The Top Film on Amazon Prime Video in 2024 Delivers an Unanticipated Victory
As we draw closer to the end of 2024, annual listings are underway. However, Amazon Prime Video has provided an insight into the most-watched title on their platform, and it's not what one might expect. Surprisingly, Anne Hathaway's romantic drama, The Idea of You, topped the charts, securing the title of the most-watched Amazon Original for the entire year.
The film, adapted from Robinne Lee's novel of the same name, tells the story of Solène (Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mother who unexpectedly falls for 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Galitzine), the frontman of the global sensation August Moon. Their whirlwind romance is fraught with challenges due to Hayes' star status, with Solène soon realizing that life in his spotlight might be more than she anticipated.
Critics gave The Idea of You an 81% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while audiences scored it lower at 66%. However, it's worth noting that the audience for a film like this might not be the same as those dedicated enough to score films on Rotten Tomatoes. Additionally, Anne Hathaway's bankability amongst the general public should not be underestimated.
The Idea of You's primary rival in 2024 was Road House, an Amazon Original starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor McGregor, a reboot of the original. Road House reportedly had the biggest Amazon Original movie debut ever, with 50 million viewers. Although The Idea of You did not surpass this figure initially, it seems to have done so over time. The general consensus is that Road House was not as good a movie as The Idea of You.
The question arises as to whether or not The Idea of You should have had a theatrical release, given that it went directly from South by Southwest to Amazon Prime a month and a half later. It's worth noting that a romantic drama like Blake Lively's It Ends with Us managed to gross $350 million worldwide in the same year. Considering Hathaway and Lively's star power, it's plausible to argue that The Idea of You could have been just as successful, if not more, in a cinematic setting.
Nonetheless, the popularity of The Idea of You can only be understood by watching it at home. To know more about my sci-fi novels, follow me on Twitter, YouTube, Bluesky, and Instagram. Check out the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
After its release on Amazon Prime Video, Anne Hathaway's film adaptation of "The Idea of You" continued to attract viewers, surpassing its initial viewer count and challenging the record set by "Road House". Despite not having a theatrical release, some believe that had it been in cinemas, it could have match or even surpass the success of other romantic dramas like "It Ends with Us", given Anne Hathaway and co-star Ryan Gallitzine's popularity.
