competitors for streaming market share are Netflix, Disney+, and Max.

Has Amazon Studios had any controversies?

Amazon Studios was part of the AMPTP during both the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, which halted production across the industry for months. The studio has also faced criticism for its theatrical distribution practices and was subject to FTC review of the MGM acquisition in 2022.

Media & Entertainment

Who Owns Amazon Studios?

Amazon Studios is owned by Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), a publicly traded American technology and e-commerce company founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994. Amazon Studios was established in 2009 as Amazon's internal content production division, later rebranded Amazon MGM Studios following Amazon's 2022 acquisition of MGM Holdings for approximately $8.45 billion. It produces original films and series primarily for Prime Video and selective theatrical release.

Parent Company

Amazon.com Inc.

Founded

2009

Status

Publicly Traded

Headquarters

Culver City, California, USA

Amazon Studios Timeline

1994

Amazon.com Inc.

Parent company established in Seattle, Washington, USA

Company Founded

2009

Amazon Studios

Founded by Amazon (internal development)

Founded

mass marketGlobal

Who Owns Amazon Studios?

Parent Company: Amazon.com Inc.
Ownership Type: Brand division
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock Ticker: NASDAQ: AMZN

Brand	Parent Company	Ownership Type
Amazon Studios	Amazon.com Inc.	Brand division

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Amazon Studios on Amazon

History of Amazon Studios

Founded: 2009
Founders: Amazon (internal development)

Amazon Studios was established in 2009 as an internal development operation. Its early years were exploratory: the studio invited the public to submit scripts and pilot concepts through an open development portal, an experiment it eventually discontinued.

The first notable wave of original content came through Amazon Video Direct in 2013, when Amazon began commissioning pilots and letting viewers vote on which should become series. Transparent, a drama series from creator Jill Soloway, premiered in September 2014 and won two Golden Globes in early 2015. That result validated Amazon's content investment thesis.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, premiered in November 2017. It won eight Emmy Awards in its first two seasons and became the most visible signal of Amazon Studios' ability to produce prestige drama that competed directly with HBO and Netflix. The series ran for five seasons, concluding in 2023.

In 2016, Amazon Studios acquired distribution rights to Manchester by the Sea, directed by Kenneth Lonergan. The film won two Academy Awards at the 2017 ceremony, including Best Original Screenplay for Lonergan and Best Actor for Casey Affleck. It was one of the first streaming platform productions to win acting Oscars.

The Boys, a superhero satire series from showrunner Eric Kripke, launched in July 2019. By its third season in 2022 it was one of the most-watched series on Prime Video globally. The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, Amazon's adaptation of Tolkien's appendices, premiered in September 2022 following a reported $465 million spend on the first season alone, the most expensive single season of television produced to that date.

Amazon completed the acquisition of MGM Holdings on March 17, 2022, for approximately $8.45 billion. The deal gave Amazon Studios access to MGM's theatrical library including the Rocky, James Bond, and Pink Panther franchises, as well as MGM Television's production slate. The combined entity began operating as Amazon MGM Studios.

In early 2024, Cord Jefferson's American Fiction, distributed by Amazon MGM Studios, won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay. The film received five Oscar nominations in total. At the 2024 Primetime Emmy Awards, Amazon Studios productions won seven Emmys, with Fallout and Mr. and Mrs. Smith each taking two.

About Amazon.com Inc.

What does Amazon own?
Amazon owns Amazon Web Services, Whole Foods Market, Ring, Twitch, Amazon MGM Studios, Alexa, Amazon Prime, Kindle, Fire TV, and Amazon Logistics. The company also owns Zoox, an autonomous vehicle company, and One Medical, a primary healthcare provider. Amazon has made over 120 acquisitions since its founding.

Is Amazon publicly traded?
Yes. Amazon trades on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol AMZN. The company has been publicly traded since its IPO in May 1997 at $18 per share.

Who founded Amazon?
Jeff Bezos founded Amazon in July 1994 in Bellevue, Washington. He initially started the company as an online bookstore. Bezos served as CEO until July 2021, when Andy Jassy succeeded him. Bezos remains executive chairman.

Where is Amazon headquartered?
Amazon is headquartered in Seattle, Washington, USA. The company's corporate offices are in the South Lake Union neighborhood. Amazon has major offices and fulfillment centers across the United States and internationally.

How many brands does Amazon own?
Amazon owns approximately 10 major brands including Amazon, AWS, Whole Foods, Ring, Twitch, Alexa, Amazon Prime, Amazon MGM Studios, Kindle, and Fire TV. The company has made over 120 acquisitions, many of which have been integrated into its existing operations.

Who owns Amazon?
Amazon is a publicly traded company with no single controlling shareholder. Jeff Bezos is the largest individual shareholder, holding approximately 9% of outstanding shares. Institutional investors including Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street are among the largest holders. All shares carry equal voting rights.

What is Amazon's revenue?
Amazon reported FY2025 net sales of $716.9 billion, up 12% year over year. Net income was $77.7 billion, or $7.17 per diluted share. AWS contributed $128.7 billion in revenue, growing 20% year over year.

