A new Prime Video crime thriller has become the #1 show on the platform just days after its release, dethroning massive flagship series like Fallout and Beast Games.
After dropping all six episodes last week, this instant hit crime thriller has surged on Prime Video’s global charts, landing #2 in the U.S. and #1 worldwide for the very first time today.
Steal’s Quick Binge Format Has Made It A #1 Global Hit
The original crime thriller series Steal hits #1 on Prime Video’s worldwide charts for the very first time, thanks to its quick and immersive 6-part format. Drawing a massive audience naturally with lead star and Game of Thrones alum Sophie Turner, Steal has a gripping premise involving a corporate heist that keeps viewers hooked from the opening scene.
Steal doesn’t waste any time in its opening minutes, cutting straight to the key thrilling moments that become the focal point for the rest of the series. Turner plays Zara Dunne, a likable mid-level financial worker who is forced by thieves to approve an enormous and illegal transfer of pension funds to offshore accounts.
While Steal may not stack up to the best heist movies of all time, it received mostly positive reviews, resulting in a Rotten Tomatoes score of 77%. Based on its massive streaming success, which has only improved throughout its debut week, Steal is a strong indication of the types of new original series the Prime Video audiences are looking for.
Steal’s Worldwide Success Is A Good Sign For 6-Part Series
Television has taken a lot of notes from movies over the last two decades, ever since prestige TV like Breaking Bad and Mad Men made the small-screen medium inherently more cinematic. It appears that TV, or rather streaming, is taking another page out of the film handbook by shortening the overall runtime of several new series.
Some of these new 6-part series, including Netflix’s latest comedy streaming hit Free Bert, have cut down to the length of a long feature film. This way, viewers feel a sense of accomplishment, finishing three episodes in roughly 90-120 minutes, creating a strong midpoint that propels them to the finish, even if the series isn’t necessarily a critically acclaimed masterpiece.
From a somewhat psychological perspective, completing three episodes of a short 6-part series feels like more of an accomplishment than finishing two episodes of an 8 or 10-part series, even if they have the same exact runtime. It’s similar to reading the first five chapters of a short book compared to a longer one, creating a sense of satisfaction through shorter intervals that are easier to achieve and encourage forward progress.
Ultimately, Steal’s #1 worldwide streaming success is a good sign for more short-form series to arrive on major streaming platforms, designed with a similar pace and structure. See what all the hype is about for yourself by binge-watching Steal on Prime Video.
