iWorld
Netflix dominates SVOD viewership in the US, Stowaway leads the charts
New Delhi: Netflix is continuing its dream run in the United States, and it remains way ahead of its competitors Amazon Prime Video and Disney+. Well, this is what the latest report from US-based information, data, and market measurement firm Nielsen seems to suggest. Netflix is clearly showing its dominance in all three categories that include, movies, original series, and acquired shows.
Stowaway & Thunder Force leads the movie category
Nielsen’s data suggests that the science fiction thriller Stowaway which is currently streaming on Netflix is the most-watched movie in the United States. Directed by Joe Penna, this film set against the backdrop of a dangerous Mars mission stars Anna Kendrick, Daniel Dae Kim, Shamier Anderson, and Toni Collette in the lead roles.
Stowaway is closely followed by Thunder Force in the second spot in the movie category. Despite a thumbs down from the critics, Thunder Force is still one of the most-watched movies in the United States. Thanks to the scintillating onscreen chemistry between Melissa McCarthy and Octavia Spencer. The film is directed by Ben Falcone, and it revolves around the life of two childhood best friends who turn into superheroes in the latter part of their lives.
Synchronic, American Me, and The Little Rascals are the other Netflix films that are included in Nielsen’s top 10 movies list in the United States. Animated movies have saved Disney+ in the movie category with Frozen, Frozen II, Moana, and Ryan and the Last Dragon included in the Neilsen list. However, no films from Amazon Prime Video succeeded in finding a spot in this list of most-watched movies in the United States.
Disney+ dominates the original category
Disney Plus’ Falcon and the Winter Soldier continues to be the most-watched original series. The series created by Malcolm Spellman is based on the Marvel Comics characters Sam Wilson / Falcon and Bucky Barnes / Winter Soldier. As the final episode of the series ended on 23 April, audiences are now eagerly waiting for a possible next installment, either in the form of a film or series, as Falcon has been appointed as the next Captain America.
Closely following Falcon and the Winter Soldier in Nielsen’s list is Shadow and Bone which is being streamed on Netflix. Even though Shadow and Bone failed to recreate the magic of HBO’s Game of Thrones, the series based on Leigh Bardugo’s novel successfully catered to the needs of fantasy lovers.
Amazon Prime Video’s anthology horror series Them is included in Nielsen’s top 10 list of original series. Other series that found their place in the list are The Circle, The Crown, Great British Baking Show, Lucifer, The Serpent, Life in Color, and Dad Stop Embarrassing Me, which are currently streaming on Netflix.
In the acquired original series category, all the ten inclusions are from Netflix’s arsenal. NCIS is topping the list followed by Grey’s Anatomy, Criminal Minds, Cocomelon, The Baker and the Beauty, and Heartland.
iWorld
Epic Company launches unified Epic Studio for films and OTT
Vivek Krishnani to head films business; Samar Khan leads OTT & Television.
MUMBAI: Epic just merged its creative superheroes under one cape because when films and OTT need to fight for attention together, you don’t keep them in separate universes. The Epic Company has launched Epic Studio, a next-generation creative and production powerhouse that unites Juggernaut Productions and Movieverse Studio under a single banner. The move creates a streamlined, scalable platform for premium storytelling across theatrical films, OTT originals, television, digital-first formats and branded content.
Vivek Krishnani has been appointed chief executive officer, Epic Studio (Films), overseeing the theatrical and film business with a focus on culturally resonant narratives across Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, Gujarati and Malayalam cinema. Samar Khan continues as chief executive officer, Epic Studio (OTT & Television) and retains his role as chief content officer for Docubay and Epic On.
The Epic Company managing director Aditya Pittie said, “Epic Studio brings together our entire creative ecosystem under one unified studio vision. This is not just an integration of verticals, but the creation of a collaborative environment where writers, filmmakers, creators, and brand partners can seamlessly develop and scale stories across formats and screens.”
Vivek Krishnani added, “We are building an audience-focused mainstream film studio committed to delivering fresh, engaging, and innovative stories for both theatrical and streaming platforms.”
Samar Khan commented, “This alignment allows us to approach storytelling with a unified studio mindset. We are building IP under one creative umbrella, with scale and longevity in mind from inception.”
The unified structure eliminates silos, enabling ideas to flow fluidly from concept to screen while adapting to evolving audience behaviour. Epic Studio positions itself as a creator-led ecosystem championing purposeful, resonant storytelling with commercial strength.
In an entertainment landscape where stories now leap between screens faster than plot twists, Epic isn’t just building a studio, it’s crafting a single launchpad where every tale gets the best shot at soaring across every platform.
