DroidsAndEwoks: Amazon Studios to Target Less Indie Movies, More ‘Commercial’ Movies

Amazon Studios is switching up its game strategy: Indie films are out, bigger jobs are in.

The tech behemoth will probably be aiming for much more “industrial” movies that could attract large crowds, according to another report from Reuters citing unnamed sources who said that the firm would target movies with budgets closer to $50 million, rather than $5 million as it has in the past few years.

Amazon Studios did not return TheWrap’s petition for comment.

The shift in strategy is based upon the eve of the Sundance Film Festival, a place where Amazon Studios has created waves before because of its deals; two years before, the studio hammered out $10 million to its domestic rights to “Manchester by the Sea.”

It continued the trend this past year, making five high-profile buys of Sundance premieres, including $6 million for a Grateful Dead documentary and also another $12 million for “The Big Sick,” using all the Judd Apatow-produced comedy grossing an impressive $42.8 million at the domestic box office.

The company also purchased the prison drama “Crown Heights,” the dramedy “Landline,” and also the ISIS documentary “City of Ghosts.”

Targeting films would likewise help its own own paid purchasing support together with perks, Prime memberships are driven by Amazon, Reuters noted. The plan is to use its studio wing where they will buy more gadgets, books and toilet paper to funnel customers to the Amazon ecosystem.

The tactical shift follows Roy Price, who’d headed the studio because its inception in 2010’s ouster but resigned from October after accusations of sexual misconduct. His replacement hasn’t been named.

According to the report, Amazon doesn’t have current plans to move into complete “blockbuster territory” in terms of theatrical release. However, the corporation’s TV division has stepped up its spending on a higher-profile jobs, such as a $250 million price to that a “Lord of the Rings” series.

The report included Amazon founder and CEO Jeff Bezos believes it will be “business as usual” because of its studio at Sundance, with the firm aiming for multi-million dollar deals with films longing for theatrical releases.