As 2024 nears its end, year-end lists are starting to emerge, and according to official data from Amazon Prime Video, we now know the most-watched movie on the platform.
According to a report by Forbes on Sunday, surprisingly, it wasn’t a massive Amazon-produced blockbuster, but rather The Idea of You, a romantic drama starring Anne Hathaway. This film became the top Amazon Original of the year.
Based on Robinne Lee’s novel, The Idea of You tells the story of Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mother who unexpectedly falls for 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the lead singer of the famous boy band August Moon.
After stepping in to chaperone her teenage daughter’s trip to the Coachella Music Festival, Solène meets Hayes, sparking a whirlwind romance. But as their relationship grows, Hayes’ superstar status brings significant challenges, and Solène soon realizes that life in his spotlight is more complicated than she anticipated.
The film earned positive reviews from critics, holding an 81% score on Rotten Tomatoes, though the audience rating was lower at 66%. The divide between critics and general viewers may reflect the differing tastes of those who actively review movies online. Hathaway’s star power likely played a big role in the film’s success with audiences.
In 2024, The Idea of You faced stiff competition from Road House, an Amazon Original starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Conor McGregor. A remake of the classic film, Road House reportedly had the biggest debut for an Amazon Original movie, attracting 50 million viewers. However, despite not surpassing Road House’s initial viewership, The Idea of You seems to have gained more long-term traction, as many felt the former wasn’t as strong of a movie.
This success raises the question of whether The Idea of You should have had a theatrical release. It premiered directly on Amazon Prime just a month and a half after its debut at South by Southwest, a decision that may have impacted its potential box office performance. Given that romantic dramas like It Ends with Us, starring Blake Lively, grossed $350 million worldwide this year, Hathaway’s star power and the quality of The Idea of You suggest it could have performed similarly well in theaters. However, we’ll never know for sure—watch it at home and see for yourself why it became such a hit.
