Amazon buys MGM for $8.45 billion — this includes the James Bond movies

As we expected a few days ago (when we reported on the imminence of a deal), Amazon buys MGM for a ‘mere’ $8.45 billion. Slightly under the price reported, Variety is now is one of many outlets echoing a similar story: was it worth more than $5-$6 billion? The focus is on the studio’s Marque title the James Bond movies.

Why focus on James Bond?

MGM doesn’t own the franchise alone. It shares it with Eon Productions. Eon is run by half-siblings Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, and are reported as having an unusual amount of control over the series — with rights to approve everything from marketing to casting and from distribution to ancillary projects. Here on CultBox we’re minded to assume Amazon has a plan and has it’s own valuation of the vast MGM portfolio and the James Bond series going forward. We’re also conscious No Time To Die has been delayed a lot and will be releasing in what are still uncharted waters. Will it be a bigger box-office smash or are viewers more interested in watching from home? Time will tell.

What does it mean for Amazon Prime?

More content. How soon and in how many traunches we don’t know; neither do we know which titles will be included in Prime and which charged for separately. We do suspect this means a price rise in the latter part of 2021 or early 2022. Amazon is unique in the streamers in having a platform giving content as well as free delivery services. With a vast rise in the library, we think the case will be made for a subscription rise.

Whatever happens, we’ll keep you posted.