In a big move for the world of movies, Amazon MGM Studios has signed a multi-year deal with Sony Pictures Entertainment to handle international theatrical distribution for several high-profile upcoming films. On June 27, 2025 a deal was announced under which Sony will take over overseas release duties for four major Amazon MGM titles even as Amazon MGM works on building its own international distribution infrastructure.
Key Details of the Deal
The new agreement puts Sony in charge of releasing four top Amazon MGM films across the globe through March 2026. The titles include Luca Guadagnino’s psychological thriller After the Hunt, starring Julia Roberts, Ayo Edebiri and Andrew Garfield, the sci-fi thriller Mercy directed by Timur Bekmambetov and featuring Chris Pratt and Rebecca Ferguson, the heist film Crime 101 with Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo and Halle Berry, and Project Hail Mary, an adaptation of Andy Weir’s novel directed by Phil Lord and Chris Mille r and starring Ryan Gosling.
After the Hunt will hit select theaters across the U.S. on October 10, 2025, before expanding to more locations on October 17. The movie is about a college professor, played by Julia Roberts, whose life gets turned upside down when a student accuses her coworker, Andrew Garfield, of misconduct, and a secret from her past starts creeping back.
Mercy will appear in North American theaters on January 23, 2026. Crime 101 will come out next on February 13, and Project Hail Mary will be released on March 20, 2026.
Strategic Moves by Amazon MGM
For Amazon MGM, this partnership is a key step as they shift away from their previous Warner Bros deal that runs out at the end of 2025. The studio is working hard on setting up its own global distribution team, with plans to manage releases on its own in places where it opens new offices. In the meantime, Sony’s taking care of distribution in areas where Amazon MGM isn’t operating yet.
Industry insiders say this deal includes most of Amazon MGM’s new movies that will come to theaters, except for “Sarah’s Oil,” a biopic about oil tycoon Sarah Rector, which Sony won’t be distributing internationally.
Amazon MGM’s first international distribution project after the Sony deal is the Colleen Hoover adaptation Verity, starring Dakota Johnson, Josh Hartnett, and Anne Hathaway, and it’s expected in U.S. theaters in early 2026.
Why This Deal Matters?
The partnership between Amazon MGM and Sony happens at a time when the global film industry is changing fast, as streaming services and tech giants fight with traditional studios for viewers and distribution channels. Back in 2021, Amazon bought MGM for $8.5 billion, showing it was serious about growing its place in the entertainment world by using MGM’s huge library and famous movie series.
“This agreement is a win-win for both studios,” said an industry analyst familiar with the negotiations. Sony will handle the release of some of next year’s most talked-about movies, and Amazon MGM gets a chance to learn from a pro distributor while it builds up its own system.
Quotes and Industry Perspectives
Amazon MGM and Sony Pictures Entertainment said together that this partnership is a smart business decision: “We are excited to work together to bring these outstanding films to audiences around the world. This collaboration allows Amazon MGM to continue expanding its global theatrical presence, while Sony leverages its proven distribution network to maximize the potential of these titles internationally.”
Someone familiar with Amazon MGM shared that their goal is to one day handle their own international distribution, but for now, teaming up with Sony helps give their movies the best possible start overseas.
Looking Ahead
After Project Hail Mary comes out in March 2026, Amazon MGM will start releasing its movies directly in some countries, and Sony will help where Amazon MGM isn’t set up yet. The studio’s slow and steady method shows it wants to grow into a major force in theaters around the globe.
The new deal doesn’t cover the next James Bond movie, because Universal Pictures already got the rights to show it worldwide under a different deal.
