After Bombing in Theaters, Amazon’s $200M Sci-Fi Epic Is a Prime Video Sensation 3 Weeks Running
Masters of the Universe, Amazon MGM Studios’ live-action adaptation of He-Man directed by Travis Knight, has emerged as an unexpected streaming success on Prime Video following a disappointing theatrical release. The film has remained a consistent performer on the platform for three weeks, bucking its poor box-office results.
This turnaround reflects a growing trend where streaming services revitalize underperforming theatrical releases. The film joins other notable examples like Netflix’s The Last House, which became a worldwide top performer despite its 27% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, and In the Land of Saints and Sinners, a Liam Neeson crime thriller that surged into Netflix’s top 10 nearly two years after its theater run.
The success highlights how streaming platforms have become crucial recovery mechanisms for major studio releases that fail to connect with audiences or critics in cinemas. What might have been written off as a complete failure for a $200 million investment has found a substantial audience through Prime Video, demonstrating the distinct viewing preferences and appetite of streaming audiences compared to theatrical markets.