Amazon Claims Victory With ‘Coming 2 America’ As Most-Watched Streaming Movie In A Given Weekend During Pandemic
Last October, it was announced that Amazon had paid $125 million for the streaming rights to Eddie Murphy’s comedy sequel Coming 2 America, but the company isn’t disclosing how many people watched it over the weekend. Instead, they released a statement citing the comedy sequel’s No. 1 position in The Digital Entertainment Group/Screen Engine/VOD ASI’s weekend rankings, which include streaming, PVOD, and VOD feature films, including Paramount+’s debut weekend stream of The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run. In a strange turn of events, Raya and the Last Dragon on Disney+ doesn’t even make the leader board for weekend performance on Screen Engine/ASI.
Amazon isn’t disclosing how many people saw Coming 2 America over the weekend, but they are saying it had the highest opening weekend of any streaming movie in 2021 so far and the highest opening weekend of any streaming movie in the previous 12 months since the epidemic. Studios and theaters, meanwhile, are putting their bare knuckles to the grindstone in an effort to restore order to the movie going industry, and they are generally forthcoming about the weekend earnings of their films on Sunday morning.
Amazon Studios
“The Zamunda Royal family has arrived, and viewers across the world have greeted them warmly!” Jennifer Salke, Head of Amazon Studios All of us were blown away by how well Coming 2 America turned out during its debut. It’s obvious that a whole new set of admirers has joined the massive, devoted audience that has always appreciated the fantastical universe that worldwide phenomenon Eddie Murphy, the amazingly skilled production crew, and the hilarious all-star company of established and freshly enshrined legends have created. For moviegoers all across the globe, Coming 2 America is the ultimate lighthearted, joyful, escapist, feel-good comedy.
Amazon, which claims 150 million worldwide Prime members, was similarly cagey about the opening weekend performance of its awards season nominee Borat Subsequent Movie film in October, noting that “tens of millions watched,” whatever that means.
Cast
- Eddie Murphy stars as Akeem and previously starred in “Beverly Hills Cop” and “The Nutty Professor.”
- Arsenio Hall co-stars as Semmi and was previously the host of “The Arsenio Hall Show.”
- Jermaine Fowler plays Lavelle; previously, he starred in “Superior Donuts.”
- Leslie Jones stars as Cleo and previously appeared in “Saturday Night Live” and “Ghostbusters.”
- Tracy Morgan stars as Reem, known for his roles in “30 Rock” and “The Last O.G.”
- Wesley Snipes plays General Izzi; he previously starred in the “Blade” trilogy and “White Men Can’t Jump.”
- KiKi Layne stars as Meeka, known for her role in “If Beale Street Could Talk.”
- Shari Headley plays Lisa McDowell, who previously starred in “Coming to America.”
