Amazon Prime's original TV content can now be said to rival that of Netflix. The rise of streaming platforms over the past decade has been nothing short of staggering, and shows little sign of slowing any time soon. As broadband speeds increased, the market for on-demand media in favor of live viewing and physical releases grew. Early digital models began with classic movies, TV box sets and catch-up reruns, but it was only a matter of time until the streaming world turned its focus onto original content.
Netflix was the first streaming service to seriously challenge the status quo and establish streaming as a viable distribution model for new releases, but a host of competitors have emerged since, with Amazon Prime chief among them.
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As an ever-growing number of studios and networks launch their own in-house streaming services, consumers have more choice than ever before, and the quality of original content becomes vital in choosing which platforms are worth the subscription fee.
Until now, Netflix has enjoyed a firm grasp on the streaming game, especially with regards to its original content. But rivals are inching closer all the time and, in recent years, Amazon Prime originals have started to attain the same cultural impact and rapturous response previously reserved for Netflix releases alone. Here's why Amazon Prime's original TV content is now rivaling Netflix.
Netflix's Original Content Was Once Unchallenged
The first true Netflix Original series, House of Cards, premiered in 2013 and set a precedent with big-name stars, high production values and the advantage of being available at the viewer's convenience. As a direct result, that same year saw a period of steep growth for the platform, and the streaming service model in its current form was born. After House of Cards proved the streaming experience could compete with regular network TV, Netflix followed with international hits such as Stranger Things, Orange Is The New Black and Daredevil, opening the floodgates for a raft of future originals covering everything from female wrestling to delusional zoo owners. Netflix was cemented as the top streaming service for original content, but has more recently attracted criticism for its increasingly bloodthirsty cancellation ax. Popular and critically beloved shows such as GLOW, Altered Carbon and Dark Crystal account for some of the most recent casualties. Where Netflix was once the point of refuge for unjustly-cancelled network favorites, the platform is now cutting the field with more gusto.
How Amazon Prime's Original TV Content Has Improved
Amazon waded into the streaming realm as early as 2006, but it wasn't until 2011 that their video service was wrapped into the Prime brand, and original content would start to emerge two years later, just as Netflix was dealing its House of Cards. Among the early crop of Amazon Originals, the likes of The Man in the High Castle and Bosch enjoyed critical adulation, while Amazon scored a huge coup in signing the old Top Gear crew for The Grand Tour, but these releases alone couldn't match the impact of Netflix's output. There was certainly nothing along the lines of Stranger Things that fascinated the world and became a cultural phenomenon. But as Amazon Prime's original roster has expanded and diversified, the power balance in the streaming wars has started to level out.
The Boys is a prime example of Amazon's recent growth in the streaming world. The first season of Eric Kripke's dysfunctional superhero series was a critical smash, but the recently aired season 2 proved to be one of the most talked-about TV shows of the year. Not because Homelander's sophomore effort is significantly better than the first, but because the interim between seasons saw more and more viewers hitch a ride onto the Boys bandwagon. By the time The Boys season 2 came around, the show felt like a genuine television event. The addition of recognizable talent has also boosted the profile of Amazon's original TV shows - John Krasinski as Jack Ryan, Al Pacino in Hunters, John Cusack and Rainn Wilson in Utopia. Part of the appeal behind streaming is the promise of a cinematic experience in the comfort of your own home, and Amazon can now claim to deliver that fully with the same blend of star power, interesting ideas and big-budget production that first put Netflix on top of the pile.
Another more recent change to Amazon Prime's original content is the diversity on offer. Previously, only Netflix could claim to have something for everyone, but Amazon's TV originals now include the supernatural humor of Good Omens, the high-concept science fiction of The Expanse and the witty period charm of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Amazon Prime's Original TV Future Is Bright
Looking ahead, Amazon Prime looks set to continue sparring evenly with its big red rival. In an encouraging sign, the futures of most big-hitters have already been assured, with The Expanse, The Boys, Jack Ryan and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel all lined up for new seasons. Although there have been cancellations, Amazon Prime has wisely avoided any controversial cuts, with Netflix still suffering backlash from GLOW fans. In the current streaming landscape, fans can arguably start a new Amazon Prime series with less trepidation than they might on Netflix, especially after the latest spate of cancellations.
Furthermore, Amazon Prime has a juicy selection of major projects in the pipeline, the most hotly-anticipated of which is undoubtedly the forthcoming Second Age Lord of the Rings effort. Reputed to be the most epic and expensive streaming original yet, Amazon's Middle-earth debut has every chance of becoming the platform's own Game of Thrones in terms of crossover appeal and large-scale fantasy drama. Other intriguing prospects on the horizon include Fallout, Jack Reacher and The Promised Neverland - a strong variety of forthcoming shows that come with an existing audience, while appealing to very different demographics. In-house streaming platforms such as Disney+ and HBO Max have decades of older material to rely on, which means relative newcomers such as Amazon Prime and Netflix will become increasingly reliant on original content over the next decade, but Amazon Prime are well-positioned to continue their rise.
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