What antitrust cases is Amazon facing?
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission and 17 states filed an antitrust lawsuit in September 2023 alleging Amazon maintains monopoly power in its online marketplace. The case is ongoing. The EU has also investigated Amazon's marketplace practices, and the Digital Markets Act imposes obligations on Amazon as a gatekeeper.

Founded: 1994
Headquarters: Seattle, Washington, USA
Company Type: Publicly Traded
Stock: NASDAQ: AMZN
Revenue: $716.9 billion (FY2025)
Employees: Approximately 1,576,000

Visit Amazon.com Inc. website

View full company profile for Amazon.com Inc.

Where Is Amazon Studios Made / Based?

Headquarters: Culver City, California, USA

Amazon Studios Categories & Tags

Film Television Streaming Content Production Amazon

Amazon Studios Sustainability & Ethics

Amazon Studios operates under Amazon's corporate sustainability framework, which includes a commitment to reaching net-zero carbon emissions across its value chain by 2040. Amazon matched 100% of its global electricity consumption with renewable energy purchases in 2023.

For production specifically, Amazon Studios piloted a solar power system called the Solar Ring on the Fallout production in 2023. In collaboration with GreenLite Trailers, the system supplied approximately 4,952 kilowatt-hours of energy across 14 trailers over a 20-week trial, replacing diesel generators used for on-set power. Amazon reported the results publicly as a case for solar-powered production equipment.

Amazon Studios is a signatory to the Responsible Business Alliance and applies Amazon's supplier code of conduct to its production vendors.

Awards & Recognition

Academy Awards: American Fiction won Best Adapted Screenplay at the 96th Academy Awards in March 2024. The film received five nominations including Best Picture. Manchester by the Sea won Best Actor and Best Original Screenplay at the 89th Academy Awards in 2017.

Emmy Awards: At the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2024, Amazon Studios productions won seven Emmys. Fallout and Mr. and Mrs. Smith each won two awards. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel won 16 Emmys across its five-season run.

Golden Globes: At the 82nd Golden Globes in January 2025, Amazon MGM Studios received eight nominations including Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Challengers, and Nickel Boys.

Other recognition: Transparent won the Golden Globe for Best Television Series (Musical or Comedy) in 2015 and 2016. The Boys has been nominated at the Saturn Awards and Critics Choice Awards. Rings of Power received technical awards recognition for visual effects.

Amazon Studios Recalls & Controversies

2023 Writers Guild of America Strike: Amazon Studios was part of the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers during the WGA strike, which ran from May 2 to September 27, 2023. The strike halted production on The Boys, Rings of Power, and other Amazon series. The final WGA agreement included increased minimum pay, higher streaming residuals, and AI protections. The strike added costs and delayed release schedules across Amazon Studios' 2023 and 2024 content calendar.

2023 SAG-AFTRA Strike: The Screen Actors Guild strike ran from July 14 to November 9, 2023. Amazon Studios was again part of the AMPTP negotiating team. The resolved contract included increased base pay, streaming residuals, and AI protections for actors.

Streaming Distribution Disputes: Amazon Studios has faced criticism from filmmakers and theater owners for releasing films on Prime Video simultaneously with or shortly after theatrical release. Certain productions that filmmakers intended as theatrical features were released directly to streaming, a practice that has created tension with directors.

MGM Acquisition Regulatory Review: The Federal Trade Commission reviewed the MGM acquisition for antitrust concerns before clearing it in March 2022. The FTC's review was not blocked, but the deal drew attention regarding media consolidation.

Amazon Studios Ownership: Pros & Cons

Advantages

+Global distribution through Prime Video with approximately 200 million viewers
+MGM library provides recurring licensing revenue and franchise assets including James Bond
+Amazon's financial resources support high-budget productions such as Rings of Power
+Integration with Prime membership reduces reliance on standalone subscription conversions
+AWS infrastructure enables advanced post-production and streaming at scale

Considerations

-Amazon does not disclose Amazon Studios revenue separately, limiting independent performance assessment
-Bond franchise rights are jointly controlled with the Broccoli family, constraining Amazon's ability to sell or license it freely
-Competition from Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV+ requires sustained multi-billion-dollar content spending
-The 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes added cost and delayed production schedules
-Theatrical distribution strategy has created friction with some filmmakers who prefer cinema-first releases

Frequently Asked Questions About Amazon Studios

Sources & Further Reading

Competitors to Amazon Studios

These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.

Brand	Parent Company	Country	Founded	Market Position	Primary Market	Gender Target
Prime VideoSister Brand	Amazon	USA	2006	Mass market	Global	All-ages
ABC	Disney	CA (West Coast)	1943	Mass market	United states	All-ages
Amazon MusicSister Brand	Amazon	USA	2007	Mass market	Global	All Genders
Apple TV	Apple	United States	2007	Premium	Global	All Genders
Eurosport	Warner Bros Discovery	France	1989	Mass market	Europe	All Genders
Fandango	Versant	USA	2000	Mass market	United states	All Genders