The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power has hit a record as Amazon’s biggest premiere for an original series. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the streaming service said that 25 million people worldwide watched the show on the day it premiered, making it the top premiere for Prime Video. Amazon also said that the show launched in 240 territories, which would divide into around 104,000 viewers per territory. The legacy of The Lord of the Rings, as well as the trailers for the series, have had many Tolkien fans eager for this series, and it’s no surprise it had a strong turnout. Amazon Studios head Jennifer Salke said in a statement, “It is somehow fitting that [J.R.R.] Tolkien’s stories — among the most popular of all time, and what many consider to be the true origin of the fantasy genre — have led us to this proud moment.”
‘LOTR: The Rings of Power’ An Amazon Record
In her statement, Salke expressed gratitude to “the Tolkien Estate – and to our showrunners J.D. Payne and Patrick McKay, executive producer Lindsey Weber, cast and crew – for their tireless collaborative efforts and boundless creative energy. And it is the tens of millions of fans watching – clearly as passionate about Middle-earth as we are – who are our true measure of success.”
This success is a big deal for Amazon, as they invested large money into this project. Deadline says that Prime Video paid $250 million for the rights to this series, committing to a five-season run. With a commitment of over $1 billion, this is the most expensive series Amazon has ever produced, and its success is crucial to the streamer. With the opening having a strong turnout, the investment could pay off. However, there are more episodes to air this season, running until October 14. The ultimate success of the show will be clearer in time.
Amazon’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power isn’t the only thing Tolkien fans are excited over. Many still eagerly anticipate The Lord of the Rings: Gollum video game. While it was expected to release this month, the release date was postponed a few months for further development.
